Ordinal Numbers in Finnish
Järjestysluvut
This article is part of the Finnish grammar tree on Settemila Lingue.
Overview
Ordinal numbers (first, second, third...) are essential A1 vocabulary for dates, floors, rankings, and sequences. Finnish ordinal numbers are formed by adding the suffix -s (with stem changes) to the cardinal number, then declining them through cases like adjectives. The first three ordinals are somewhat irregular, while the rest follow a predictable pattern.
Ordinal numbers are used constantly in Finnish daily life — for dates (ensimmäinen toukokuuta — the first of May), floor numbers (kolmas kerros — third floor), and sequences of all kinds.
How It Works
Basic ordinal numbers
| Cardinal | Ordinal | English |
|---|---|---|
| yksi (1) | ensimmäinen | first |
| kaksi (2) | toinen | second |
| kolme (3) | kolmas | third |
| neljä (4) | neljäs | fourth |
| viisi (5) | viides | fifth |
| kuusi (6) | kuudes | sixth |
| seitsemän (7) | seitsemäs | seventh |
| kahdeksan (8) | kahdeksas | eighth |
| yhdeksän (9) | yhdeksäs | ninth |
| kymmenen (10) | kymmenes | tenth |
Higher ordinals
| Cardinal | Ordinal | English |
|---|---|---|
| yksitoista (11) | yhdestoista | eleventh |
| kaksikymmentä (20) | kahdeskymmenes | twentieth |
| sata (100) | sadastoista | hundredth |
Declension
Ordinals decline like adjectives. The stem for cases uses -nte- (from -s):
| Case | kolmas (third) |
|---|---|
| Nominative | kolmas |
| Genitive | kolmannen |
| Partitive | kolmatta |
| Inessive | kolmannessa |
| Allative | kolmannelle |
Common uses
| Context | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | ensimmäinen toukokuuta | the first of May |
| Floors | kolmas kerros | third floor |
| Rankings | Hän tuli ensimmäiseksi. | He/She came first. |
| Sequences | toinen kerta | the second time |
Examples in Context
| Finnish | English | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ensimmäinen toukokuuta on vappu. | The first of May is May Day. | Date |
| Asun kolmannessa kerroksessa. | I live on the third floor. | Floor + inessive |
| Tämä on toinen kerta. | This is the second time. | Sequence |
| Hän voitti ensimmäisen palkinnon. | He/She won the first prize. | Ranking |
| Neljäs kappale on vaikea. | The fourth chapter is difficult. | Chapter number |
| Otan kolmannen. | I'll take the third one. | Selection |
| Viides kysymys on helppo. | The fifth question is easy. | Sequence |
| Toinen vaihtoehto on parempi. | The second option is better. | Comparison |
| Ensimmäisellä kerralla en osannut. | The first time I couldn't do it. | Adessive |
| Kahdeksas maaliskuuta on naistenpäivä. | March eighth is Women's Day. | Date |
Common Mistakes
Using cardinal instead of ordinal for dates
- Wrong: yksi toukokuuta
- Right: ensimmäinen toukokuuta
- Why: Finnish dates use ordinal numbers, not cardinals.
Not declining ordinals
- Wrong: Asun kolmas kerroksessa.
- Right: Asun kolmannessa kerroksessa.
- Why: Ordinal numbers must agree in case with the noun they modify.
Confusing "toinen" (second) and "toinen" (other/another)
- Wrong: Thinking they are different words
- Right: Toinen means both "second" and "other/another" depending on context
- Why: This is a single word with two related meanings. Context makes the distinction clear.
Practice Tips
- Date practice: Say today's date and the next few days using ordinals: Tänään on toinen huhtikuuta. Huomenna on kolmas huhtikuuta.
- Floor numbers: Practice describing building floors: ensimmäinen kerros, toinen kerros, kolmas kerros...
- Ranking game: Rank your top 5 favorites of something: Ensimmäinen: kahvi. Toinen: tee. Kolmas: mehu...
Related Concepts
- Prerequisite: Numbers and Time — cardinal numbers that ordinals are derived from
Prerequisite
Numbers and Time in FinnishA1More A1 concepts
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