Ordinal Numbers

Level 2

Ordinal numbers show rank or order. In Danish, they are usually preceded by a definite article (den/det) and written with a dot (e.g., 1. maj).

How It Works

Ordinal numbers function like adjectives in Danish. They are most commonly used for dates, rankings, and sequences.

1. Writing and Punctuation
In Danish, a period (.) is used after a digit to indicate it is an ordinal number. For example, '3. maj' is read as den tredje maj. Note that in speech, we almost always add the definite article 'den' before the date.

2. Irregular Forms (1-4)
The first four numbers involve stem changes or unique forms and should be memorized:

  • 1st: første
  • 2nd: anden (common) / andet (neuter)
  • 3rd: tredje
  • 4th: fjerde

3. Regular Formation
Most other numbers follow these patterns:

  • 5-6: learn femte, sjette; seks changes its stem in sjette
  • 7-10: add -ende (syvende, ottende, niende, tiende)
  • 11-12: ellevte, tolvte; elleve loses final e before -te
  • 13-19: add -ende (trettende, fjortende...)
  • 20: tyve + nde → tyvende. 30: remove the final e of tredive and add -te: trediv + te → tredivte
  • Compound numbers (21, 32, etc.): The last part becomes an ordinal. Note that 30th is tredivte, so 32nd is toogtredivte.
  • Tens (40-90): The long standard forms are fyrretyvende (40), halvtredsindstyvende (50), tresindstyvende (60), halvfjerdsindstyvende (70), firsindstyvende (80), halvfemsindstyvende (90). Thus 40 uses -tyvende and 50-90 use -indstyvende. Shorter forms such as fyrrende and halvtredsende also occur; learn the long forms for a consistent formal model. A cardinal after nummer is a separate construction, not an ordinal suffix.

4. Gender and Number Agreement
Unlike most adjectives, only the word for 'second' (anden/andet/andre) changes based on gender and number. It also means 'other' or 'another'. All other ordinals end in -e and remain the same regardless of whether the noun is common gender or neuter.

5. Cultural Context

  • Floors: In Denmark, the ground floor is 'stuen'. The first floor above that is 1. sal (første sal).
  • Royalty: Roman numerals for kings and queens are read as ordinals, e.g., Margrethe II is read as 'Margrethe den anden'.
  • Sequencing: Use sidste for 'last' and næstsidste for 'second to last'.

Examples (5)

  1. Det er min første dag på arbejdet.

    It is my first day at work.

    Word by Word: It is my first day on the-work.

    'Første' is the irregular ordinal for 1st. It does not change for gender.

  2. Han bor i det andet hus på venstre side.

    He lives in the second house on the left side.

    Word by Word: He lives in the second house on left side.

    Because 'hus' is a neuter noun (et hus), 'anden' changes to 'andet'.

  3. Min fødselsdag er den 24. (fireogtyvende) december.

    My birthday is the 24th of December.

    Word by Word: My birthday is the 24. December.

    In dates, the number is written with a dot and spoken as an ordinal.

  4. For det første er det for dyrt.

    Firstly, it is too expensive.

    Word by Word: For the first is it too expensive.

    Ordinals are often used in arguments to list points (for det første, for det andet...).

  5. Hun blev nummer tre i løbet.

    She became number three in the race.

    Word by Word: She became number three in the-run.

    Sometimes 'nummer' + a cardinal number is used instead of a pure ordinal, especially in sports.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the cardinal number instead of the ordinal for dates.

    den tre maj
    den tredje maj

    In Danish, you must always use the ordinal number (3rd) for dates, never the cardinal number (3).

  • Forgetting the period when writing digits as ordinals.

    Jeg bor på 2 sal.
    Jeg bor på 2. sal.

    In Danish, a period is mandatory after a digit to make it an ordinal. 2. sal means the second storey above the ground floor; 1. sal is immediately above stuen. To say two storeys, write to etager. Omitting the dot in 2 sal does not turn singular sal into a grammatical plural.

  • Trying to make 'første' agree with neuter nouns.

    det førstet barn
    det første barn

    Only 'anden/andet' changes for gender. 'Første' and other ordinals ending in -e are invariable.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Ordinal NumbersLevel 2

Learn This First

To learn ordinal numbers, you first need to know the basic cardinal numbers they are based on. Additionally, because ordinal numbers in Danish almost always appear in a definite context (e.g., 'the first day'), you must understand how noun gender and the definite articles 'den' and 'det' work when used with adjectives.

Words in This Pattern

førsteførsteandentredjefjerdefemtesjettesyvendeottendeniendetiende10.