Ordinal numbers

Ordinal numbers indicate order or rank, such as “first,” “second,” and “third.” In French, they are usually formed by adding -ième to the corresponding cardinal number.

Formation of Ordinal Numbers

  1. First – premier / première
    The French word for “first” is premier (masculine) or première (feminine). Example:
    • C’est mon premier jour de travail. (It’s my first day of work.)
    • Voici la première fois que je viens ici. (This is the first time I’ve come here.)
  2. Other ordinal numbers
    For most other numbers, add -ième to the cardinal number. If the number ends in e, drop it before adding -ième.
    • Deux → deuxième (second)
    • Trois → troisième (third)
    • Quatre → quatrième (fourth)
    • Cinq → cinquième (fifth) (cinq changes to cinquième for euphony)
    • Neuf → neuvième (ninth) (neuf changes to neuvième)
  3. Twentieth and Beyond
    • Vingt → vingtième (twentieth)
    • Trente → trentième (thirtieth)
    • Cent → centième (hundredth)
  4. Numbers with multiple digits
    Only the last number in a compound number takes the -ième suffix:
    • Vingt et un → vingt et unième (twenty-first)
    • Quarante-trois → quarante-troisième (forty-third)

Usage Examples

Ordinal numbers are commonly used in ranking and sequences:

  • C’est mon deuxième essai. (This is my second try.)
  • Il habite au cinquième étage. (He lives on the fifth floor.)
  • Napoléon Ier était un empereur français. (Napoleon I was a French emperor.)

Exceptions and Special Cases

  • Premier and première are used instead of unième.
  • Deuxième and second both mean “second,” but second is preferred when only two items exist (e.g., “the second and last round” → le second et dernier tour).

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