ORDINALZAHLEN

 

     The numbers used in counting are cardinal numbers (Kardinalzahlen). When things are placed in

     order, first, second, third, etc., one uses ordinal numbers. In German, they are usually formed by

     adding "‑t" onto the cardinal numbers. There are some exceptions:

 

 

   erst-

first

viert-

siebt-

zehnt-

   zweit-

second

fünft-

acht-

elft-

   dritt-

third

sechst-

neunt-

zwölft-

 

 

    From "twentieth" and higher "‑st" is added to the number:

 

zwanzigst‑

     einundzwanzigst‑

     zweiundzwanzigst-

 

 

fünfzigst-

 

 

achzigst-

 

dreißigst-

 

sechzigst-

 

neunzigst-

 

vierzigst‑

 

siebzigst-

 

 

hunderst-

 

   Ordinal numbers are adjectives and are never used without endings.

 

   Ordinal numbers not written out as words appear as numbers followed by a period:

 

1. = 1st             2. = 2nd    3. = 3rd     4. = 4th     etc.

 

                 Date:      Ordinal numbers are used in German for writing the date; 

                                  January 1, 1997 is often written like this:

 

           1.  1.  97               (first day of the first month of 1997)

        15. 11. 97                (November 15, 1996)

 

                       

 

   The first number refers always to the day, the second to the month, the last to the year.

   Written out, like in a letter, it looks like this:

 

                                                Wolfville, den 15. November 1997