ketvirtas

The Lithuanian word ketvirtas is an ordinal numeral that translates to the English word 'fourth'. It is derived from the cardinal number keturi (four). In the Lithuanian language, ordinal numbers function like adjectives, meaning they must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. This word is fundamental for daily communication, appearing in contexts ranging from giving directions to discussing dates, floors of a building, or ranking in a competition. When you use ketvirtas, you are specifically identifying a single item that occupies the fourth position in a sequence. This distinction is crucial because, unlike English where 'fourth' remains largely static, Lithuanian requires you to change the ending if you are talking about a feminine noun (where it becomes ketvirta) or plural entities.

Position in Sequence

It denotes the specific placement after the third and before the fifth. For example, in a race, the person who finishes after the bronze medalist is the ketvirtas bėgikas (fourth runner).

Chronology and Dates

Lithuanian uses ordinal numbers for days of the month. While English says 'April fourth', Lithuanian says balandžio ketvirta (note the feminine form for 'day' - diena). It also identifies the fourth month of the year, which is April.

Beyond simple counting, ketvirtas carries weight in structural and hierarchical discussions. In Lithuanian architecture, the ground floor is usually counted as the first floor (pirmas aukštas), so ketvirtas aukštas corresponds to what Americans call the fourth floor and what some Europeans call the third floor. Understanding this cultural nuance is vital for navigation. Furthermore, in academic settings, a student might be in their ketvirtas kursas (fourth year of university), indicating they are nearing graduation. The word is ubiquitous in sports, particularly in basketball—Lithuania's national sport—where the ketvirtas kėlinys (fourth quarter) is the most intense part of the game. This word isn't just a number; it's a marker of progress and finality in many systems.

In more abstract terms, ketvirtas can refer to iterations. If you are attempting something for the fourth time, you would say it is your ketvirtas kartas. This repetition implies persistence or perhaps a recurring pattern. In literature or film, the 'fourth wall' is translated as ketvirtoji siena (using the definite form). The definite form ketvirtasis (masculine) or ketvirtoji (feminine) is used when referring to a specific, already mentioned fourth item, or in titles of monarchs and popes, such as Karolis Ketvirtasis (Charles IV). This richness in form allows Lithuanian speakers to be incredibly precise about which 'fourth' they are referring to, whether it's a general position or a specific, titled entity.

Gender Agreement

Always match the noun. Ketvirtas (masculine) for puslapis (page). Ketvirta (feminine) for pamoka (lesson).

Using ketvirtas correctly requires an understanding of Lithuanian case endings. Because it is an adjective-like ordinal, it must change its ending based on the role the noun plays in the sentence. If the fourth item is the subject, use the nominative. If you are going to the fourth floor, use the accusative or locative. This section explores these grammatical shifts through practical examples that reflect everyday life in Lithuania. Whether you are ordering from a menu, finding a seat in a theater, or discussing historical events, the placement of ketvirtas within the sentence structure is paramount for clarity.

The Nominative Case (Subject)

This is the dictionary form. It is used when the 'fourth' thing is performing the action or being described. Ketvirtas blynas buvo skaniausias (The fourth pancake was the tastiest).

When referring to time or duration, the usage becomes slightly more complex. For instance, if you are talking about the fourth hour (4 o'clock), you use ketvirta valanda. Note that 'hour' (valanda) is feminine, so the ordinal changes to ketvirta. If you want to say 'at four o'clock', you use the locative case: ketvirtą valandą. This transition from the subject to the time-marker is a frequent source of confusion for learners, but it follows a predictable pattern of vowel shifts at the end of the word. Mastering these shifts allows you to set meetings, catch buses, and schedule your day with precision.

In plural contexts, ketvirtas becomes ketvirti (masculine) or ketvirtos (feminine). This happens when you are referring to a group of 'fourth' items, such as 'the fourth rows' in several theaters. While less common in singular-focused counting, it is essential for advanced descriptions. Additionally, the word is used in mathematical fractions. A 'quarter' is ketvirtis (noun), but when describing a fourth part of something, you might use the adjective. Understanding the difference between the noun 'quarter' and the ordinal 'fourth' is a key milestone in reaching B1 proficiency. In summary, ketvirtas is a versatile tool that adapts to the grammatical environment of the sentence, ensuring that the listener knows exactly which item in the sequence you are targeting.

The Genitive Case (Possession/Origin)

Used to show belonging or 'of the fourth'. Ketvirto aukšto planas (The plan of the fourth floor).

If you spend a day in Vilnius or Kaunas, you will hear ketvirtas or its variations dozens of times. One of the most common places is on public transport. Bus and trolleybus announcements often mention stops or routes where 'fourth' is a part of the name or sequence. You might hear, 'Ketvirta stotelė – Universitetas' (Fourth stop – University). Similarly, when navigating the narrow streets of the Old Town, someone might direct you to the 'ketvirtas namas dešinėje' (fourth house on the right). These spatial markers are the backbone of navigation in Lithuanian cities, where street numbers and sequence matter immensely.

Public Transportation

Listening for 'ketvirtas maršrutas' (the fourth route) or identifying your stop by count.

