Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (första, andra...)

Ordinal Numbers 1st to 10th

Ordinal numbers specify the order or position of things, like the "first" book or the "third" house.

EnglishSwedish
firstförsta
secondandra
thirdtredje
fourthfjärde
fifthfemte
sixthsjätte
seventhsjunde
eighthåttonde
ninthnionde
tenthtionde

Using Ordinals with Nouns

When you say "the first [noun]" or "the second [noun]" in Swedish, you use the double definite structure. This requires three pieces:

  • The independent article den (for en-words) or det (for ett-words).
  • The ordinal number.
  • The noun with its definite ending (e.g., boken, huset).

Swedish ordinal numbers never change their form. Whether the noun is an en-word or an ett-word, the ordinal looks exactly the same.

He is reading the first book.
Han läser den första boken.
Where is the first house?
Var är det första huset?
I want the second apple.
Jag vill ha det andra äpplet.
Who is the third student?
Vem är den tredje studenten?
What is the fourth child eating?
Vad äter det fjärde barnet?

Specifying Positions

You will use these ordinals frequently to talk about things like public transit, addresses, and lists of people or objects.

The fifth guest is here.
Den femte gästen är här.
Where does the sixth child sleep?
Var sover det sjätte barnet?
The seventh letter is from Anna.
Det sjunde brevet är från Anna.
We are taking the eighth train.
Vi tar det åttonde tåget.
The tenth car is red.
Den tionde bilen är röd.