Spanish ordinal numbers, their role in grammar, and a comprehensive guide to masculine and feminine forms.
In Spanish, ordinal numbers indicate position or order in a sequence (e.g., first, second, third). They agree in gender (masculine or feminine) with the noun they modify and sometimes in number (singular/plural). Most are adjectives, so they follow noun agreement rules.
Masculine Ordinals
Spanish ordinals have different forms for masculine and feminine. The masculine form typically ends in -o and is used with masculine nouns.
| Spanish Masculine | English | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| primero | first | El primero es mi amigo. | The first is my friend. |
| segundo | second | El segundo está ocupado. | The second is busy. |
| tercero | third | El tercero llegó tarde. | The third arrived late. |
| cuarto | fourth | El cuarto es grande. | The fourth is big. |
| quinto | fifth | El quinto salió temprano. | The fifth left early. |
| sexto | sixth | El sexto es difícil. | The sixth is difficult. |
| séptimo | seventh | El séptimo ganó. | The seventh won. |
| octavo | eighth | El octavo es nuevo. | The eighth is new. |
| noveno | ninth | El noveno estudia mucho. | The ninth studies a lot. |
| décimo | tenth | El décimo terminó. | The tenth finished. |
Note: “Primero” and “tercero” drop the final “-o” before a singular masculine noun (e.g., primer libro, tercer día).
Feminine Ordinals
The feminine form ends in -a and is used with feminine nouns. It follows the same ordinal root as the masculine form.
| Spanish Feminine | English | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| primera | first | La primera es mi hermana. | The first is my sister. |
| segunda | second | La segunda está lista. | The second is ready. |
| tercera | third | La tercera llegó tarde. | The third arrived late. |
| cuarta | fourth | La cuarta es pequeña. | The fourth is small. |
| quinta | fifth | La quinta salió temprano. | The fifth left early. |
| sexta | sixth | La sexta es difícil. | The sixth is difficult. |
| séptima | seventh | La séptima ganó. | The seventh won. |
| octava | eighth | La octava es nueva. | The eighth is new. |
| novena | ninth | La novena estudia mucho. | The ninth studies a lot. |
| décima | tenth | La décima terminó. | The tenth finished. |
Higher Ordinals
Ordinals beyond tenth are usually formed by adding the suffix -avo/-ava (e.g., undécimo, duodécimo) or by using cardinal numbers followed by “-ésimo/-ésima” (e.g., vigésimo for 20th). These forms are more common in formal or written contexts.
| Spanish Ordinal | English | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| undécimo / undécima | eleventh | El undécimo capítulo es interesante. | The eleventh chapter is interesting. |
| duodécimo / duodécima | twelfth | La duodécima página está en blanco. | The twelfth page is blank. |
| decimotercero / decimotercera | thirteenth | El decimotercer piso tiene vista. | The thirteenth floor has a view. |
| vigésimo / vigésima | twentieth | La vigésima edición es especial. | The twentieth edition is special. |
| trigésimo / trigésima | thirtieth | El trigésimo aniversario fue celebrado. | The thirtieth anniversary was celebrated. |
Note: For 11th and 12th, “undécimo/undécima” and “duodécimo/duodécima” are more common in writing, while “onceavo/onceava” and “doceavo/doceava” are used in some regions.
Usage and Placement
Spanish ordinals usually precede the noun they modify. They agree in gender and number with that noun.
- Masculine singular: primer libro, tercer capítulo
- Feminine singular: primera página, tercera línea
- Masculine plural: primeros libros, terceros capítulos
- Feminine plural: primeras páginas, terceras líneas
Example:
- El tercer día viajamos a Madrid. (On the third day, we traveled to Madrid.)
- La primera vez fue emocionante. (The first time was exciting.)
- Los quintos estarán en la sala. (The fifths will be in the living room.)
- Las séptimas están ausentes. (The seventh (group) is absent.)
Choose the correct ordinal form: '___ día viajamos a Madrid.' (third day, masculine singular)
tercer
'Día' is masculine singular, so 'tercer' (not 'tercero') is correct because 'tercero' drops the '-o' before singular masculine nouns.
Summary
- Spanish ordinals show position or order (first, second, third…).
- They agree in gender (masculine -o, feminine -a) and sometimes number.
- Primero and tercero drop the “-o” before singular masculine nouns.
- Ordinals usually precede the noun.
- Higher ordinals (11th, 12th, 13th, etc.) often use -ésimo or special forms (undécimo, duodécimo).
- Usage is common in dates, rankings, instructions, and formal writing.
What is the correct ending for Spanish ordinals modifying a feminine noun?
-a
Feminine ordinals end in '-a' to agree with the feminine noun.
Flashcards (1 of 25)
- English: first
- English Example: The first is my friend.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
