In Russian, ordinal numbers like , are used in the same cases where you might use their English equivalents, “first,” “second,” or “third,” — to order things or ideas. However, unlike in English, where each ordinal number has only one form, in Russian these words agree with the noun they describe in gender, number, and case. Compare:
In this post, we’ll take you through the basic forms of Russian ordinal numbers, we’ll discuss how to create larger compound ordinal numbers, and we’ll discuss when to use ordinal numbers in Russian sentences. It’s a little different from English! Let’s have a look!
What are the basic forms of Russian ordinal numbers?
Below is a list of the basic Russian ordinal numbers, from 1-10. Alongside each one you will see the equivalent Russian cardinal number (also known as “counting numbers”). Notice that although the first two ordinal numbers (первый, второй) are very different from the cardinal numbers (один, два), the other ones, at least, share the same root.
| # | Cardinal Number | Ordinal Number |
|---|---|---|
1 | один Transcription: odEEn Translation: one | первый Transcription: pYervYi Translation: first |
2 | два Transcription: dva Translation: two | второй Transcription: ftarOi Translation: second |
3 | три Transcription: tree Translation: three | третий Transcription: trYEtii Translation: third |
4 | четыре Transcription: chyetYrye Translation: four | четвёртый Transcription: chyetvYOrtyi Translation: fourth |
5 | пять Transcription: pyat Translation: five | пятый Transcription: pYAtyi Translation: fifth |
6 | шесть Transcription: shyest Translation: six | шестой Transcription: shyesOi Translation: sixth |
7 | семь Transcription: syem Translation: seven | седьмой Transcription: syedmOi Translation: seventh |
8 | восемь Transcription: vOsyem Translation: eight | восьмой Transcription: vasmOi Translation: eighth |
9 | девять Transcription: dYEvyat Translation: nine | девятый Transcription: deevYAtyi Translation: ninth |
10 | дестять Transcription: dYEsyat Translation: ten | десятый Transcription: deesYAtyi Translation: tenth |
However, just like other kinds of adjectives in Russian, ordinal numbers agree with nouns in gender, case, and number.
The table below illustrates all the forms of первый transcribed pYervYimeaning first. Most ordinal numbers will follow this same ending pattern.
| Forms of первый meaning first | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | первая Transcription: pYErvaya | первый Transcription: pYErvyi | первое Transcription: pYErvaye | первые Transcription: pYERvyye |
| Genitive | первой Transcription: pYErvay | первого Transcription: pYErvava | первого Transcription: pYErvava | первых Transcription: pYErvYkh |
| Dative | первой Transcription: pYErvay | первому Transcription: pYErvamoo | первому Transcription: pYErvamoo | первым Transcription: pYErvym |
| Accusative (inanimate) | первую Transcription: pYErvooyu | первый Transcription: pYErvyi | первое Transcription: pYErvaye | первые Transcription: pYERvyye |
| Accusative (animate) | первую Transcription: pYErvooyu | первого Transcription: pYErvava | первого Transcription: pYErvava | первых Transcription: pYErvykh |
| Instrumental | первой Transcription: pYErvay | первым Transcription: pYErvym | первым Transcription: pYErvym | первыми Transcription: pYErvYmee |
| Prepositional | первой Transcription: pYErvay | первом Transcription: pYErvam | первом Transcription: pYErvam | первых Transcription: pYErvYkh |
For example:
As we stated above, most other ordinal numbers will follow the same ending pattern as первый transcribed pYervYimeaning first. In the example below you can see that the ordinal number второй transcribed ftarOimeaning second has the same ending in the genitive singular feminine as первой transcribed pYErvaymeaning first.
The only ordinal number that follows a different declension pattern is третий transcribed trYEtiimeaning third. Its endings are illustrated in this second chart.
| Forms of третий meaning third | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | третья Transcription: trYEtya | третий Transcription: trYEtiy | третье Transcription: trYEtye | третьи Transcription: trYEtee |
| Genitive | третьей Transcription: trYEtyey | третьего Transcription: trYEtyeva | третьего Transcription: trYEtyeva | третьих Transcription: trYEteekh |
| Dative | третьей Transcription: trYEtyey | третьему Transcription: trYEtyemoo | третьему Transcription: trYEtyemoo | третьим Transcription: trYEtyeem |
| Accusative (inanimate) | третью Transcription: trYEtyu | третий Transcription: trYEtiy | третье Transcription: trYEtye | третьи Transcription: trYEtee |
| Accusative (animate) | третью Transcription: trYEtyu | третьего Transcription: trYEtyeva | третьего Transcription: trYEtyeva | третьих Transcription: trYEteekh |
| Instrumental | третьей Transcription: trYEtyey | третьим Transcription: trYEtyeem | третьим Transcription: trYEtyeem | третьими Transcription: trYEteemee |
| Prepositional | третьей Transcription: trYEtyey | третьем Transcription: trYEtyem | третьем Transcription: trYEtyem | третьих Transcription: ptrYEteekh |
And here is an example:
How to form larger ordinal numbers in Russian?
To form larger ordinal numbers in Russian, like “21st,” “33rd,” or “414th,” you can just take the cardinal number and replace the final word of the number with its equivalent ordinal number — just like we do in English.
