Ordinal Numbers
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To turn a number into an ordinal (1st, 2nd), add the suffix -inshi or -ynshy based on vowel harmony.
- If the number ends in a hard vowel or consonant, use -ynshy (e.g., bir -> birinshi is an exception).
- If the number ends in a soft vowel, use -inshi (e.g., eki -> ekinshi).
- Always remember that '1' (bir) is irregular and becomes 'birinshi'.
Meanings
Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position or rank of something in a sequence.
Sequence/Rank
Indicating order in a list or series.
“Бірінші үй (First house)”
“Екінші қабат (Second floor)”
Ordinal Number Formation
| Number | Cardinal | Ordinal | Suffix Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bir | Birinshi | -inshi |
| 2 | Eki | Ekinshi | -inshi |
| 3 | Üsh | Üshinshi | -inshi |
| 4 | Tört | Törtinshi | -inshi |
| 5 | Bes | Besinshi | -inshi |
| 6 | Alty | Altynshy | -ynshy |
| 7 | Jeti | Jetinshi | -inshi |
| 8 | Segiz | Segizinshi | -inshi |
| 9 | Togyz | Togyzynshy | -ynshy |
| 10 | On | Onynshy | -ynshy |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Number + Suffix | Ekinshi (Second) |
| Question | Number + Suffix + ba? | Ekinshi ba? (Is it the second?) |
| Plural | Number + Suffix + lar | Birinshiler (The first ones) |
| Possessive | Number + Suffix + m | Birinshim (My first) |
| Negative | Not applicable | N/A |
| Short Answer | Number + Suffix | Ekinshi (It is the second) |
Formalitätsspektrum
Бұл бірінші рет. (Casual conversation)
Бұл бірінші рет. (Casual conversation)
Бірінші рет қой. (Casual conversation)
Бірінші рет қой, брат. (Casual conversation)
Ordinal Suffix Logic
Soft Vowels (e, i, ö, ü)
- -inshi Suffix
Hard Vowels (a, o, u, y)
- -ynshy Suffix
Examples by Level
Бұл бірінші үй.
This is the first house.
Екінші қабатқа бар.
Go to the second floor.
Үшінші күн.
The third day.
Төртінші сабақ.
The fourth lesson.
Бесінші рет айтамын.
I am saying it for the fifth time.
Алтыншы қатарда отыр.
He is sitting in the sixth row.
Жетінші айда келеді.
He will come in the seventh month.
Сегізінші орын алды.
He took eighth place.
Тоғызыншы ғасырда салынған.
It was built in the ninth century.
Оныншы бетті ашыңыз.
Open the tenth page.
Жиырма бірінші ғасыр.
The twenty-first century.
Отызыншы жылдары болды.
It happened in the thirties.
Қырық бірінші рет қайталанды.
It was repeated for the forty-first time.
Елуінші жылғы оқиға.
An event from the fiftieth year.
Алпысыншы қатарда тұр.
It is standing in the sixtieth row.
Сексенінші жылдардағы сән.
Fashion from the eighties.
Жүз бірінші рет ескертемін.
I am warning you for the hundred and first time.
Мыңыншы рет айтылды.
It has been said for the thousandth time.
Екі мыңыншы жылдар.
The two-thousands.
Жүз жиырмасыншы бет.
The one hundred and twentieth page.
Ол екі мың жиырма бірінші жылы туған.
He was born in the year 2021.
Бұл оның миллионыншы қатесі.
This is his millionth mistake.
Төрт жүз елуінші жыл.
The year 450.
Тоғыз жүз тоқсаныншы жыл.
The year 990.
Easily Confused
Learners often use cardinal numbers where ordinals are required.
Mixing up 'once' with 'first'.
Choosing between -inshi and -ynshy.
Häufige Fehler
Birynshy
Birinshi
Ekyinshi
Ekinshi
Besynshy
Besinshi
Altyinshi
Altynshy
Oninshi
Onynshy
Jetiynshi
Jetinshi
Togizinshi
Togyzynshy
Juzinshi
Jüzinshi
Mininshi
Myñynshy
Juz birynshy
Jüz birinshi
Millioninshi
Millioynynshy
Juz jetiynshi
Jüz jetinshi
Tört jüzynshi
Tört jüzinshi
Sentence Patterns
Бұл ___ сабақ.
Мен ___ қабатта тұрамын.
Бұл менің ___ рет келуім.
Ол ___ орын алды.
Real World Usage
Менің бірінші постым!
2-ші қабаттамын.
Бұл менің бірінші жұмысым.
Бірінші аялдама.
Екінші үй.
Бірінші тарау.
Vowel Harmony
The 'Bir' Exception
Use Digits
Casual Speech
Smart Tips
Use the hyphenated digit form for speed.
Learn the ordinal form immediately.
Focus on the last vowel sound.
Look for the -inshi/-ynshy pattern.
Aussprache
Vowel Harmony
The suffix must match the vowel quality of the root word.
Statement
Бұл бірінші. ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'in-shi' as 'in the' sequence, and 'yn-shy' as 'in the' hard way.
Visual Association
Imagine a race track where the winners are holding signs with their numbers. The ones with soft vowels have soft, fluffy signs (-inshi), and hard vowels have hard, wooden signs (-ynshy).
Rhyme
One is birinshi, two is ekinshi, follow the rule and you'll never be shy!
Story
A runner named Birinshi won the race. He was the first. Then Ekinshi came second. They both celebrated with a big party.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look at the first 5 items on your desk and label them in Kazakh (e.g., 'birinshi kitap', 'ekinshi qalam').
Kulturelle Hinweise
Ordinal numbers are used in school rankings and official addresses.
The suffix -inshi/-ynshy is of Turkic origin, common across the language family.
Conversation Starters
Бұл нешінші сабақ?
Сен нешінші қабатта тұрасың?
Бұл сенің нешінші жұмысың?
Жарыста нешінші орын алдың?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Бұл ___ (1st) сабақ.
Which is correct for 2?
Find and fix the mistake:
Altyinshi is wrong. What is correct?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Third house.
Answer starts with: a...
Which is correct for 10?
Ол ___ (5th) орын алды.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesБұл ___ (1st) сабақ.
Which is correct for 2?
Find and fix the mistake:
Altyinshi is wrong. What is correct?
үй / бірінші / бұл
Third house.
Which is correct for 10?
Ол ___ (5th) орын алды.
3 -> ?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Because 'bir' is an irregular exception in Kazakh ordinal formation.
Yes, '1-ші' is very common in writing.
Yes, you can add '-lar' after the ordinal suffix.
No, Kazakh does not have grammatical gender.
Just add the ordinal suffix to the last number: 'Жиырма бірінші'.
Yes, for example, '1-ші мамыр' (1st of May).
The rule still applies based on the last vowel of the root.
Yes, it is standard in all registers.
In Other Languages
-inci/-ıncı
The suffixes are nearly identical.
-te/-ste
Kazakh is more agglutinative.
-ième
Kazakh requires vowel harmony.
primero/segundo
Kazakh uses suffixes.
dai-
Kazakh uses a suffix.
dì-
Kazakh uses a suffix.
