The Alternative Ordinal Suffix (ـین)
Standard ordinal numbers like دوم (second) and سوم (third) come after the noun with an Ezafe.
Farsi has a second type of ordinal number. To form it, add ـین to the end of the standard ordinal:
- اول (first) becomes اولین
- دوم (second) becomes دومین
- سوم (third) becomes سومین
- چهارم (fourth) becomes چهارمین
Placing Ordinals Before the Noun
Unlike regular adjectives, these ordinals come directly before the noun. Because they are placed before the noun, they do not take an Ezafe.
This form is extremely common when talking about things like anniversaries, competition ranks, or historical firsts:
| When is the first anniversary? | اولین سالگرد کی است؟avvalin sâlgard key ast? |
| Is this the second anniversary of your company? | آیا این دومین سالگرد شرکت شما است؟âyâ in dovvomin sâlgard sherkat shomâ ast? |
| We have third place. | ما سومین مقام را داریم.mâ sevvomin maqâm râ dârim. |
Notice how the ordinal sits directly in front of the noun without an Ezafe connector. Here are a few more examples:
| Where is the fourth passenger? | چهارمین مسافر کجا است؟chahârom-in mosâfer kojâ ast? |
| Today is the fifth day of the week. | امروز پنجمین روز هفته است.emrooz panjomin rooz-e hafte ast. |
| The tenth student of the class is absent. | دهمین دانشجوی کلاس غایب است.dahomin dâneshju-ye kelâs ghâyeb ast. |
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