For example:
| Cardinal Number | Ordinal Number | ||
|---|---|---|---|
23 | двадцать три Transcription: dvAtsat tri Translation: twenty-three | 23-ий | двадцать третий Transcription: dvAtsat trYEtiy Translation: twenty-third (m.) |
Here are a couple examples of how these larger ordinal numbers are used:
How to abbreviate ordinal numbers in Russian?
In Russian, you can abbreviate ordinal numbers by using numerals, much like we do with 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in English. Just provide the numeral version of the number in question and add the appropriate ending, according to the number’s case, number, and gender.
1st: 1-ый, в 1-ом, ...
2nd: 2-ой, 2-ого, ...
When to use ordinal numerals in Russian vs. English?
The basic use of ordinal numbers in Russian and English is the same: we use them to put nouns in order. However, there are some specialized cases where you can use an ordinal number in Russian but not in English and vice versa. Let’s compare:
Uses or ordinal numbers in Russian that are the same as English
In both Russian and English we use ordinal numbers:
For someone’s grade/year in school:
- в одиннадцатом классеTranscription: v adEEnatsatom klAssyeTranslation: in the eleventh grade
- на третьем курсеTranscription: na trYEtyem kOOrsyeTranslation: third year
For the day of the month:
Use the neuter singular nominative form of the ordinal number here.
C 8-м (восьмым) мартаTranscription: s vasmYm mArtaTranslation: Happy 8th (eighth) of MarchMarch 8th is International Women’s Day: a holiday that is widely celebrated in Russia.Check out our post on how to say dates in Russian to learn more!
For the denominator in a fraction:
As in English, the top number in the fraction (the numerator) is a cardinal number and the bottom part (the denominator) is an ordinal number.
⅖ → две пятыхTranscription: dvye pYAtykhTranslation: two fifthsWhat case to use?
If the numerator is 1, then the denominator is in the nominative case.
Otherwise, the denominator is in the genitive case.
When listing bulleted points or arguments:
Во-первых… во-вторых… в-третьих…Transcription: First, second, thirdTranslation: va pYErvykh… va ftarYkh… f trYEteekhForming some familiar expressions:
- в первую очередьTranscription: f pYErvooyu OcheeryetTranslation: first of all
- третий лишнийTranscription: trYEtiy lEEshniyTranslation: a third wheelLiterally: an excessive third
- на седьмом небеTranscription: na seedmOm nYEbyeTranslation: in seventh heaven
Uses of ordinal numbers in Russian that are different from English
Here are some cases where we use ordinal numbers in Russian, but not in English.
To name years and decades:
- в две тысячи двадцать первом годуTranscription: v dvye tYsyachee dvAtsat pYErvam gadooTranslation: in twenty twenty-one (2021)Literally: in the two thousand twenty-first year
- шестидесятыеTranscription: sheesteedeesYAtyyeTranslation: the sixtiesLiterally: sixtieth pl.
In phrases representing times of day:
- в первой половине дняTranscription: f pYErvay palavEEnye dnyaTranslation: in the morningLiterally: in the first half of the day
- во второй половине дняTranscription: va ftarOy palavEEnye dnyaTranslation: in the afternoonLiterally: in the second half of the day
- двадцать минут второгоTranscription: dvAtsat meenOOt ftarOvaTranslation: twenty minutes after oneLiterally: the twentieth minute after one
Apartment / house numbers, and bus numbers:
- в двадцать третьей квартиреTranscription: v dvAtsat trYEtyey kvartEEryeTranslation: in apartment number twenty-threeLiterally: in the twenty-third apartment
- сорок первый автобусTranscription: sOrak pYErvyi aftOboosTranslation: Bus #41Literally: forty-first bus
However cardinal numbers can also be acceptable here, as long as you use the word номер transcribed nOmyermeaning number:
- в квартире номер двадцать три (23)Transcription: f kvartEErye nOmyer dvAtsat treeTranslation: in apartment number twenty-three
- автобус № 41Transcription: aftOboos nOmyer sOrak odEEnTranslation: bus #41
“Counting off” to put people in groups:
In Russian, we “count off” to put people in teams using ordinal numbers, rather than cardinal numbers. You would say:
На первый, второй рассчитайсь!Transcription: na pYErvyi ftarOy rashchitAysTranslation: Count off by ones and twos!Literally: In first, second count off!Then, people would respond with:
первый transcribed pYErvyimeaning first
второй transcribed ftarOymeaning second
первый transcribed pYErvyimeaning first
второй transcribed ftarOymeaning second
To sum up
In this post we discussed ordinal numbers in Russian. We saw that:
The basic forms of ordinal numbers are derived from cardinal numbers.
Like adjectives, ordinal numbers change their forms to agree with the noun they describe.
When forming larger ordinal numbers, most of the number is formed using cardinal numbers. Only the last word takes on a special ordinal form (just like English!)
They are used mostly like in English but there are a few cases where they’re used in Russian, but not English:
naming years and decades
describing certain times of day
sometimes house and bus numbers
Now, let’s practice! Click the link below to download the Russian ordinal numbers activities. Happy learning!
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