Ordinal numbers in English are the words we use to describe position or order in a sequence — first, second, third, and so on. You’ll hear them everywhere in daily conversation, from talking about dates and birthdays to naming floors in a building or announcing the winner of a race. This complete guide walks you through how ordinal numbers are formed, how they differ from cardinal numbers, and how to use them correctly in real sentences. You’ll also find a full ordinal number list from 1st to 100th, clear abbreviation rules, common usage examples, and a short quiz to check what you’ve learned.
What Are Ordinal Numbers in English?
Ordinal numbers show the position or order of something within a list or sequence. They answer the question “which one?” rather than “how many?” This is what sets them apart from cardinal numbers (one, two, three), which simply count quantity.
For example:
- She finished in first place. (position in a race)
- This is the second time I’ve been here. (sequence of events)
- My birthday is on the twenty-first of May. (a date)
Because they appear constantly in spoken and written English — in addresses, building floors, calendar dates, competitions, and step-by-step instructions — mastering ordinal numbers is an essential building block for fluent, natural-sounding English.
How to Form Ordinal Numbers in English
Most ordinal numbers are created by adding “-th” to the base cardinal number. For example, four becomes fourth, and six becomes sixth. However, there are several spelling patterns and exceptions worth memorizing.
Irregular Ordinal Numbers
A small group of ordinal numbers don’t follow the standard “-th” pattern at all and must simply be learned by heart:
- 1 → first
- 2 → second
- 3 → third
Words Ending in “-ve”
When a cardinal number ends in “-ve,” the “ve” changes to an “f” before adding “-th”:
- 5 → fifth (not fiveth)
- 12 → twelfth (not twelveth)
Other Spelling Changes
A few numbers drop a letter before the “-th” ending is attached:
- 9 → ninth (the final “e” is dropped)
- 8 → eighth (the final “t” is dropped)
The Regular Formation Rule
For the majority of other numbers, you simply add “-th” to the cardinal form:
- 4 → fourth
- 6 → sixth
- 10 → tenth
- 20 → twentieth
Full List of Ordinal Numbers from 1st to 100th
Below is a complete reference table covering ordinal numbers from 1 through 100, along with their written forms.
Ordinal Numbers 1–50
| 1–10 | 11–20 | 21–30 | 31–40 | 41–50 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st – first | 11th – eleventh | 21st – twenty-first | 31st – thirty-first | 41st – forty-first |
| 2nd – second | 12th – twelfth | 22nd – twenty-second | 32nd – thirty-second | 42nd – forty-second |
| 3rd – third | 13th – thirteenth | 23rd – twenty-third | 33rd – thirty-third | 43rd – forty-third |
| 4th – fourth | 14th – fourteenth | 24th – twenty-fourth | 34th – thirty-fourth | 44th – forty-fourth |
| 5th – fifth | 15th – fifteenth | 25th – twenty-fifth | 35th – thirty-fifth | 45th – forty-fifth |
| 6th – sixth | 16th – sixteenth | 26th – twenty-sixth | 36th – thirty-sixth | 46th – forty-sixth |
| 7th – seventh | 17th – seventeenth | 27th – twenty-seventh | 37th – thirty-seventh | 47th – forty-seventh |
| 8th – eighth | 18th – eighteenth | 28th – twenty-eighth | 38th – thirty-eighth | 48th – forty-eighth |
| 9th – ninth | 19th – nineteenth | 29th – twenty-ninth | 39th – thirty-ninth | 49th – forty-ninth |
| 10th – tenth | 20th – twentieth | 30th – thirtieth | 40th – fortieth | 50th – fiftieth |
Ordinal Numbers 51–100
| 51–60 | 61–70 | 71–80 | 81–90 | 91–100 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51st – fifty-first | 61st – sixty-first | 71st – seventy-first | 81st – eighty-first | 91st – ninety-first |
| 52nd – fifty-second | 62nd – sixty-second | 72nd – seventy-second | 82nd – eighty-second | 92nd – ninety-second |
| 53rd – fifty-third | 63rd – sixty-third | 73rd – seventy-third | 83rd – eighty-third | 93rd – ninety-third |
| 54th – fifty-fourth | 64th – sixty-fourth | 74th – seventy-fourth | 84th – eighty-fourth | 94th – ninety-fourth |
| 55th – fifty-fifth | 65th – sixty-fifth | 75th – seventy-fifth | 85th – eighty-fifth | 95th – ninety-fifth |
| 56th – fifty-sixth | 66th – sixty-sixth | 76th – seventy-sixth | 86th – eighty-sixth | 96th – ninety-sixth |
| 57th – fifty-seventh | 67th – sixty-seventh | 77th – seventy-seventh | 87th – eighty-seventh | 97th – ninety-seventh |
| 58th – fifty-eighth | 68th – sixty-eighth | 78th – seventy-eighth | 88th – eighty-eighth | 98th – ninety-eighth |
| 59th – fifty-ninth | 69th – sixty-ninth | 79th – seventy-ninth | 89th – eighty-ninth | 99th – ninety-ninth |
| 60th – sixtieth | 70th – seventieth | 80th – eightieth | 90th – ninetieth | 100th – one hundredth |
Once you’re comfortable with the written forms above, the next step is learning how to shorten them correctly — which is where abbreviations come in.
