This document discusses ordinal numbers in Spanish. It provides the Spanish terms for the ordinal numbers first through tenth, and notes that above tenth cardinal numbers are generally used instead of ordinals. Examples are given showing how ordinal numbers agree with nouns in gender and number. Ordinal numbers can be used to indicate order, as in "the second dress" or to specify a location, like "the third floor." They are also sometimes used with the names of monarchs.

1. The ordinal numbers
(Los números ordinales)
La primera
Éste es mi vez, ¿eh? Te
primer viaje a va a gustar
Machu Picchu. mucho.

2. The ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers vs. cardinal numbers
Ordinal numbers are those that refer to the order of
things, that is, first, second, third, and so on. It may
help to remember that ordinal refers to order.
Cardinal numbers, by contrast, are those that are
used for counting: one, two, three, and so on. It
may be useful to think cardinal means counting.
In Spanish, ordinal numbers beyond tenth are rarely
used in everyday speech or writing.
The ordinal numbers first through tenth are shown
on the following slide.

3. The ordinal numbers
primero/a first sexto/a sixth
segundo/a second séptimo/a seventh
tercero/a third octavo/a eighth
cuarto/a fourth noveno/a ninth
quinto/a fifth décimo/a tenth
Plural forms exist as well (primeros, primeras, quintos,
quintas, etc.), but are less frequently used.

4. To simplify our understanding of ordinal numbers, let’s
start with a series of ten zeroes and number them from left
to right. Ordinal numbers agree in gender and number.
Cero is, of course, a masculine noun.
el el el el el
primer tercer quinto séptimo noveno
cero cero cero cero cero
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
el el el el el
segundo cuarto sexto octavo décimo
cero cero cero cero cero
Note that primero and tercero shorten to primer and tercer,
respectively, before a masculine singular noun.

5. When the noun, in this case cero, is omitted, the ordinal
numbers become pronouns. Notice that primer and tercer
now revert to their full forms, primero and tercero.
el el el el el
primer o tercero quinto séptimo noveno
cero cero cero cero cero
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
el el el el el
segundo cuarto sexto octavo décimo
cero cero cero cero cero
In English, we would say “the first, the second,” etc.,
instead of “the first zero, the second zero,” etc.

6. For the feminine forms of the ordinal numbers, we’ll
use a series of ten of the letter equis, a feminine noun.
la la la la la
primera tercera quinta séptima novena
equis equis equis equis equis
X X X X X X X X X X
la la la la la
segunda cuarta sexta octava décima
equis equis equis equis equis
Note that none of the feminine forms has a shortened form.

7. Thus, all ten of the pronominal forms are the same as
the adjectival forms.
la la la la la
primera tercera quinta séptima novena
equis equis equis equis equis
X X X X X X X X X X
la la la la la
segunda cuarta sexta octava décima
equis equis equis equis equis
Note that none of the feminine forms has a shortened form.

8. Numbers after décimo/décima
la la
décima equis doce (la duodécima
equis equis) ... etcétera
. . . X X X . . . etcétera
From eleventh on, we
la revert to the use of the
equis once cardinal numbers,
(la undécima although ordinal numbers
equis) beyond tenth exist.

9. Numbers after décimo/décima
Notice the following example
In everyday speech or writing:
La pareja celebró su aniversario veinticinco.
The couple celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary.
In these cases, the cardinal number follows the noun . . .
. . . whereas the ordinal number precedes the noun.
In technical, literary, or documentary terms:
La pareja celebró su vigésimo quinto aniversario.

10. Examples of ordinal number usage
Clarita compró el segundo vestido.
Clarita bought the second dress.
Éstas son las primeras rebajas del año.
These are the first sales of the year.
La tienda está en el tercer piso.
The store is on the third floor.
Es el primer mostrador a la izquierda.
It’s the first counter to the left.

11. Ordinal numbers are also used with the names of
famous people, such as kings or other leaders.
Notice that the ordinal numbers are capitalized in
these cases.
Carlos V Carlos Quinto
Enrique VIII Enrique Octavo
BUT:
Alfonso XIII Alfonso Trece
Remember, above tenth we revert to cardinal
numbers.

12. FIN