Shopping and Queues

In a busy Maxima or IKI supermarket, you might hear 'Ketvirta kasa atidaryta' (The fourth register is open).

In a professional or academic environment, ketvirtas is used to organize time and hierarchy. During a business meeting, someone might refer to the 'ketvirtas darbotvarkės klausimas' (fourth item on the agenda). In schools, students talk about their 'ketvirta pamoka' (fourth lesson), which usually occurs before the long lunch break. The word also appears in the names of historical districts or military units. Lithuania has a rich history where divisions were often numbered, and while many have changed, the ordinal remains in historical discourse and museum plaques.

Finally, you'll encounter ketvirtas in media and entertainment. Television channels might announce the 'ketvirtas sezonas' (fourth season) of a popular show. In newspapers, you'll see it in headlines regarding the 'ketvirtas ketvirtis' (fourth quarter) of the fiscal year, discussing economic growth or inflation. Even in casual conversation, if someone is describing their siblings, they might say, 'Aš esu ketvirtas vaikas šeimoje' (I am the fourth child in the family). This word is a constant companion in the Lithuanian landscape, acting as a precise index for the world around you.

Radio and Podcasts

'Ketvirta laidos dalis' refers to the fourth segment of a program.

Learning Lithuanian ordinal numbers like ketvirtas can be tricky for English speakers because of the declension system. The most frequent mistake is failing to change the gender of the word to match the noun. In English, 'fourth' is used for everything—fourth boy, fourth girl, fourth car. In Lithuanian, you must use ketvirtas for masculine nouns and ketvirta for feminine nouns. Saying *'ketvirtas mergina'* instead of ketvirta mergina sounds jarring to a native speaker and is a clear indicator of a beginner level.

Confusion with Cardinal Numbers

Beginners often use keturi (four) when they should use ketvirtas (fourth). For example, saying 'I live on floor four' as *'gyvenu aukšte keturi'* is technically understandable but unnatural; it should be gyvenu ketvirtame aukšte.

Another common pitfall involves the locative case, especially when talking about floors or years. Many learners forget to change the ending to -ame for masculine nouns. If you are 'in the fourth year', you must say ketvirtame kurse. Simply using the nominative ketvirtas in this context is a grammatical error. Similarly, when talking about time, the accusative case is often required (ketvirtą valandą), and learners frequently miss the nasal 'ą' at the end, which changes the pronunciation and the grammatical meaning of the sentence.

Lastly, there is the confusion between the adjective ketvirtas and the noun ketvirtis (a quarter). If you want to say 'a quarter of an hour', you use ketvirtis valandos. If you want to say 'the fourth hour', you use ketvirta valanda. Using the ordinal when you mean a fractional part is a common conceptual error. Furthermore, the definite forms (like ketvirtasis) are often overused by learners who think they add 'emphasis' in every situation, whereas in reality, they are reserved for specific grammatical and stylistic contexts. Stick to the simple form ketvirtas until you are confident with the basics of definite adjectives.

The 'Fourth' vs 'Four' trap

In dates, remember that the month is 'whose' (genitive) and the day is 'which' (ordinal). *'Keturi Sausis'* is a major error.

To truly master ketvirtas, you should understand its relationship to other words in the 'four' family and how it compares to its neighbors in the ordinal sequence. The most obvious relative is keturi (four), the cardinal number. While keturi tells you 'how many', ketvirtas tells you 'which one'. Another close relative is ketvertas, which refers to a group of four people or things (a quartet or a set of four). Knowing when to use the group noun versus the ordinal is a hallmark of an intermediate speaker.

Ketvirtis (Noun)

Meaning 'a quarter' or 'one-fourth'. Used in math, time (quarter past), and business (fiscal quarter). Pirmas metų ketvirtis (The first quarter of the year).

Ketveri (Collective)

Used with 'plural-only' nouns like durys (doors) or metai (years). You wouldn't say 'ketvirti metai' to mean 'four years', but you would to mean 'the fourth year'.

In terms of sequence, ketvirtas sits between trečias (third) and penktas (fifth). Interestingly, all Lithuanian ordinals from 4 to 9 are formed very simply by adding -tas to the root of the cardinal number (e.g., penki -> penktas, šeši -> šeštas). This makes ketvirtas a perfect 'template' word. Once you learn how to use and decline it, you have effectively learned how to use all ordinals up to 'tenth' (dešimtas), with only the first three being irregular. This regularity is a gift to the learner in an otherwise complex language.

Finally, consider the word ketvirtadalis. This means 'one fourth part' of a whole, often used in recipes or technical measurements. While ketvirtas identifies the position of a slice of pizza in a row, ketvirtadalis describes the size of that slice relative to the whole pizza. Understanding these nuances—positional versus fractional versus collective—will elevate your Lithuanian from basic survival to nuanced expression. The word ketvirtas is your entry point into a logical and structured system of Baltic numerals that has remained remarkably consistent for centuries.

Comparison Table

Word	Meaning	Type
Keturi	Four	Cardinal
Ketvirtas	Fourth	Ordinal
Ketvirtis	Quarter	Noun
Ketvertas	A group of 4	Collective