Ordinal numbers

Introduction to Ordinal Numbers in Spanish

This lesson introduces you to ordinal numbers in Spanish, essential for expressing order or position in a sequence. You will learn how to use common ordinal numbers such as primero (first), segundo (second), tercero (third), up to décimo (tenth). Understanding these allows you to describe floors in buildings, positions in lines, dates, and many daily situations.

Key Ordinal Numbers and Their Usage

Ordinal numbers in Spanish often appear with the definite article el or la depending on gender and number agreement. Here are some examples illustrating their use:

• Estoy en el primer piso del edificio, ¿dónde estás tú? (I am on the first floor of the building; where are you?)
• El segundo autobús llega a las diez de la mañana. (The second bus arrives at ten in the morning.)
• Mi amigo vive en el cuarto apartamento del segundo piso. (My friend lives in the fourth apartment on the second floor.)
• En la fila de espera, soy el quinto, ¿y tú? (In the waiting line, I am fifth, and you?)
• Hoy es el octavo día de clases en la academia. (Today is the eighth day of classes at the academy.)

Positions in a Sequence

Ordinal numbers can be categorized by their use in indicating positions at the beginning or the middle/end of sequences:

• Positions at the beginning: el primero, el segundo, el tercero, el cuarto
• Positions in the middle or end: el quinto, el sexto, el séptimo, el décimo

Practical Dialogues for Everyday Use

You'll encounter scenarios where ordinal numbers are crucial. Examples include:

• Reserving a table in a restaurant: Using ordinal numbers to choose the table location, e.g., "la primera mesa junto a la ventana" (the first table next to the window).
• Finding a hotel room: Asking and identifying room positions, e.g., "¿Dónde está la tercera habitación?" (Where is the third room?).
• Organizing a queue: Expressing your position in a line, e.g., "Estoy en la quinta posición" (I am in the fifth position).

Useful Words and Expressions

Besides ordinal numbers themselves, it's helpful to know related verbs and phrases often used together, such as recordar (to remember), trabajar (to work), tener (to have), gustar (to like), and descansar (to rest). For example:

• Recuerdo que la primera reunión fue el lunes pasado. (I remember that the first meeting was last Monday.)
• Nosotros recordamos la quinta planta del edificio donde trabajamos. (We remember the fifth floor of the building where we work.)

Differences Between English and Spanish Ordinal Numbers

In Spanish, ordinal numbers must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, which is less prominent in English. For example, "el primer piso" (the first floor) uses primer instead of primero before the masculine singular noun piso. Additionally, Spanish often places the ordinal number after the definite article. English ordinal numbers do not change form.

Useful phrases include:

• El primero/la primera – the first (masculine/feminine)
• El segundo/la segunda – the second
• El tercer día – the third day (note the apocopation of tercero to tercer before a masculine singular noun)

By mastering these ordinal numbers and related phrases, you can effectively communicate positions, sequences, and organized plans in Spanish.