No Login Data Private Local Save

Number to Ordinal (1st, 2nd, 3rd) – Online Multi‑Language

2
0
0
0

Convert numbers to ordinal forms in multiple languages — with proper suffixes, prefixes, and full word spellings

Result
—
Quick Preview: 1–20 in English

Click any badge to load that number

Conversion Rules

Select a language above to see its ordinal rules.

Did You Know?
  • Ordinal numbers indicate position or rank — 1st place, 3rd floor, 42nd street.
  • English uses -st, -nd, -rd, -th based on the last digit, but 11–13 are exceptions.
  • Most Romance languages use º/ª (masculine/feminine) ordinal indicators.
  • German simply adds a dot after the number (1. = erste).
  • Chinese, Japanese, and Korean use a prefix (第/제) instead of a suffix.
  • In math and CS, "zeroth" (0th) is a legitimate term — think of the zeroth law of thermodynamics!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ordinal number?

An ordinal number indicates the position or order of something in a list — such as 1st (first), 2nd (second), or 3rd (third). Unlike cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3) which express quantity, ordinals express rank, sequence, or placement.

What is the rule for adding -st, -nd, -rd, and -th in English?

The rule depends on the last digit: numbers ending in 1 get -st (1st, 21st), numbers ending in 2 get -nd (2nd, 32nd), numbers ending in 3 get -rd (3rd, 43rd), and all others get -th (4th, 5th, 6th...). Exception: numbers ending in 11, 12, or 13 always use -th (11th, 12th, 13th, 111th, 213th) because of how they are pronounced.

Why is it "11th" and not "11st"?

Although 11 ends with a "1", it is pronounced "eleven" (not "ten-one"), so it takes the -th suffix. The same logic applies to 12 (twelfth → 12th) and 13 (thirteenth → 13th). The pattern holds for all numbers ending in 11, 12, or 13 — like 111th, 212th, 313th.

How do ordinal numbers work in French?

French uses -er for the number 1 (1er = premier, masculine; 1re = première, feminine) and -e for all other numbers (2e = deuxième, 3e = troisième, 100e = centième). The abbreviation is placed after the number as a superscript or regular suffix.

What does the º symbol mean in Spanish ordinals?

The º (masculine ordinal indicator) and ª (feminine ordinal indicator) are used in Spanish to abbreviate ordinal numbers. For example, 1º = primero (first, masculine) and 1ª = primera (first, feminine). The gender must agree with the noun being modified.

How do Chinese and Japanese express ordinal numbers?

Both Chinese and Japanese use the prefix 第 (pronounced "dì" in Chinese, "dai" in Japanese) before the number. For example, 第1 means "first," 第2 means "second," and so on. This prefix-based system is simpler than suffix-based systems because there are no irregular forms.

Can ordinal numbers be used with decimals or negative numbers?

Ordinal numbers are traditionally used only with positive integers (1st, 2nd, 3rd…). Decimals (like 2.5th) and negatives (like -1st) are rarely used in standard English. However, in some technical contexts like mathematics or programming, "0th" (zeroth) is accepted — for example, the zeroth element of an array or the zeroth law of thermodynamics.

What's the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers?

Cardinal numbers tell "how many" — one, two, three, 42, 100. Ordinal numbers tell "which position" — first, second, third, 42nd, 100th. Think: cardinal = quantity, ordinal = order.

How do I write ordinal numbers in Russian?

Russian uses a hyphen followed by the appropriate case ending: -й (masculine), -я (feminine), -е (neuter). The most common abbreviation is -й for masculine (1-й = первый, 2-й = второй, 3-й = третий). The ending changes based on grammatical case and gender.

Why use this tool instead of memorizing the rules?

While English rules are straightforward, other languages have unique systems — and even English has exceptions (11th, 12th, 13th). This tool handles 13 languages, supports batch conversion, provides full word spellings for English, and lets you preview patterns for numbers 1–20. It's a fast, accurate reference for writers, students, developers, and translators working with multilingual content.

🔧 Related Tools