Ordinalzahlen zeigen eine Reihenfolge an. Sie werden häufig für Daten, Altersangaben und Rangfolgen verwendet.

(Ordinal numbers show an order/sequence. They are often used for dates, ages, and rankings.)

What you are learning: ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd…)

Ordinal numbers answer: Which one in the order?

  • der erste Termin = the first appointment
  • im dritten Stock = on the third floor
  • am fünfzehnten März = on the 15th of March

How to form ordinals: the quick rule (-te / -ste)

1–19 number + -te 5 → fünf + -te = fünfte
20+ number + -ste 31 → einunddreißig + -ste = einunddreißigste

Tip: For 20, 30, 40… you still use -ste: zwanzigste, dreißigste, vierzigste.

The forms that break the pattern (must be memorized)

1 erste einste
3 dritte dreite
7 siebte siebente
8 achte achtte

Good news: After that, you mostly just apply -te or -ste.

The ending changes in sentences (because ordinals behave like adjectives)

In real sentences, you rarely use the “dictionary form” (erste, zweite, dritte) alone.

Ordinals take adjective endings depending on the article and case.

  • Der Termin ist im dritten Stock.
    in + dem → Dative → -en
  • Nehmen Sie bitte den ersten Platz.
    den → Accusative masculine → -en
  • Folgen Sie bitte der zweiten Person.
    der → Dative feminine → -en

Dates: a common special case you will use a lot

  • Heute ist der fünfzehnte März. (nominative: “Today is the 15th of March.”)
  • am fünfzehnten März (with am = an dem, dative → -en)

Self-check: If you see am / im / beim, expect dative → very often -en on the ordinal.

Fast self-check: formation vs. sentence ending

  1. Step 1 (formation): Is it 1–19 (-te) or 20+ (-ste)?
  2. Step 2 (irregulars): Is it 1, 3, 7, 8? (erste, dritte, siebte, achte)
  3. Step 3 (ending in the sentence): What comes before it? (der/den/dem/der…)
You want to say… Correct Why
on the 3rd floor im dritten Stock im = dative → -en
the 1st seat den ersten Platz den (acc. masc.) → -en
the 2nd person der zweiten Person der (dat. fem.) → -en
  1. Ordinal numbers from 1st to 19th = cardinal number + -te: e.g. 5th = fünfte
  2. Ordinal numbers from 20th onwards = cardinal number + -ste: e.g. 31st = einunddreißigste
1. Erste (1st (first))11. Elfte  (11th (eleventh))20. Zwanzigste (20th (twentieth))
2. Zweite  (2nd (second))12. Zwölfte  (12th (twelfth))30. Dreißigste (30th (thirtieth))
3. Dritte  (3rd (third))13. Dreizehnte  (13th (thirteenth))40. Vierzigste (40th (fortieth))
4. Vierte  (4th (fourth))14. Vierzehnte  (14th (fourteenth))50. Fünfzigste (50th (fiftieth))
5. Fünfte (5th (fifth))15. Fünfzehnte  (15th (fifteenth))60. Sechzigste  (60th (sixtieth))
6. Sechste  (6th (sixth))16. Sechszehnte (16th (sixteenth))70. Siebzigste  (70th (seventieth))
7. Siebte (7th (seventh))17. Siebzehnte  (17th (seventeenth))80. Achtzigste  (80th (eightieth))
8. Achte  (8th (eighth))18. Achtzehnte (18th (eighteenth))90. Neunzigste  (90th (ninetieth))
9. Neunte  (9th (ninth))19. Neunzehnte  (19th (nineteenth))100. Hundertste (100th (hundredth))
10. Zehnte (10th (tenth))  

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Alessia Calcagni

Languages for communication in international enterprises and organizations

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Wednesday, 04/03/2026 22:14