German Grammar A–Z
Look up German grammar topics A–Z, organized by category and level — with clear explanations and examples.
Ordinal Numbers in German
German has cardinal numbers and ordinal numbers. Converting a cardinal number into an ordinal number requires a few changes. Today's article will show you how ordinal numbers are formed in German.
Let's get started!!!
1. Rule for ordinal numbers from 1 to 19
-
For the numbers from 1 to 19, the ordinal number is formed by adding the ending ‘’-te’’.
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There are exceptions: eins, drei, sieben and acht.
|
Cardinal number |
Ordinal number |
|
|
1 |
eins |
erste |
|
2 |
zwei |
zweite |
|
3 |
drei |
dritte |
|
4 |
vier |
vierte |
|
5 |
fünf |
fünfte |
|
6 |
sechs |
sechste |
|
7 |
sieben |
siebte |
|
8 |
acht |
achte |
|
9 |
neun |
neunte |
|
10 |
zehn |
zehnte |
|
11 |
elf |
elfte |
|
12 |
zwölf |
zwölfte |
|
13 |
dreizehn |
dreizehnte |
|
19 |
neunzehn |
neunzehnte |
2. Rule for ordinal numbers from 20 onward
-
For numbers from 20 onward, to form the ordinal number you simply add the ending ‘’-ste’’. There are no exceptions.
|
Cardinal number |
Ordinal number |
|
|
20 |
zwanzig |
zwanzigste |
|
21 |
einundzwanzig |
einundzwanzigste |
|
23 |
dreiundzwanzig |
dreiundzwanzigste |
|
30 |
dreißig |
dreißigste |
***Note:
-
When a cardinal number is converted into an ordinal number, it is treated as an adjective and is NOT capitalized when it accompanies a noun.
Deutschland ist meine zweite Heimat.
(Germany is my second home.)
-
However, when they stand alone, they are used in place of a noun and therefore must be capitalized:
Ich bin immer die Erste!
(I am always the first.)
-
The endings of ordinal numbers are declined like adjective endings. For example:
Ich wohne in der fünften Etage.
(I live on the 5th floor.)
→ Answers the question Wo → Dativ → add the ending -en.
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Ordinal numbers can be written as plain numbers, as a digit + a period, or in words:
2. – der/ die/ das zweite
Heute ist der 19. September 2022.
(Today is 19 September 2022.)
3. Rules for writing dates
-
Ordinal numbers in German are often used to express dates. A date can be written in 3 ways:
a. The day is written as a number and the month in words. A period must follow the number for the day.
Heute ist der 15. August.
(Today is 15 August.)
b. Both day and month are numbers. A period must also be added after the numbers for the day and the month.
Heute ist 15.08. .
(Today is 15 August.)
c. Both day and month are written in words. The rules stated above are used.
Heute ist der fünfzehnte August.
(Today is 15 August.)
***Note:
-
A date with the preposition am (an + dem) forms a prepositional phrase of time in the sentence.
Am zwölften September fahre ich nach Berlin.
(On 12 September I am going to Berlin.)
