Ordinal numbers in Spanish help learners express order, sequence, rank, and steps. They are common in daily life when talking about floors, positions in a race, dates, or instructions. Although ordinal numbers are not used as often as cardinal numbers, they are an important part of beginner Spanish grammar and appear in many Spanish exams, including DELE A1.
This guide explains how ordinal numbers work, how they change, and how you can use them confidently in real Spanish conversations.
Understanding Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers show the position of something, such as first, second, or third. In Spanish, these are called números ordinales. They are adjectives, so they must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.
Examples:
el primer día
the first day
la segunda vez
the second time
los terceros capítulos
the third chapters
Agreement is one of the most important rules when learning ordinal numbers in Spanish.
The Most Common Ordinal Numbers
Spanish ordinal numbers follow patterns, and many advanced forms exist. However, in real use, speakers mainly rely on the first ten. These are the ones you need most in daily communication.
- primero, primera
first - segundo, segunda
second - tercero, tercera
third - cuarto, cuarta
fourth - quinto, quinta
fifth - sexto, sexta
sixth - séptimo, séptima
seventh - octavo, octava
eighth - noveno, novena
ninth - décimo, décima
tenth
Examples in sentences:
Terminó en el tercer lugar.
He finished in third place.
Vivo en el quinto piso.
I live on the fifth floor.
Ella ganó el primer premio.
She won the first prize.
These ten ordinal numbers appear often in everyday conversations, making them essential for learners.
Shortened Forms: primer and tercer
Two ordinal numbers have shortened forms that change when placed before a masculine noun.
• primero becomes primer
• tercero becomes tercer
Examples:
el primer capítulo
the first chapter
el tercer intento
the third attempt
But they stay in full form with feminine nouns:
la primera semana
the first week
la tercera puerta
the third door
This small change affects accuracy and will make your Spanish sound more natural.
Higher Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers after ten exist, but native speakers often avoid them in daily use. Instead, they prefer cardinal numbers for clarity.
For example, although “undécimo” means eleventh, many people simply say “el once” when referring to dates or floors.
Still, it is helpful to know the next few ordinal forms:
- undécimo, undécima
twelfth - duodécimo, duodécima
twelfth - decimotercero, decimotercera
thirteenth - decimocuarto, decimocuarta
fourteenth - decimoquinto, decimoquinta
fifteenth
Example:
Estamos en el decimoquinto aniversario de la empresa.
We are at the fifteenth anniversary of the company.
While these forms appear in formal writing, academic texts, and official documents, everyday conversations use simpler patterns, especially in Latin America.
Ordinal Numbers in Dates
In modern Spanish, ordinal numbers are rarely used for dates, except for the first day of the month.
Correct use:
el primero de enero
the first of January
For all other days, Spanish uses cardinal numbers.
Examples:
el dos de abril
the second of April
el veinte de julio
the twentieth of July
This is an important rule and avoids mistakes learners often make.
Ordinal Numbers in Addresses and Floors
Ordinal numbers appear often when talking about floors in buildings, especially in Spain.
Examples:
el primer piso
the first floor
el tercer piso
the third floor
el décimo piso
the tenth floor
However, in Latin America, cardinal numbers are also common in this context. Both forms are understood, but it is helpful to know the difference.
Ordinal Numbers in Instructions
When giving steps in a process, Spanish uses ordinal numbers, especially in formal or academic contexts.
Examples:
Primero, mezcla los ingredientes.
First, mix the ingredients.
Segundo, calienta la mezcla a fuego lento.
Second, heat the mixture on low flame.
Tercero, sirve inmediatamente.
Third, serve immediately.
These expressions are practical and used by learners in cooking, classroom activities, and professional tasks.
Gender and Number Agreement
Because ordinal numbers are adjectives, they must agree with the noun they describe.
Examples:
la segunda oportunidad
the second chance
los cuartos puestos
the fourth positions
las primeras clases
the first classes
Agreement is a key part of beginner Spanish grammar and appears often in exercises for DELE A1 and DELE A2.
Plural Forms of Ordinal Numbers
To make ordinal numbers plural, only the ending changes.
Examples:
primeros días
first days
segundas visitas
second visits
terceros ejemplos
third examples
This pattern is predictable and easy to apply.
When Ordinal Numbers Are Not Needed
In many real situations, Spanish speakers prefer cardinal numbers instead of ordinal numbers, especially after tenth. This makes speech easier and clearer.
Examples:
Instead of
el vigésimo cuarto capítulo,
most speakers say
el capítulo veinticuatro
chapter twenty four
This tendency helps learners because it reduces the number of forms they need to memorize.
Helpful Examples of Ordinal Numbers in Daily Use
Here are more examples to help you practice.
Es mi primera vez en España.
It is my first time in Spain.
Leí el segundo libro de la serie.
I read the second book in the series.
Ellos celebran su décimo aniversario.
They are celebrating their tenth anniversary.
Tomamos el tercer tren del día.
We took the third train of the day.
Ella llegó en cuarto lugar.
She arrived in fourth place.
These examples show the natural way ordinal numbers appear in real communication.
Key Takeaways
• Ordinal numbers in Spanish express order, sequence, and rank in everyday communication.
• The most common ordinal numbers are the first ten, and they appear in many daily situations.
• Primero and tercero have shortened forms before masculine nouns.
• Ordinal numbers must agree with the noun in gender and number.
• Most Spanish speakers use cardinal numbers instead of ordinal numbers after tenth for clarity.
Conclusion
Ordinal numbers in Spanish help learners express order and sequence in a natural and accurate way. They appear in many everyday situations such as giving instructions, describing dates, talking about floors in buildings, and explaining steps or positions. The first ten ordinal numbers are the most common in daily use, and learning them well gives you a strong base for real communication.
Understanding agreement, shortened forms, and when Spanish prefers cardinal numbers makes your language use clearer and more confident. With practice and exposure to real examples, ordinal numbers become easy to recognize and use in conversation and writing.
If you want to continue improving your Spanish, keep practicing with short sentences, daily tasks, and simple conversations. Little by little, these patterns will become familiar and automatic. If you need help with more grammar topics or practice material, I am here to guide you.
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Vikas Kumar is a multilingual educator, language specialist, and book author, and the founder of My Language Classes, an independent language learning platform dedicated to structured, clarity-driven language education.
With over eight years of professional experience working with languages, Vikas has taught and supported learners across English, Spanish, and Japanese, helping them build strong grammatical foundations, practical usage skills, and long-term accuracy. His work focuses on eliminating confusion in language learning by emphasizing structure, patterns, and real usage over rote memorization.
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