Ordinal numbers in French

Do you want to learn French but you don't know how? If your answer is 'yes' than you are in the right place. Learning the numbers is, for sure, one of the first steps of the process. If you already know the cardinal numbers in French, it's time to learn the ordinal numbers. 

Form of ordinal Numbers

To form ordinal numbers in French the ending -ième is added to the cardinal number (6, 7, 8, etc.), but pay attention that cardinal numbers that end in - e,  drop 'e' before adding the ending -ième to avoid pronunciation difficulties, ex. cinquante - cinquantième. Spelling exception is number 9, which spelling change from neuf to neuvième. Also is important to not forget to write accent grave (è).

In French another exception is cardinal number 2nd, which has two forms 'deuxième and second'.

 ex. La seconde fois. / La deuxième fois. (Second time)

Regarding the masculine and feminine form of ordinal numbers, only 1st and 2nd have both masculine and feminine form, while other numbers with ending -ième remain invariable.

• Mon premier livre. (n.m.)  - My first book.                
• Ma première maison. (n.f.) - My first house.
• Ma seconde maison. (n.f.) - My second house.  

Have a question?

Take online language lessons with a professional teacher

1. Native & verified teachers
2. Free trial lesson
3. Learning materials included

Dorine L.

Héloïse Elisabeth D.

Andrea B.

Maud B.

Giulia G.

Corinne D.

IBRAHIMA T.

Diana-Konstantina L.

Helga P.

Cornelia A.

Sign up for free

Ordinal numbers from 1-20

1er, 2ème, 3ème, 4ème, 5ème, 6ème, 7ème, 8ème, 9ème, 10ème, 11ème, 12ème, 13ème, 14ème, 15ème, 16ème, 17ème, 18ème, 19ème, 20ème

Attention!

Numbers ending with the ordinal number 'first' ex. 'twenty- first' have the different form than number '1st - premier,' in this case for the numbers higher than 20 you will use the form 'unième' for 'first' and 'onzième' for the numbers which are formed with eleven.

Plural of ordinal numbers

 Ordinal numbers form plural simply by adding -s to the end of the singular form:

Attention!

Unlike in English, ordinal numbers in French are not used with dates or after the names of kings and queens, (except the 'first', with which is used the ordinal form 'premier /  première')

• January 1st - le premier janvier 
• August 25th - le vingt-cinq août (le vinghtième-cinq août is incorrect form)
• François the First - François Premier