Pattern
Ordinals agree in gender: primul / prima (first), al doilea / a doua (second), al treilea / a treia (third). Masculine uses al ___-lea; feminine uses a ___-a.
Explanation
Ordinal numerals say "first, second, third" etc. Romanian forms them with gender-marking particles: al for masculine (al doilea, al treilea, al patrulea), a for feminine (a doua, a treia, a patra). "First" is unique: primul (masc.) / prima (fem.) — these come from a different root.
Examples: primul copil (the first child), prima zi (the first day), al doilea capitol (the second chapter), a doua oară (the second time), al treilea etaj (the third floor), a treia poartă (the third gate). Ordinals always come BEFORE the noun, unlike most adjectives.
For things like centuries and royal numbers, ordinals appear: secolul al XXI-lea (the 21st century, spoken "secolul al douăzeci și unulea"). For floors and chapters, ordinals are everyday vocabulary.
Examples
| Romanian | English |
|---|---|
| Primul copil al meu se numește Andrei. | My first child is named Andrei. |
| E prima dată când vin aici. | It's the first time I come here. |
| Locuiesc la al patrulea etaj. | I live on the fourth floor. |
| A doua carte e mai bună. | The second book is better. |
| Suntem în secolul al XXI-lea. | We are in the 21st century. |
Common mistakes
- Wrong gender particle: Al doua is wrong; feminine is a doua.
- Placing the ordinal after the noun: Copilul primul is wrong; primul copil is correct.
- Using cardinal for "first": Unu copil doesn't mean "first child"; you need primul copil.