Introduction: Indicating Order and Position

While cardinal numbers (hoofdtelwoorden) tell you how many (one, two, three), ordinal numbers (rangtelwoorden) tell you the order or position of something in a sequence (first, second, third).

Ordinal numbers are essential for dates, rankings, floors in a building, sequence steps, etc.

Formation of Ordinal Numbers

1. General Rule: Add -de or -ste

• Most numbers form their ordinal by adding the suffix -de. This applies to numbers ending in 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 0, and the teens except for 1st and 3rd.
• Numbers ending in 1 (except for 1st) and 8 add the suffix -ste.
• The number 1 (een) has an irregular form: eerste.
• The number 3 (drie) becomes derde.
• The number 8 (acht) becomes achtste.
• Numbers from 20 onwards generally follow the rule for the last digit, adding -ste or -de to the full cardinal number.

1. Adjective Endings: Ordinal numbers function like adjectives. When placed before a noun, they usually take an -e ending, just like regular adjectives.

• de tweede auto (the second car)
• het derde huis (the third house)
• mijn eerste les (my first lesson)

List of Common Ordinal Numbers

Cardinal	Ordinal	English	Written Abbreviation
1 een	eerste	first	1e / 1ste
2 twee	tweede	second	2e / 2de
3 drie	derde	third	3e / 3de
4 vier	vierde	fourth	4e / 4de
5 vijf	vijfde	fifth	5e / 5de
6 zes	zesde	sixth	6e / 6de
7 zeven	zevende	seventh	7e / 7de
8 acht	achtste	eighth	8e / 8ste
9 negen	negende	ninth	9e / 9de
10 tien	tiende	tenth	10e / 10de
11 elf	elfde	eleventh	11e / 11de
12 twaalf	twaalfde	twelfth	12e / 12de
13 dertien	dertiende	thirteenth	13e / 13de
14 veertien	veertiende	fourteenth	14e / 14de
15 vijftien	vijftiende	fifteenth	15e / 15de
16 zestien	zestiende	sixteenth	16e / 16de
17 zeventien	zeventiende	seventeenth	17e / 17de
18 achttien	achttiende	eighteenth	18e / 18de
19 negentien	negentiende	nineteenth	19e / 19de
20 twintig	twintigste	twentieth	20e / 20ste
21 eenentwintig	eenentwintigste	twenty-first	21e / 21ste
22 tweeëntwintig	tweeëntwintigste	twenty-second	22e / 22ste
23 drieëntwintig	drieëntwintigste	twenty-third	23e / 23ste
30 dertig	dertigste	thirtieth	30e / 30ste
40 veertig	veertigste	fortieth	40e / 40ste
100 honderd	honderdste	hundredth	100e / 100ste
101 honderdeen	honderdeerste	hundred-and-first	101e / 101ste
1000 duizend	duizendste	thousandth	1000e / 1000ste

Important Notes on Formation 20+:

• Numbers ending in -tig (like twintig, dertig, veertig) add -ste.
• Compound numbers (like eenentwintig) add the suffix to the whole number, usually -ste if the base number ends in -tig.

Using Ordinal Numbers

1. Dates: Used for the day of the month.

• Het is vandaag de vijfde mei. (Today is the fifth of May.)
• Mijn verjaardag is op tweeëntwintig juni. (My birthday is on the twenty-second of June.) - Note: op is often used before the date.
• Often written numerically: 5 mei, 22 juni.

1. Rankings/Order:

• Hij was de eerste in de race. (He was the first in the race.)
• Dit is de derde keer dat ik het probeer. (This is the third time that I'm trying.)

1. Floors in Buildings:

• Ik woon op de vierde verdieping. (I live on the fourth floor.) - Note: Dutch ground floor = begane grond, 1st floor = eerste verdieping.

1. Centuries:

• De twintigste eeuw (The twentieth century - 1900s)

1. Sequence:

• Ten eerste... ten tweede... ten derde... (Firstly... secondly... thirdly...)

Abbreviations

In writing, ordinals are often abbreviated using the number followed by e or sometimes ste/de (less common). 1e, 2e, 3e, 8ste, 20e.

Ordinal numbers (eerste, tweede, derde, etc.) indicate position in a sequence. Learn the irregular forms for 1st, 3rd, and 8th. Most others add -de or -ste (mainly 20+ and those ending in 8). Remember they function like adjectives and usually take an -e ending before a noun. They are essential for dates, sequences, and rankings.