Ordinal Numbers

Level 2

Ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd...) in Arabic act like regular adjectives. They usually follow the noun and must match its gender and definiteness. Unlike cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3), they do not use 'reverse agreement'.

How It Works

Ordinal numbers (الأعداد الترتيبية) are essential for ranking and sequencing. Here is how they are structured:

1. The 2nd through 10th:
These follow the active participle pattern فاعل. For example, 'three' is ثلاثة, but 'third' is ثالث. Note that 'sixth' (سادس) is interesting because it restores the original root letters (س-د-س) which are obscured in the cardinal form (ستة).

2. Gender Agreement:
Unlike cardinal numbers 3-10 which use reverse gender agreement, ordinals use straight agreement. If the noun is masculine, the ordinal is masculine; if the noun is feminine, the ordinal is feminine (usually by adding Ta Marbuta).

  • الدرسُ الثالثُ (The third lesson - masc.)
  • القصةُ الثالثةُ (The third story - fem.)

3. The First (1st):
This is irregular. The masculine is أوّل and the feminine is أولى.

4. Compound Ordinals (11th-19th):
These consist of two parts. When used with the definite article, only the first part takes the article (e.g., الحادي عشر). Both parts agree with the noun's gender and are typically fixed with a fatha ending (mabni).

  • اليوم الحادي عشرَ (The eleventh day)
  • السنة الحادية عشرةَ (The eleventh year)

5. Defective Ordinals:
The ordinal for 'second' (ثانٍ) behaves like a defective (manqus) noun when indefinite, meaning the final 'ya' is dropped in the nominative and genitive cases unless it has the definite article (الثاني). Note that unlike the cardinal number for eight, the ordinal 'eighth' (ثامن) is a regular sound noun and does not drop its final letter.

6. Position:
While they usually follow the noun as an adjective, they can precede a noun in an Idafa to mean 'the first/second X'. In this case, the noun is indefinite and genitive: أولُ يومٍ (The first day).

Examples (5)

  1. قرأتُ الفصلَ الثالثَ من الكتاب.

    I read the third chapter of the book.

    Word by Word: I-read the-chapter the-third from the-book.

    Here, 'third' (الثالث) follows the masculine noun 'chapter' (الفصل) and matches it in gender, definiteness, and accusative case.

  2. هذه هي المرةُ الأولى التي أزورُ فيها مصر.

    This is the first time I have visited Egypt.

    Word by Word: This she the-time the-first which I-visit in-her Egypt.

    The feminine ordinal 'first' (الأولى) matches the feminine noun 'time' (المرة).

  3. يسكنُ في الطابقِ الحادي عشرَ.

    He lives on the eleventh floor.

    Word by Word: He-lives in the-floor the-eleventh ten.

    In compound ordinals (11-19), only the first part takes the definite article 'Al-'. Both parts are fixed with a fatha ending.

  4. وصلَ اللاعبُ الثاني إلى خطِ النهاية.

    The second player reached the finish line.

    Word by Word: Reached the-player the-second to line the-finish.

    The ordinal 'second' (الثاني) acts as a regular adjective for the masculine noun 'player'.

  5. هذا هو الدرسُ التاسعُ.

    This is the ninth lesson.

    Word by Word: This he the-lesson the-ninth.

    The ordinal follows the 'fa'il' pattern (تاسع) and matches the nominative case of the noun.

Common Mistakes

  • Using reverse gender agreement like cardinal numbers.

    الدرس الثالثة
    الدرس الثالث

    Learners often confuse ordinals with cardinal numbers (3-10). Ordinals must match the noun's gender exactly, not flip it.

  • Adding the definite article to the second part of a compound ordinal.

    الحادي العشر
    الحادي عشر

    In Modern Standard Arabic, when a compound ordinal (11th-19th) is definite, the definite article 'Al-' is only applied to the first part, not the second.

  • Using 'one' (واحد) instead of 'first' (أول).

    الدرس الواحد
    الدرس الأول

    To indicate rank (1st), you must use the specific ordinal form 'awwal', not the cardinal number for 'one'.

How It Connects

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Ordinal NumbersLevel 2

Learn This First

To understand ordinal numbers, you need to know the basic cardinal numbers they are derived from. Since ordinals behave like adjectives in Arabic—following the noun and matching it in gender and definiteness—you must also understand the rules of adjectives (na't). Finally, knowledge of word patterns (wazn) helps you recognize the specific shape used to form these numbers.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

أولثانثالثرابعخامسسادسسابعثامنتاسععاشر