Vocabulary: Core & Everyday Vocabulary (A2) - Lesson 7: Ordinal Numbers (first, second, third... up to 31st for dates)

Lesson 7: Ordinal Numbers

First, Second, Third & Dates

You know how to count with cardinal numbers¹ (one, two, three). But how do we talk about the order of things, or say a date²? For this, we need special "ordinal numbers³". This lesson will teach you how to say 'first', 'second', 'third', and use them to talk about dates.

The Basics: First, Second, and Third

These first three are special and have unique spellings. You must memorize them.

1st ... first⁴

2nd ... second⁵

3rd ... third⁶

Numbers 4th to 19th: The "-th" Rule

For most other numbers, we just add '-th' to the end of the cardinal number.

4th ... fourth

5th ... fifth (Note: special spelling)

6th ... sixth

11th ... eleventh

12th ... twelfth (Note: special spelling)

13th ... thirteenth

Numbers with "Twenty" and "Thirty"

For numbers ending in 'y', we change the 'y' to 'ie' and add 'th'.

20th ... twentieth

30th ... thirtieth

For other numbers, we just change the last number to its ordinal form.

21st ... twenty-first

22nd ... twenty-second

23rd ... twenty-third

24th ... twenty-fourth

31st ... thirty-first

Usage Note: How to Say and Write Dates

We use ordinal numbers to say the date. This is very important!

Example: June 11th

• We write: June 11th
• We say: "the eleventh of June"

Another Example: December 25th

• We write: December 25th
• We say: "the twenty-fifth of December"

In Conversation

Srey and Bora are talking about upcoming events.

Srey: Bora, when is the Water Festival this year?

Bora: I think it starts on the fifteenth of November.

Srey: Okay, good to know. And what about your birthday?

Bora: My birthday is on the third of August. It's my thirtieth birthday!

Srey: Wow! And my birthday is soon. It's on June twenty-first.

Bora: The twenty-first? That's your first day of holiday!

Srey: I know! I'm very excited.

quiz Check Your Understanding

1. How do we write the ordinal number for '2'?

• a) 2th
• b) 2nd
• c) 2rd

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) 2nd

2. What is the correct ordinal number for 'five'?

• a) fiveth
• b) fifth
• c) fivth

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) fifth

3. Today's date is June 11th. How do we SAY this?

• a) The eleven of June
• b) The eleventh of June
• c) The oneth-one of June

Click to see the answer

Answer: b) The eleventh of June

edit Your Mission

1. My Important Dates: Write down three important dates in your life (your birthday, a holiday). Write them like this: "My birthday is on October 22nd."
2. Practice: Say the ordinal numbers from first (1st) to tenth (10th) out loud.
3. Speak: Your mission is to ask a friend, "When is your birthday?". Listen for the month and the ordinal number for the day.

book Lesson Glossary

1. Cardinal Number (noun) - Khmer: លេខរាប់ - A number for counting (one, two, three). ↩
2. Date (noun) - Khmer: កាលបរិច្ឆេទ - A specific day of a month and year. ↩
3. Ordinal Number (noun) - Khmer: លេខលំដាប់ - A number that shows order or position (first, second, third). ↩
4. First (ordinal) - Khmer: ទីមួយ - Comes before all others; 1st. ↩
5. Second (ordinal) - Khmer: ទីពីរ - Comes after the first; 2nd. ↩
6. Third (ordinal) - Khmer: ទីបី - Comes after the second; 3rd. ↩