Ordinal Numbers

Level 1

Italian ordinal numbers (numeri ordinali) function as adjectives that agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. The first ten are irregular, while those from 11 onwards follow a regular pattern by adding the suffix -esimo.

How It Works

Ordinal numbers are essential for describing floors, rankings, centuries, and monarchs.

1. Formation:

1st–10th: These are irregular and must be memorized: primo, secondo, terzo, quarto, quinto, sesto, settimo, ottavo, nono, decimo.
11th and up: Drop the final vowel of the cardinal number and add -esimo. For example: undici becomes undicesimo.
Special Spelling: Numbers ending in -tré (like ventitré) keep their final vowel but lose the accent mark: ventitreesimo (23rd). Numbers ending in -sei also keep the vowel: ventiseiesimo (26th).

2. Agreement and Writing:
Ordinal numbers function as adjectives and must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify (-o, -a, -i, -e). In writing, they are often represented by the number followed by a superscript symbol: 1º (masculine) or 1ª (feminine).

3. Word Order:

Standard: Ordinals usually come before the noun: la prima volta (the first time), il secondo piano (the second floor).
Titles and Chapters: Ordinals come after the noun for monarchs, popes, and book divisions: Papa Francesco I (Primo), Capitolo terzo (Chapter three).

4. Special Uses:

Floors: In Italy, the ground floor is piano terra. The 'first floor' (primo piano) is the one above it.
Centuries: You can use ordinals (il ventesimo secolo) or the 'hundreds' system (il Novecento for the 1900s).

Examples (5)

Abito al terzo piano di un palazzo antico.
I live on the third floor of an old building.
Word by Word: I live at the third floor of a building ancient.
Note the use of 'al' (a + il) before the ordinal number to indicate location on a floor.
È la prima volta che visito l'Italia.
It is the first time that I am visiting Italy.
Word by Word: It is the first time that I visit the Italy.
'Prima' is the feminine singular form to agree with the feminine noun 'volta'.
Oggi è il primo maggio.
Today is May 1st.
Word by Word: Today is the first May.
Italian only uses the ordinal for the first day of the month; other days use cardinal numbers.
Il corridore è arrivato secondo nella gara.
The runner arrived second in the race.
Word by Word: The runner is arrived second in the race.
Ordinal numbers are used to indicate rank or finishing position.
Siamo nel ventunesimo secolo.
We are in the twenty-first century.
Word by Word: We are in the twenty-first century.
'Ventunesimo' is formed by dropping the 'o' from 'ventuno' and adding '-esimo'.

Common Mistakes

Using cardinal numbers for the first day of the month.
Oggi è l'uno gennaio.
Oggi è il primo gennaio.
In Italian, you must use the ordinal 'primo' for the 1st of the month, even though you use cardinals for all other dates.
Failing to agree the ordinal number with the noun's gender.
La primo volta.
La prima volta.
Ordinal numbers are adjectives and must change their ending to match the noun (masculine/feminine).
Misunderstanding floor levels in Italy.
Il bar è al primo piano, cioè a livello della strada.
Il bar è al piano terra, cioè a livello della strada.
In Italy, 'primo piano' is the floor above the ground floor ('piano terra').

How It Connects

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

Ordinal NumbersLevel 1

Learn This First

To learn ordinal numbers, you first need to know the cardinal numbers they are based on. Since ordinal numbers behave like adjectives, you must also understand how to change their endings to match the gender and number of the noun they describe, as well as where to place them in a sentence.

Words in This Pattern

primoterzoquartoquintosestosettimoottavodecimo

Sources

Practice Ordinal Numbers in Bubblegum

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