Language/Turkish/Vocabulary/Ordinal-Numbers

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Turkish → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and Time → Ordinal Numbers

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on ordinal numbers in Turkish! In this lesson, we will explore how to express and use ordinal numbers in the Turkish language. Ordinal numbers are numbers that indicate the position or order of something, such as first, second, third, and so on. Mastering ordinal numbers is essential for effective communication in Turkish, as they are frequently used in various contexts, including dates, rankings, and more. So let's dive in and learn how to use ordinal numbers in Turkish!

Cardinal Numbers Recap

Before we delve into ordinal numbers, let's briefly recap cardinal numbers. Cardinal numbers are used to count or quantify objects or people. In Turkish, cardinal numbers are quite straightforward and are used in various situations, such as counting objects, expressing age, stating prices, and telling the time. Here is a quick review of the cardinal numbers from 1 to 10 in Turkish:

Turkish	Pronunciation	English
bir	beer	one
iki	ee-kee	two
üç	ooch	three
dört	durt	four
beş	besh	five
altı	ahl-too	six
yedi	yeh-dee	seven
sekiz	seh-keez	eight
dokuz	doh-kooz	nine
on	ohn	ten

Remember, these are just the cardinal numbers from 1 to 10. You will learn more cardinal numbers as you progress in your Turkish language journey.

Understanding Ordinal Numbers

Now that we have refreshed our knowledge of cardinal numbers, let's move on to ordinal numbers. In Turkish, ordinal numbers are formed by adding a suffix to the cardinal number. This suffix changes depending on the vowel harmony rules, which ensure that the words flow smoothly and naturally. The most common suffixes used for ordinal numbers are "-inci" and "-nci".

Let's take a look at some examples to understand how to form ordinal numbers in Turkish:

• birinci (beer-in-jee) - first
• ikinci (ee-kin-jee) - second
• üçüncü (oo-choon-jee) - third
• dördüncü (durt-oon-jee) - fourth
• beşinci (besh-in-jee) - fifth
• altıncı (ahl-too-in-jee) - sixth
• yedinci (yeh-dee-in-jee) - seventh
• sekizinci (seh-keez-in-jee) - eighth
• dokuzuncu (doh-kooz-oon-jee) - ninth
• onuncu (ohn-oon-joo) - tenth

As you can see, the "-inci" or "-nci" suffix is added to the cardinal number to form the corresponding ordinal number. It's important to note that the suffix takes the vowel harmony into account, resulting in variations such as "-inci" or "-nci".

Using Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are used in various contexts in Turkish. Let's explore a few common situations where ordinal numbers come into play:

Dates

When expressing dates in Turkish, ordinal numbers are used to indicate the day of the month. Here are a few examples:

• 1 Ekim (birinci Ekim) - October 1st
• 16 Şubat (on altıncı Şubat) - February 16th
• 30 Temmuz (otuzuncu Temmuz) - July 30th

Rankings

Ordinal numbers are also used to indicate rankings or positions. Whether it's a sports competition, a contest, or a simple list, ordinal numbers help establish the order. Let's look at some examples:

• Türkiye birincisi (Türkiye beer-in-jee-see) - First place in Turkey
• İkinci el arabalar (ee-kin-jee el ahr-ah-bah-lar) - Second-hand cars
• Üçüncü sınıf (oo-choon-jee see-nuhf) - Third grade
• Dördüncü en yüksek bina (durt-oon-jee en yook-sek bee-nah) - Fourth tallest building

Events and Occasions

Ordinal numbers are used to describe recurring events, such as birthdays, anniversaries, and more. Here are a few examples:

• Beşinci doğum günü (besh-in-jee doh-oom goon-oo) - Fifth birthday
• Yedinci evlilik yıldönümü (yeh-dee-in-jee ev-lee-leek yuhl-doe-noo-moo) - Seventh wedding anniversary
• On altıncı konser (ohn ahl-too-in-jee kohn-ser) - Sixteenth concert

Exceptions and Special Cases

While the general rule for forming ordinal numbers in Turkish is to add the "-inci" or "-nci" suffix, there are a few exceptions and special cases to be aware of. Let's take a look at them:

