Ordinal numbers indicate position or rank in a sequence: first, second, third, etc. In Italian, ordinal numbers are adjectives, which means they must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. The first ten ordinals are irregular and must be memorized, while from 11th onwards a regular pattern applies.
| Number | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural | English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1° | primo | prima | primi | prime | first |
| 2° | secondo | seconda | secondi | seconde | second |
| 3° | terzo | terza | terzi | terze | third |
| 4° | quarto | quarta | quarti | quarte | fourth |
| 5° | quinto | quinta | quinti | quinte | fifth |
| 6° | sesto | sesta | sesti | seste | sixth |
| 7° | settimo | settima | settimi | settime | seventh |
| 8° | ottavo | ottava | ottavi | ottave | eighth |
| 9° | nono | nona | noni | none | ninth |
| 10° | decimo | decima | decimi | decime | tenth |
From 11th onwards, ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix -esimo/-esima/-esimi/-esime to the cardinal number. If the cardinal ends in a vowel, drop the final vowel before adding -esimo. For example: undici → undicesimo (11th), dodici → dodicesimo (12th), venti → ventesimo (20th), cento → centesimo (100th). Exception: numbers ending in -tré (like ventitré) keep the accent and the vowel: ventitreesimo (23rd).
| Number | Cardinal | Ordinal (m.sg.) | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11° | undici | undicesimo | eleventh |
| 12° | dodici | dodicesimo | twelfth |
| 13° | tredici | tredicesimo | thirteenth |
| 14° | quattordici | quattordicesimo | fourteenth |
| 15° | quindici | quindicesimo | fifteenth |
| 16° | sedici | sedicesimo | sixteenth |
| 17° | diciassette | diciassettesimo | seventeenth |
| 18° | diciotto | diciottesimo | eighteenth |
| 19° | diciannove | diciannovesimo | nineteenth |
| 20° | venti | ventesimo | twentieth |
Ordinal numbers have several specific uses in Italian: Dates: Only 'primo' is used for the first day of the month (il primo gennaio). All other dates use cardinal numbers (il due febbraio, il tre marzo). Popes and monarchs: Roman numerals are used in writing, but the full ordinal is spoken. Papa Giovanni XXIII is read as 'Papa Giovanni ventitreesimo'. Carlo V is 'Carlo quinto'. Centuries: Il ventunesimo secolo = the 21st century. Italians also use shortened forms: il Duecento (the 1200s), il Trecento (1300s), il Quattrocento (1400s), il Cinquecento (1500s). Floors: il primo piano = the first floor above ground. The ground floor is 'il pianterreno', so 'il primo piano' is what Americans call the second floor.
1. Ordinals agree in gender and number: il primo giorno, la prima volta, i primi studenti, le prime pagine. 2. From 11th onwards: drop the final vowel of the cardinal, then add -esimo (e.g., dodici → dodicesimo). 3. Exception: cardinals ending in -tré keep the vowel and the accent: ventitré → ventitreesimo. 4. For dates, only 'primo' is ordinal; all others are cardinals: il primo maggio, but il due giugno. 5. Abbreviations: 1° / 1ª (first), 2° / 2ª (second), 3° / 3ª (third) — ° for masculine, ª for feminine.
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Ordinal Numbers 1st–5th: Recognition
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Ordinal Numbers 6th–10th: Recognition
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Identifying Ordinals 1st–10th in Context
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Translating Ordinals 1st–10th
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Fill in the Ordinal: 1st–10th
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Ordinals in Everyday Phrases
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Ordinal Numbers: Which Word Fits?
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Spot the Error in Ordinal Usage
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Complete the Sentence with the Right Ordinal (1st–10th)
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Ordinals 1st–10th: Mixed Practice
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Gender Agreement: Masculine vs Feminine Ordinals
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Plural Agreement: Masculine and Feminine Plural Ordinals
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Agreement Practice: Fill in the Correct Ordinal Form
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Ordinals with Articles: Choosing the Right Combination
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Ordinal Agreement in Full Sentences
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Agreement in Real Sentences: Singular and Plural
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Ordinal Agreement: Feminine Forms Focus
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Ordinal Agreement: Masculine Forms Focus
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Ordinal Numbers in Competition and Rankings
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Gender and Number Agreement: Fill in the Ordinal
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Forming Ordinals 11th–20th
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Ordinals 16th–20th: Formation
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Ordinals 11th–20th: Recognition and Use
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Ordinals 21st and Beyond: Formation Rules
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Fill in the Ordinal: 11th–20th
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Ordinals 11th–20th: Identifying Errors
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Ordinals 11th–20th: Translation Practice
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Ordinals 11th–20th: Mixed Comprehension
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Higher Ordinals: 21st–100th
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Fill in the Ordinal: Higher Numbers (21st–100th)
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Ordinals in Buildings and Floors
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Ordinals with Dates: Using 'Primo'
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Ordinals with Popes, Monarchs, and Rulers
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Ordinals in Rankings, Competitions, and Prizes
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Ordinals in Context: Practical Sentences
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Ordinals in Chapters, Books, and Series
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Ordinals with Centuries and Historical Context
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Ordinals in Everyday Situations
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Ordinals: Comprehensive Practical Review
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Practical Uses: Dates, Floors, Rankings — Fill in the Blank
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Abbreviations of Ordinal Numbers
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Ordinals with Abbreviations and Written Forms
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Ordinals: Complex Sentence Contexts
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Ordinals: Error Correction and Critical Thinking
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Mixed Ordinals: Fill in the Blank
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Ordinals in Italian Culture and History
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Ordinals: Translating from English to Italian
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Ordinals: Listening and Reading Comprehension
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Ordinals: Advanced Mixed Practice
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Final Review: Ordinal Numbers in All Contexts
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