Ordinal numbers turn counting into ranking — they answer “which place?” instead of “how many?” At A1 level, you’ll use them for dates, floors, bus stops, rankings, and more. German ordinals are easy once you know the pattern: most add -te or -ste, with a few irregulars. This guide gives you the full system, real-life examples, pronunciation, and a quick quiz.
This cluster post connects to [Big Numbers in German: Hundreds, Thousands, and Millions [Practice Quiz]] and our pillar [Learn German Numbers from 0 to 1,000,000: A Complete Beginner Tutorial (A1)]. Pair with [Telling Time in German] for dates!
The Basic Pattern: 1st → 1. / 4th → 4.
| Cardinal | Ordinal | German | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1st | der erste | air-stuh |
| 2 | 2nd | der zweite | tsvy-tuh |
| 3 | 3rd | der dritte | drit-uh |
| 4 | 4th | der vierte | feer-tuh |
| 5–19 | 5th–19th | -te | fünfte, sechste |
| 20+ | 20th+ | -ste | zwanzigste |
Rule:
- 1–19 → add -te (but 1, 3, 7, 8 are special)
- 20+ → add -ste
- Always use . after the number: 1. = erste
Special Cases: The Irregular Four
| Number | Ordinal | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | erste | From ein → drops “n” |
| 3 | dritte | Loses “ei” |
| 7 | siebte | Drops “en” |
| 8 | achte | Becomes “acht” + te |
Memory Trick:
1st = erste (like “earliest”)
3rd = dritte (three → dritte)
7th & 8th drop endings like teens do.
Full List: 1st to 20th (Most Common)
| # | German Ordinal | Example Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | der erste | Der erste Tag (The first day) |
| 2. | der zweite | Zweiter Stock (2nd floor) |
| 3. | der dritte | Dritte Person (3rd person) |
| 4. | der vierte | Vierter Platz (4th place) |
| 5. | der fünfte | Fünfte Klasse (5th grade) |
| 6. | der sechste | Sechster Sinn (6th sense) |
| 7. | der siebte | Siebter Himmel (7th heaven) |
| 8. | der achte | Achte Etage (8th floor) |
| 9. | der neunte | Neunter Monat (9th month) |
| 10. | der zehnte | Zehnter Geburtstag (10th birthday) |
| 20. | der zwanzigste | Zwanzigster Januar |
How to Use Ordinals in Sentences
1. Dates (Most Common!)
Heute ist der erste Mai.
(Today is the first of May.)
Am dritten Juni.
(On the third of June.)
Rule: Use am + dative + ordinal + month.
2. Floors & Addresses
Ich wohne im vierten Stock.
(I live on the 4th floor.)
Zimmer dreihundertzwanzig. → Raum 320.
(Room 320)
3. Rankings & Places
Deutschland ist auf dem zweiten Platz.
(Germany is in 2nd place.)
Der dritte Versuch.
(The third attempt.)
Pronunciation Flow: Say It Like a Native
- erste → AIR-stuh (short, sharp)
- zwanzigste → TSVAHN-tsig-stuh (stress on first syllable)
- siebte → ZEEP-tuh (soft ‘p’)
Practice Audio:
[Listen: 1. bis 20. mit Sätzen]
Quick Interactive Quiz
Q1: 1st = ?
→ der erste
Q2: 19th = ?
→ der neunzehnte
Q3: “On the 7th of October” = ?
→ Am siebten Oktober.
Q4: 100th = ?
→ der hundertste
[Download Quiz + Answer Key PDF]
Cheat Sheet (Save This!)
| Range | Ending |
|---|---|
| 1–19 | -te (1,3,7,8 irregular) |
| 20–99 | -ste |
| 100+ | -ste |
Dates: am + [ordinal] + [month]
Real-Life Challenge
- Say your birthday: → Mein Geburtstag ist am fünfzehnten März.
- Name your floor: → Ich wohne im dritten Stock.
Pro Tip: Use [Anki Flashcards: German Ordinals 1–100] for daily review.
Your Turn:
Write the date 3. November 2025 in German in the comments!
(Answer: am dritten November zwotausendfünfundzwanzig)
