Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn about Dutch ordinal numbers (rangtelwoorden) to express order and position. Understand how to form ordinals by adding '-de' up to 'negentiende' and '-ste' starting from 'twintigste'. Discover irregular forms like 'eerste', 'derde', and 'achtste'. Practice using them in everyday contexts like dates, ages, and rankings.
  1. Up to negentiende, the ordinal number is formed by adding -de to the cardinal number.
  2. From twintigste onwards, -ste is used, like twintigste.
Rangtelwoord (Ordinal number)Rangtelwoord (Ordinal number)Rangtelwoord (Ordinal number)
Eerste (First)Elfde (eleventh)Twintigste (Twentieth)
Tweede (Second)Twaalfde (Twelfth)Dertigste (Thirtieth)
Derde (Third)Dertiende (Thirteenth)Veertigste (Fortieth)
Vierde (Fourth)Veertiende (Fourteenth)Vijftigste (Fiftieth)
Vijfde (Fifth)Vijftiende (Fifteenth)Zestigste (Sixtieth)
Zesde (Sixth)Zestiende (Sixteenth)Zeventigste (Seventieth)
Zevende (Seventh)Zeventiende (Seventeenth)Tachtigste (eightieth)
Achtste (Eighth)Achttiende (Eighteenth)Negentigste (Ninetieth)
Negende (Ninth)Negentiende (Nineteenth)Honderdste (hundredth)
Tiende (Tenth)  

Exceptions!

  1. In the first, third, eighth the form deviates.

Exercise 1: Rangtelwoorden

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Negentigste, zesentwintigste, achtste, vierde, derde, zestigste, tweede, eerste

1. 26:
De hoeveelste is het vandaag? Het is de ....
(What date is it today? It is the twenty-sixth.)
2. 8:
Het is de ... keer dat ik hier ben.
(It is the eighth time that I have been here.)
3. 2:
Mijn zoon viert zijn ... verjaardag.
(My son is celebrating his second birthday.)
4. 90:
Mijn opa viert zijn ... verjaardag morgen.
(My grandad is celebrating his ninetieth birthday tomorrow.)
5. 4:
We beginnen de ... oktober met het project.
(We start on the fourth of October with the project.)
6. 60:
Veel piloten gaan op hun ... al met pensioen.
(Many pilots retire at sixty.)
7. 1:
Het is vandaag de ... juni.
(Today is the first of June.)
8. 3:
Mijn zoon is ... geworden in de zwemwedstrijd.
(My son came third in the swimming competition.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Hij woont op de ___ verdieping van het gebouw.

(He lives on the ___ floor of the building.)

2. Vandaag is het de ___ van mei.

(Today is the ___ of May.)

3. Hij is vandaag twintig jaar oud, het is zijn ___ verjaardag.

(He is twenty years old today, it is his ___ birthday.)

4. De ___ werknemer heeft het bedrijf verlaten.

(The ___ employee has left the company.)

5. Zij nam de ___ trein naar Amsterdam.

(She took the ___ train to Amsterdam.)

6. Hij vierde zijn ___ verjaardag met zijn vrienden.

(He celebrated his ___ birthday with his friends.)

Understanding Ordinal Numbers in Dutch

In this lesson, you will learn how to use ordinal numbers (rangtelwoorden) in Dutch, which indicate position or order, such as dates, ages, and rankings. These words show the sequence of things and are essential for everyday communication.

Basic Formation Rules

Ordinal numbers up to negentiende (nineteenth) are formed by adding -de to the cardinal number. For example, tweede means "second" and vijfde means "fifth".

From twenty onwards, the suffix changes to -ste, like twintigste for "twentieth" or dertigste for "thirtieth".

Special Forms

Some ordinal numbers use irregular forms instead of the normal pattern. Notable exceptions include eerste (first), derde (third), and achtste (eighth).

Examples in Context

  • Eerste: Zij nam de eerste trein naar Amsterdam. (She took the first train to Amsterdam.)
  • Derde: Hij woont op de derde verdieping. (He lives on the third floor.)
  • Vijfde: Vandaag is het de vijfde van mei. (Today is the fifth of May.)
  • Twintigste: Het is zijn twintigste verjaardag. (It is his twentieth birthday.)

Note on Language Differences

Unlike English ordinals generally ending with "-th" (e.g., fourth, fifth), Dutch uses two main suffixes -de and -ste. Additionally, in English the ordinal forms consistently follow a single pattern after "third", but Dutch has specific irregular forms that need memorization.

Useful phrases: de eerste keer (the first time), de tweede dag (the second day), de tiende maand (the tenth month).

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

Profile Picture

Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

University_Logo

Last Updated:

Thursday, 29/05/2025 16:32