Ordinal Numbers in Russian: Declension and Use

Ordinal numbers in Russian are used to express the order or position of something in a series (e.g., first, second, third). Like cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers also decline based on the gender, case, and number of the noun they modify. Understanding how to form and use ordinal numbers correctly is key to mastering Russian.
1. Basic Ordinal Numbers
In Russian, ordinal numbers are formed by modifying the cardinal numbers. These numbers indicate position or ranking and are typically used in contexts such as dates, floors in buildings, ranking in competitions, etc.
Here are the first few ordinal numbers in Russian:
Number | Russian (Ordinal Number) | Pronunciation |
---|---|---|
1st | первый / первая / первое | per-vyy / per-vaya / per-vo-ye |
2nd | второй / вторая / второе | vto-roy / vto-ra-ya / vto-roy-e |
3rd | третий / третья / третье | tre-tee / tre-tya / tre-tye |
4th | четвёртый / четвёртая / четвёртое | che-tvyo-ry-ty / che-tvyo-rta-ya / che-tvyo-ryo-ye |
5th | пятый / пятая / пятое | pyat-yy / pyat-aya / pyat-oye |
6th | шестой / шестая / шестое | shes-toy / shes-taya / shes-to-ye |
7th | седьмой / седьмая / седьмое | syed-moy / syed-ma-ya / syed-moye |
8th | восьмой / восьмая / восьмое | vos-moy / vos-ma-ya / vos-moye |
9th | девятый / девятая / девятое | dyev-ya-ty / dyev-ya-ta-ya / dyev-ya-to-ye |
10th | десятый / десятая / десятое | dye-sya-ty / dye-sya-ta-ya / dye-sya-to-ye |
The forms of ordinal numbers change depending on the gender of the noun being modified:
- Masculine: The basic form of the ordinal number (e.g., первый for «first»).
- Feminine: The ordinal number ends in -ая (e.g., первая for «first»).
- Neuter: The ordinal number ends in -ое (e.g., первое for «first»).
2. Declension of Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers, like cardinal numbers, decline in various cases. Here’s a breakdown of how ordinal numbers decline in the nominative and genitive cases for the first three numbers.
2.1. Declension of «первый» (First)
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | первый | первая | первое |
Genitive | первого | первой | первого |
Dative | первому | первой | первому |
Accusative | первый | первую | первое |
Instrumental | первым | первой | первым |
Prepositional | первом | первой | первом |
Examples:
- Первый день (The first day – masculine).
- Первая книга (The first book – feminine).
- Первое окно (The first window – neuter).
2.2. Declension of «второй» (Second)
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | второй | вторая | второе |
Genitive | второго | второй | второго |
Dative | второму | второй | второму |
Accusative | второй | вторую | второе |
Instrumental | вторым | второй | вторым |
Prepositional | втором | второй | втором |
Examples:
- Второй этаж (The second floor – masculine).
- Вторая книга (The second book – feminine).
- Второе окно (The second window – neuter).
2.3. Declension of «третий» (Third)
Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
---|---|---|---|
Nominative | третий | третья | третье |
Genitive | третьего | третьей | третьего |
Dative | третьему | третьей | третьему |
Accusative | третий | третью | третье |
Instrumental | третьим | третьей | третьим |
Prepositional | третьем | третьей | третьем |
Examples:
- Третий день (The third day – masculine).
- Третья книга (The third book – feminine).
- Третье окно (The third window – neuter).
3. Usage of Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers are used in various contexts where an item or event is placed in a specific order or position. Here are some of the most common uses for ordinal numbers in Russian:
3.1. Dates
Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the day of the month.
- Третье апреля (The third of April).
- Девятое мая (The ninth of May).
3.2. Ranking or Position
Ordinal numbers express ranking or placement in a competition or order.
- Первое место (First place).
- Второе место (Second place).
- Третье место (Third place).
3.3. Floor Numbers
Ordinal numbers are used when referring to floors of buildings.
- Первый этаж (The first floor).
- Третий этаж (The third floor).
- Десятый этаж (The tenth floor).
3.4. Hours and Minutes in Time
Ordinal numbers are sometimes used when talking about time, especially in formal or literary contexts.
- В третий час (At the third hour).
- Первое утро (The first morning).
3.5. Lists and Sequences
Ordinal numbers are used to indicate position in a sequence, such as items in a list, chapters in a book, or steps in a process.
- Первая глава (The first chapter).
- Второй шаг (The second step).
4. Special Rules for Ordinal Numbers
- 1st and 2nd: The ordinal numbers первый and второй have irregular forms and are used in both nominative and genitive cases to match gender and case of the noun they describe.
- For 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th: Ordinal numbers for these numbers are formed similarly to their cardinal equivalents, but the declension will follow the same pattern as for numbers 1-4 (i.e., одиннадцатый, десятый, etc.).
5. Conclusion
Ordinal numbers in Russian are used to express position or order and follow specific rules of declension according to gender, case, and number. Mastering these rules will help you describe sequences, rankings, and dates in Russian with ease. By understanding how ordinal numbers decline and are used in different contexts, you can greatly improve your fluency and precision in Russian.