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Ordinal numbers describe an order/rank.
Look at these ordinal numbers:
| English | French | Long-hand |
| 1st | 1er / 1re | premier (m) / première (f) |
| 2nd | 2e / 2d / 2de | deuxième second (m) / seconde (f) |
| 3rd | 3e | troisième |
| 4th | 4e | quatrième |
| 5th | 5e | cinquième |
| 9th | 9e | neuvième |
The main rule to form ordinal numbers is as follows:
Cardinal number + -ième at the end
(stripping off any mute -e if there is one first)
(stripping off any mute -e if there is one first)
EXCEPTIONS
- premier/première and second/seconde agree in gender with the noun they refer to
- you add a -u after cinq to form cinquième, as the syllable "qi" doesn't exist in French.
- the -f of neuf becomes a -v in neuvième, simply to ease the pronunciation.
Now listen to these examples:
Je préfère la première robe.
I prefer the first dress.
Il a fini le troisième exercice.
He finished the third exercise.
Je suis arrivé sixième au marathon.
I came sixth at the marathon.
When to use deuxième vs second/seconde ?
On aime la deuxième chanson de l'album.
We like the second song of the album.
Il y avait deux gâteaux sur la table: j'en ai mangé un, tu as mangé le second.
There were two cakes on the table: I ate one, you ate the second one.
- Use deuxième if there are more than two things,
- Use second/e if there are only two options.
- Use second/e if there are only two options.
Cardinal numbers = 1,2,3 etc
Ordinal numbers = describing an order/rank = 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc Fractions = describing a part of a whole = half, third, fourth etc
Also see Expressing fractions - general (numbers)
Ordinal numbers = describing an order/rank = 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc Fractions = describing a part of a whole = half, third, fourth etc
Also see Expressing fractions - general (numbers)
Examples and resources
Je préfère la première robe.
I prefer the first dress.
Je suis arrivé sixième au marathon.
I came sixth at the marathon.
On aime la deuxième chanson de l'album.
We like the second song of the album.
Il y avait deux gâteaux sur la table: j'en ai mangé un, tu as mangé le second.
There were two cakes on the table: I ate one, you ate the second one.
Il a fini le troisième exercice.
He finished the third exercise.
J'ai réussi la neuvième fois.
I managed the ninth time.
Q&A Forum 4 questions, 3 answers
At the top of this lesson, in the list of ordinal numbers in english / french / longhand:
Asked 4 months ago
Julia asked:View original
At the top of this lesson, in the list of ordinal numbers in english / french / longhand:
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Salut a tous
In the video, you have 3eme, 4eme, 5eme whereas in the lesson you have 3e, 4e, 5e... are both used or is one used more frequently or is one more formal than the other?
Merci
Asked 4 months ago
Claudia asked:View original
Salut a tous
In the video, you have 3eme, 4eme, 5eme whereas in the lesson you have 3e, 4e, 5e... are both used or is one used more frequently or is one more formal than the other?
Merci
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Cinquième
I think it would be useful to note in the lesson another small exception to the rule on forming the ordinal numbers. Namely, 'cinq' becomes 'cinquième' rather than 'cinqième'. No big deal, but I just wanted to mention it.
Asked 10 months ago
Bonjour Scott et merci pour votre suggestion très utile !
I've now added this case to the lesson :)
Bonne journée !
Scott asked:View original
Cinquième
I think it would be useful to note in the lesson another small exception to the rule on forming the ordinal numbers. Namely, 'cinq' becomes 'cinquième' rather than 'cinqième'. No big deal, but I just wanted to mention it.
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AurélieKwiziq language super star
Joakim asked : why one says "tiers monde" rather than "troisième monde" ?
Asked 6 years ago
AurélieKwiziq language super star
Bonjour Joakim !
The expression "le Tiers Monde" to say "the Third World" is fixed as it is in English: this is the only way to say this in French.
"Le Troisième Monde" would feel like there are more than one world, i.e. one planet, when here it's more of a division of the world into three "parts", hence the use of the fraction here.
À bientôt !
Aurélie asked:View original
Joakim asked : why one says "tiers monde" rather than "troisième monde" ?
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