First and Second

The words for "first" and "second" have irregular forms in Turkish. Here are the variations:

• birinci (beer-in-jee) - first
• ikinci (ee-kin-jee) - second

Numbers Ending in Vowels

When the cardinal number ends in a vowel, the "-nci" suffix is used instead of "-inci". Here are some examples:

• altıncı (ahl-too-in-jee) - sixth
• yedinci (yeh-dee-in-jee) - seventh
• onuncu (ohn-oon-joo) - tenth

Numbers Ending in Consonants

When the cardinal number ends in a consonant, the "-ıncı" or "-inci" suffix is used, depending on the vowel harmony. Here are some examples:

• dördüncü (durt-oon-jee) - fourth
• sekizinci (seh-keez-in-jee) - eighth
• dokuzuncu (doh-kooz-oon-jee) - ninth

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding of ordinal numbers, let's practice using them in various exercises. Please refer to the answer key at the end of the lesson to check your responses.

Exercise 1: Translate the following ordinal numbers from English to Turkish.

1. Third
2. Sixth
3. Second
4. Ninth
5. Tenth

Exercise 2: Translate the following dates from English to Turkish using ordinal numbers.

1. January 1st
2. March 5th
3. December 25th
4. August 16th
5. November 30th

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks with the correct ordinal numbers in Turkish.

1. Bugün Türkiye'nin ____________ günüdür. (Today is Turkey's ____________ day.)
2. Ali, yarışmada ____________ oldu. (Ali came ____________ in the competition.)
3. Benim ____________ doğum günüm. (It's my ____________ birthday.)
4. ____________ el arabalar daha ucuzdur. (__________ hand cars are cheaper.)
5. Dünkü konser ____________ konseriydi. (Yesterday's concert was the ____________ concert.)

Answer Key

Exercise 1:

1. Üçüncü
2. Altıncı
3. İkinci
4. Dokuzuncu
5. Onuncu

Exercise 2:

1. Ocak birinci
2. Mart beşinci
3. Aralık yirmi beşinci
4. Ağustos on altıncı
5. Kasım otuzuncu

Exercise 3:

1. Bugün Türkiye'nin birinci günüdür. (Today is Turkey's first day.)
2. Ali, yarışmada ikinci oldu. (Ali came second in the competition.)
3. Benim beşinci doğum günüm. (It's my fifth birthday.)
4. İkinci el arabalar daha ucuzdur. (Second-hand cars are cheaper.)
5. Dünkü konser onuncu konseriydi. (Yesterday's concert was the tenth concert.)

Conclusion

Congratulations on completing the lesson on ordinal numbers in Turkish! You have learned how to form and use ordinal numbers in various contexts, such as dates, rankings, and events. Keep practicing and using ordinal numbers in your everyday Turkish conversations to reinforce your learning. In the next lesson, we will explore the concept of time and learn how to tell the time, the days of the week, and the months in Turkish. İyi çalışmalar! (Good luck with your studies!)

Table of Contents - Turkish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Turkish Alphabet

• Vowels and Consonants
• Pronunciation

  ---

Basic Grammar

• Nouns
• Verbs
• Adjectives
• Pronouns

  ---

Complex Grammar

• Cases
• Participles
• Conditional Sentences

  ---

Everyday Phrases

• Greeting
• Asking for Directions
• Food and Drink
• Shopping

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Cardinal Numbers
• Ordinal Numbers
• Time

  ---

Turkish Culture

• History and Geography
• Traditions and Customs
• Cuisine
• Arts and Festivals

  ---

Daily Life

• Housing
• Family and Relationships
• Religion
• Transportation and Travel

Sources

• Turkish Numbers For Beginners – StoryLearning
• Numbers and Counting in Turkish | Ordinal numbers, Learn turkish ...
• Turkish Vocabulary Lists - Tobo

Other Lessons

• Spring
• Months of the Year
• False Friends
• People in Turkish
• Asking for Directions
• Supermarket
• Clothes
• Basic expression
• Classroom

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