German Ordinal Numbers for Beginners (A1)
What are ordinal numbers? They are numbers like first, second, and third. In German, we call them Ordnungszahlen.
We use them to show a position or a place in a row. They are very important for learning the date in German.
The First 5 Numbers
Here are the most common ordinal numbers you need to know. Notice that they look a lot like normal numbers, but they have a small change at the end.
| Number | German Word | English Meaning |
| 1st | erst- | first |
| 2nd | zweit- | second |
| 3rd | dritt- | third |
| 4th | viert- | fourth |
| 5th | fünft- | fifth |
Grammar Tip: In German, we make these numbers by taking the normal number (like vier or fünf) and adding a -t at the end. Easy, right? Just watch out for erst- (first) and dritt- (third) because they are special!
How to Use Them
In German, we write a dot after the number to show it is an ordinal number. For example, 1. means erst- (1st).
Because these words talk about a noun, they change their ending like adjectives. Here are two easy examples for A1 learners:
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Example 1 (Dates): „Heute ist der erste Mai.“ (Today is the first of May.)
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Example 2 (Rankings): „Er ist der erste Spieler.“ (He is the first player.)
Basic Vocabulary for Practice
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Der erste… — The first…
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Der letzte… — The last…
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Das Datum — The date
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Heute — Today
Easy Practice for You!
Try to write your birthday using a German ordinal number. For example, if you were born on the 4th, you can say: “Ich habe am vierten… Geburtstag.”