French ordinal numbers are used to describe the position of something in a sequence.

They answer the question:

“Which one?”

Examples include:

NumberFrench
1stpremier
2nddeuxième
3rdtroisième

Ordinal numbers are commonly used when talking about:

  • dates
  • rankings
  • floors in a building
  • steps in a process

French Ordinal Numbers 1–20

Here are the most common French ordinal numbers.

NumberFrench
1stpremier / première
2nddeuxième
3rdtroisième
4thquatrième
5thcinquième
6thsixième
7thseptième
8thhuitième
9thneuvième
10thdixième
11thonzième
12thdouzième
13thtreizième
14thquatorzième
15thquinzième
16thseizième
17thdix-septième
18thdix-huitième
19thdix-neuvième
20thvingtième

How French Ordinal Numbers Are Formed

Most French ordinal numbers are formed by adding the ending:

-ième

to the cardinal number.

Examples:

quatre → quatrième
six → sixième
dix → dixième

Special French Ordinal Numbers

Some ordinal numbers change slightly when the -ième ending is added.

Examples:

CardinalOrdinal
cinqcinquième
neufneuvième

These spelling changes make pronunciation easier.


First in French

The number first is irregular.

GenderFrench
masculinepremier
femininepremière

Example sentences:

C'est mon premier jour.
(It is my first day.)
Elle est arrivée première.
(She arrived first.)

Using Ordinal Numbers in French

Ordinal numbers are used in many everyday expressions.

Examples:

le troisième étage
(the third floor)
la deuxième page
(the second page)
le dixième chapitre
(the tenth chapter)

Ordinal Numbers in French Dates

Ordinal numbers are sometimes used when speaking about dates, especially for the first day of the month.

Example:

1er janvier

This represents:

premier janvier

All other dates typically use cardinal numbers.

Example:

4 mars
15 juillet

For more information about French dates, check out the French Dates page.


Practice French Ordinal Numbers

You can practice French numbers using the tools below.

French Numbers Translate Tool

Example: 1234


Test Your Knowledge. Take the French Numbers Quiz


Related French Pages

Further reference: Académie française on numeral abbreviations.