Lesson 14 - Números Ordinales (Ordinal Numbers)
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Pages in this lesson: Ordinal numbers - Verbs that are irregular only in the yo form - Dialogue - Reading - Quiz
This page: Learn the ordinal numbers in Spanish.

Ordinal Numbers

Vocabulary Lesson

Click on the ordinal numbers in the table below to hear the pronunciation and repeat.

Ordinal Numbers in Spanish

Ordinal Number	Translation
► primero ( ► primer)*	first
► segundo	second
► tercero ( ► tercer)*	third
► cuarto	fourth
► quinto	fifth
► sexto	sixth
► séptimo	seventh
► octavo	eighth
► noveno	ninth
► décimo	tenth

Ordinal numbers can be used as adjectives, adverbs or pronouns, just as they can in English. When used as an adjective with a feminine noun, the letter O at the end changes to an A. Unlike most adjectives in Spanish, ordinal numbers are used in front of the noun.

• el segundo paso = the second step (masculine noun)
• la segunda clase = the second class (feminine noun)

*The words primero and tercero change to primer and tercer (they lose the letter O) with masculine nouns.

• el primer paso = the first step (masculine noun)
• la primera clase = the first class (feminine noun)
•  
• el tercer paso = the third step (masculine noun)
• la tercera clase = the third class (feminine noun)

When abbreviating, Spanish speakers use the lowercase letter o, a or er (or os and as for plural) just like we use the st, nd, rd and th in English. The letters are often written in a superscript just as they are in English.

• 1^o (primero) or 1^a (primera) or 1^er (primer) = 1^st (first)
• 2^o (segundo) or 2^a (segunda) = 2^nd (second)
• 3^o (tercero) or 3^a (tercera) or 3^er (tercer) = 3^rd (third)
• 4^o (cuarto) or 4^a (cuarta) = 4^th (fourth)

Remember that ordinal numbers are not used with dates in Spanish. Cardinal numbers (regular numbers) are used to say the date instead.

• March 3 = March third (ordinal number used in English)
• el 3 de marzo = el tres de marzo (cardinal number used in Spanish)

 

Practice

Write the same phrase but with the ordinal number in words.

• Examples
• el 1^er libro → el primer libro
• el 2^o paso → el segundo paso
• la 3^a clase → la tercera clase

1. el 5^o día        
 

2. la 2^a blusa        
 

3. el 3^er mes        
 

4. el 1^er paso        
 

5. la 4^a clase        
 

6. el 8^o libro        
 

7. el 6^o día        
 

8. el 9^o mes        
 

9. la 7^a clase        
 

10. el 10^o paso        
 

 

Verbs that are irregular only in the yo form

 

Lesson 14 - Números Ordinales (Ordinal Numbers)
Ordinal numbers - Verbs that are irregular only in the yo form - Dialogue - Reading - Quiz

 

 

 

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