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

Ordinal numbers vs. cardinal numbers 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.

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.

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 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.

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 tercer o quinto séptimo noveno cero cero cero cero cero 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.

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.

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.

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

Numbers after décimo/décima Notice the following example In everyday speech or writing: La pareja celebra su aniversario veinticinco. The couple celebrates their 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 celebra su vigésimo quinto aniversario.

Examples of ordinal number usage Clarita juega en el segundo partido. Clarita plays in the second game. Éstas son las primeras celebraciones del año. These are the first celebrations of the year. La orquesta está tocando en el tercer piso. The orchestra is playing on the third floor. Da su primer concierto público. It’s the first concert.

Carlos Quinto Enrique Octavo Alfonso Trece Carlos V Enrique VIII BUT: 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.

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