Ordinal Number Abbreviations (1st, 2nd, 3rd…)
In everyday writing — especially in dates, schedules, lists, and charts — ordinal numbers are almost always shortened using standard abbreviations. These abbreviations are formed based on the number’s final digit.
Examples of common abbreviations:
| Ordinal Word | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| first | 1st |
| second | 2nd |
| third | 3rd |
| fourth | 4th |
| fifth | 5th |
| twenty-first | 21st |
| hundredth | 100th |
The general rules for forming abbreviations are:
- Numbers ending in 1 → add st (1st, 21st, 91st)
- Numbers ending in 2 → add nd (2nd, 22nd, 42nd)
- Numbers ending in 3 → add rd (3rd, 23rd, 53rd)
- All other numbers → add th (4th, 6th, 20th, 100th)
Important exception: Although 11, 12, and 13 end in 1, 2, and 3, they still take “th” because of their unique spelling and pronunciation history: 11th, 12th, 13th — never 11st, 12nd, or 13rd.
Common Uses of Ordinal Numbers in English
Ordinal numbers show up constantly in real-life English. Here are the situations where you’re most likely to encounter — and need — them.
1. Dates
Ordinal numbers are used to state the exact day of the month.
- My birthday is on the 10th of July.
- We met on the 21st of March.
2. Floors in a Building
They describe which level of a building someone is on.
- Her office is on the third floor.
- I live on the seventh floor.
3. Competitions or Races
They indicate a competitor’s rank or finishing position.
- He came in first place.
- She finished second in the spelling bee.
4. Chapters, Lessons, and Lists
Ordinal numbers help organize information into a clear sequence.
- Turn to the fourth chapter.
- Please read the second paragraph.
5. Addresses and Street Names
This usage is especially common in American and British addresses.
- She lives on Fifth Avenue.
- Go to 22nd Street.
6. Instructions or Steps
Ordinal numbers clarify the correct order of actions in a process.
- The first step is to mix the ingredients.
- The second instruction is very important.
Ordinal Numbers vs. Cardinal Numbers: What’s the Difference?
Cardinal and ordinal numbers are both fundamental number types in English, but they serve very different grammatical purposes.
Cardinal numbers tell you how many of something there are — they’re used purely for counting. Examples include one, two, three, four, ten, twenty.
Ordinal numbers tell you the position or order of something within a sequence — used for ranking, dates, or place in a line. Examples include first, second, third, tenth, twentieth.
| Type | What It Tells You | Examples | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinal Number | Quantity or how many | 1, 2, 3 (one, two, three) | I have three cats. |
| Ordinal Number | Position or order | 1st, 2nd, 3rd (first, second, third) | She came in second place. |
Quick tip: If you’re counting things, reach for cardinal numbers. If you’re describing the order of things, use ordinal numbers instead.
Grammar Rules and Tips for Using Ordinal Numbers
Knowing the words isn’t enough — using them correctly in a sentence takes a little extra grammar know-how. Here are the key rules to keep in mind.
a. Ordinal adjectives always come before the noun they describe:
- This is my first car.
- We stayed on the fifth floor.
b. Ordinal numbers can stand alone without a noun when the meaning is already clear from context:
- I finished second. (in a race)
c. Use “the” with ordinal numbers in most cases:
- He was the first to speak.
- This is the third time.
d. Ordinal numbers often follow prepositions like “on” or “in”:
- We met on the second day.
- She was born in the third month of the year.
e. Use ordinal numbers for dates, rankings, and events:
- My birthday is on the 5th of July.
- He finished in first place.
- This is her twentieth concert.
Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Ordinal Numbers
Try answering these questions to check how well you’ve understood ordinal numbers in English.
What is the ordinal number for 3?
a) threeth b) third c) threeChoose the correct ordinal form of 12.
a) twelveth b) twelvth c) twelfthWhich abbreviation is correct for “twenty-second”?
a) 22rd b) 22nd c) 22thI live on the ___ floor of the building.
a) five b) fifth c) fivethWhat is the correct way to say this date: 7th July?
a) the seven of July b) the seventh of July c) seventh JulyWhat is the correct ordinal form of 100?
a) hundredst b) hundredth c) oneth hundredWhich of these is NOT a correct ordinal number?
a) first b) eight c) thirdWhat is the correct way to write the ordinal number for 43?
a) fourty-third b) forty-third c) forty-threethShe finished ___ in the race.
a) three b) third c) thirdenChoose the sentence that uses an ordinal number correctly.
a) I met him on second time. b) She won the two prize. c) This is the fifth time I’ve told you!
Answer key: 1) b – third 2) c – twelfth 3) b – 22nd 4) b – fifth 5) b – the seventh of July 6) b – hundredth 7) b – eight 8) b – forty-third 9) b – third 10) c – This is the fifth time I’ve told you!
Final Thoughts
Ordinal numbers may seem like a small grammar point, but they play a huge role in everyday English — from telling someone your birthday to describing which floor your apartment is on or announcing who won a competition. Once you understand the core formation rules, memorize the handful of irregular forms (first, second, third, fifth, twelfth, ninth, eighth), and practice the abbreviation patterns, using ordinal numbers correctly becomes second nature. Keep the reference tables above bookmarked, revisit the quiz whenever you need a refresher, and start weaving ordinal numbers naturally into your daily conversations, writing, and storytelling in English.