Building Ordinal Numbers from 11 to 19
In this lesson, we will focus on higher ordinal numbers modifying singular neuter nouns like etaj (floor) and loc (place). Because neuter nouns behave like masculine nouns in the singular, they take the masculine/neuter ordinal forms.
To build the ordinal forms for 11 through 19, take the standard cardinal number (like unsprezece), place al in front of it, and attach the suffix -lea to the end.
- 11: unsprezece becomes al unsprezecelea (11th)
- 12: doisprezece becomes al doisprezecelea (12th)
The ordinal number typically follows the noun, which takes its definite article (e.g., etajul or locul).
| It is hard to climb on foot up to the eleventh floor in our skyscraper. | E greu să urci pe jos până la etajul al unsprezecelea în zgârie-norul nostru. |
| Did the player finish in eleventh place in the official ranking? | A terminat jucătorul pe locul al unsprezecelea în clasamentul oficial? |
This predictable pattern continues for all the "teens." If the noun is understood from context, you can omit it and let the ordinal number stand on its own.
| My office is on the thirteenth floor, and yours is on the fourteenth. | Biroul meu este la etajul al treisprezecelea, iar al tău este la al paisprezecelea. |
| As soon as I reached the fifteenth floor, I saw the whole city. | De îndată ce am ajuns la etajul al cincisprezecelea, am văzut tot orașul. |
| Please, do not climb on foot from the eighteenth floor up to the nineteenth! | Te rog, nu urca pe jos de la etajul al optsprezecelea până la al nouăsprezecelea! |
Reaching the 20th
For the 20th floor or 20th place, the formation rule is exactly the same. Take the number douăzeci (20), place al before it, and attach -lea at the end to form al douăzecilea.
| the twentieth | al douăzecilea |
| No student wanted the nineteenth place, nor the twentieth. | Niciun student nu a dorit locul al nouăsprezecelea, nici al douăzecilea. |
| The party on the twentieth floor is just as noisy as the one on the fifteenth. | Petrecerea de la etajul al douăzecilea este la fel de zgomotoasă ca cea de la al cincisprezecelea. |
