Ordinal Numbers

Level 1

Ordinal numbers show the order of things. They are formed by adding a linking article (i for masculine, e for feminine) and usually the suffix -të to the cardinal number.

How It Works

Ordinal numbers (numrat rendorë) are used to describe sequences, rankings, or floors in a building.

1. Formation Rules:

  • Irregular Form: Only the word for 'first' is irregular (suppletive): i parë (1st). Its feminine form is e parë.
  • Regular Suffix (-të): Most other ordinals add -të to the cardinal stem. This includes i tretë (3rd), which follows the standard rule from the cardinal tre. If the number ends in -ë (like pesë), drop it before adding the suffix (i pestë).
  • Gender Invariance: The ordinal stem itself (e.g., dytë, pestë) does not change for gender; only the linking article (i or e) changes to match the noun.
  • Large Numbers: Numbers like 100 and 1000 retain the 'një' prefix in their ordinal forms: i njëqindtë (100th) and i njëmijtë (1000th).
  • Consonant Stems: The number katër (4) adds -t to become i katërt. However, numbers ending in -t like njëzet (20) and dyzet (40) simply add -ë to become i njëzetë and i dyzetë.
  • Compound Ordinals: For numbers like 21st or 32nd, only the final digit takes the ordinal form. For example: i njëzet e parë (21st), i tridhjetë e dytë (32nd).
  • The Last: While i fundit (masc.) or e fundit (fem.) means 'the last', it is formed differently from ordinals by using the definite noun suffix -it.

2. Agreement and Case:
Ordinals follow the noun and must agree in gender and case. The linking article (i/e) changes in different cases:

  • Nominative: Kati i dytë (masc.), Faqja e dytë (fem.).
  • Other Cases: The article changes to të or së depending on the case and gender. For example, in the accusative: në katin e dytë; or the dative: faqes së dytë.

3. Roman Numerals:
In Albanian, Roman numerals are standard for centuries (e.g., shekulli XXI - the 21st century) and for the names of monarchs or popes.

4. Ordinals as Nouns:
When used alone, they take definite suffixes: -i for masculine (i pari - the first one) and -a for feminine (e dyta - the second one).

5. Dates:
Always use cardinal numbers for the day of the month (e.g., 15 qershor).

Examples (5)

  1. Ky është kati i dytë.

    This is the second floor.

    Word by Word: This is floor-the the second.

    Here, 'i dytë' (second) modifies the masculine noun 'kati' (the floor).

  2. Ajo fitoi vendin e parë.

    She won first place.

    Word by Word: She won place-the the first.

    'I parë' is the irregular form for 'first'. It uses 'e' here because 'vendin' is in a context requiring the linking article to match the noun's gender/case.

  3. Lexova kapitullin e katërt.

    I read the fourth chapter.

    Word by Word: I-read chapter-the the fourth.

    For 'katër' (4), the suffix becomes '-t', resulting in 'i katërt'.

  4. Kjo është hera e pestë.

    This is the fifth time.

    Word by Word: This is time-the the fifth.

    The cardinal 'pesë' (5) drops its final -ë to become 'e pestë'.

  5. Dhoma e dhjetë është e hapur.

    The tenth room is open.

    Word by Word: Room-the the tenth is the open.

    For numbers already ending in -të like 'dhjetë', only the linking article 'e' indicates it is an ordinal.

Common Mistakes

  • Omitting the linking article (i/e).

    Ky është kati dytë.
    Ky është kati i dytë.

    Ordinal numbers are articulated adjectives and require a linking article. Note that this article changes based on the case; for example, in the accusative case, a masculine noun uses 'e' (në katin e dytë).

  • Using ordinals for dates.

    Sot është i pari maj.
    Sot është 1 maj.

    In Standard Albanian, dates are expressed using cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3) rather than ordinals (1st, 2nd, 3rd).

  • Gender mismatch between the noun and the ordinal.

    vajza i parë
    vajza e parë

    The linking article must match the gender of the noun. Since 'vajza' is feminine, you must use the feminine article 'e'.

How It Connects

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Ordinal NumbersLevel 1

Learn This First

To form ordinal numbers in Albanian, you must first be familiar with the cardinal numbers (1-10) which serve as the base. Additionally, because ordinals behave like adjectives, you need to understand how linking particles (i/e) work and how the suffix -të is applied.

Words in This Pattern

esë