Agreement of Ordinal Numbers
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Ordinal numbers in Croatian act like adjectives: they must match the noun's gender, number, and case, and always take a dot.
- Always add a dot after the digit (e.g., 1. means 'prvi').
- They decline exactly like definite adjectives (prvi, prva, prvo).
- Agreement is mandatory for gender, number, and case (na drugom katu).
Declension of 'Prvi' (First)
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Nominativ
|
prvi
|
prva
|
prvo
|
|
Genitiv
|
prvog(a)
|
prve
|
prvog(a)
|
|
Dativ
|
prvom(u/e)
|
prvoj
|
prvom(u/e)
|
|
Akuzativ
|
prvi/prvog(a)
|
prvu
|
prvo
|
|
Vokativ
|
prvi
|
prva
|
prvo
|
|
Lokativ
|
prvom(u/e)
|
prvoj
|
prvom(u/e)
|
|
Instrumental
|
prvim
|
prvom
|
prvim
|
Meanings
Ordinal numbers (redni brojevi) indicate the position or order of something in a sequence (first, second, tenth). In Croatian, they are grammatically treated as definite adjectives.
Sequential Ordering
Used to rank items or people in a specific order.
“On je bio prvi na cilju.”
“Ovo je druga ulica desno.”
Dates
Used to express the day of the month, usually in the Genitive case.
“Danas je petnaesti siječnja.”
“Rođen sam desetog svibnja.”
Centuries and Historical Eras
Used to denote centuries, which are always written as ordinals.
“Živimo u dvadeset prvom stoljeću.”
“To se dogodilo u devetnaestom vijeku.”
Reference Table
| Number | Masculine (Nom.) | Feminine (Nom.) | Neuter (Nom.) | Digit Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st
|
prvi
|
prva
|
prvo
|
1.
|
|
2nd
|
drugi
|
druga
|
drugo
|
2.
|
|
3rd
|
treći
|
treća
|
treće
|
3.
|
|
4th
|
četvrti
|
četvrta
|
četvrto
|
4.
|
|
5th
|
peti
|
peta
|
peto
|
5.
|
|
10th
|
deseti
|
deseta
|
deseto
|
10.
|
|
21st
|
dvadeset prvi
|
dvadeset prva
|
dvadeset prvo
|
21.
|
|
100th
|
stoti
|
stota
|
stoto
|
100.
|
Spectre de formalité
Stanujem na četvrtome katu. (Housing)
Živim na četvrtom katu. (Housing)
Na četvrtom sam katu. (Housing)
Gore sam na četvrtom. (Housing)
Ordinal Agreement Map
Gender
- Muški (prvi) Masculine
- Ženski (prva) Feminine
- Srednji (prvo) Neuter
Punctuation
- Uvijek točka! Always a dot!
- 1. = prvi 1. = first
Cardinal vs. Ordinal
How to write an ordinal?
Is it a sequence?
Writing as a digit?
Noun is feminine?
Common Ordinal Contexts
Dates
- • 1. siječnja
- • 15. kolovoza
- • 31. prosinca
Floors
- • 1. kat
- • 2. kat
- • prizemlje (0.)
Grades
- • 1. razred
- • 4. razred
- • 8. razred
Exemples par niveau
Ovo je moj prvi dan.
This is my first day.
Ona je prva.
She is first.
To je drugo selo.
That is the second village.
Kupio sam 3. knjigu.
I bought the 3rd book.
Živim na drugom katu.
I live on the second floor.
Danas je prvi svibnja.
Today is May 1st.
Idem u drugu sobu.
I am going to the second room.
Ovo je treći put.
This is the third time.
Rođen sam dvadeset prvog lipnja.
I was born on June 21st.
Uživamo u dvadeset prvom stoljeću.
We enjoy the 21st century.
Oni su u petom razredu.
They are in the fifth grade.
To je bila njegova deseta pobjeda.
That was his tenth victory.
Govorimo o osamnaestom stoljeću.
We are talking about the 18th century.
Nakon trećeg pokušaja, uspio je.
After the third attempt, he succeeded.
Sastanak je zakazan za desetog siječnja.
The meeting is scheduled for January 10th.
On je bio tek stoti na listi.
He was only 100th on the list.
Riječ je o vladavini Karla IV. (Četvrtog).
It is about the reign of Charles IV.
U onom sudbonosnom, dvanaestom poglavlju knjige...
In that fateful, twelfth chapter of the book...
Prvoga dana u tjednu uvijek sam umoran.
On the first day of the week, I am always tired.
To se protivi članku 5. (petom) zakona.
That opposes article 5 of the law.
Sve do potkraj devetnaestoga stoljeća, situacija bješe drugačija.
Until the very end of the 19th century, the situation was different.
On je, po tko zna koji put, ponovio istu grešku.
He repeated the same mistake for the umpteenth time.
U hijerarhiji je zauzimao tek tisućito mjesto.
In the hierarchy, he occupied only the thousandth place.
Prvotni planovi bijahu posve drukčiji.
The original plans were completely different.
Facile à confondre
Learners often forget the dot for ordinals or add it to cardinals.
Using Nominative for 'on the [date]'.
Declining every word in a number like 125th.
Erreurs courantes
1 siječnja
1. siječnja
prvi kava
prva kava
dva put
drugi put
on je jedan
on je prvi
na prvi katu
na prvom katu
peti siječanj
peti siječnja
u dvadeset prvi stoljeću
u dvadeset prvom stoljeću
dvadesetog prvog maja
dvadeset prvog maja
sa prvim prijateljem
s prvim prijateljem
u 19-om stoljeću
u 19. stoljeću
Ivana Pavla Drugi
Ivana Pavla Drugog
Structures de phrases
Danas je ___. (date)
Živim na ___ katu.
To se dogodilo u ___ stoljeću.
Osvojio je ___ mjesto.
Real World Usage
Vaša narudžba je 3. na redu.
Ovo je moj drugi razgovor za posao ovaj tjedan.
Vidimo se 5.10. (petog desetog)
Skrenite u drugu ulicu lijevo.
Moja 1. objava na Instagramu!
Hrvatska u desetom stoljeću.
The Dot is King
Compound Numbers
Adjective Shortcut
Roman Numerals
Smart Tips
Always put a dot after the day and the month if using digits.
Remember that 'prizemlje' is the ground floor (0.), so the '1. kat' is actually the second level.
Don't panic! Just look at the very last digit (3.) and decline that one.
Check if it means 'second' or 'other' by looking for a sequence.
Prononciation
Falling accent on 'prvi'
The first syllable of 'prvi' has a short-falling accent.
Vowel length in Genitive
The 'o' in 'prvog' is often lengthened in formal speech.
Rising on lists
Prvi... ↑ drugi... ↑ treći. ↓
Indicates more items are coming in a list.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Ordinal numbers are 'Orderly Adjectives'—they always need a dot and a matching outfit (gender/case) for their noun.
Association visuelle
Imagine a number wearing a small hat (the dot) and holding hands with a noun. If the noun changes its dress (gender), the number must change its suit to match.
Rhyme
If it's first, second, or third in line, add a dot and it'll be fine!
Story
A runner finishes a race. He is '1.' (prvi). He stands on the '1. kat' (first floor) of the podium. His 'prva nagrada' (first prize - feminine) is a gold medal. He checks the date: '1. lipnja'. Everything is first, everything has a dot.
Word Web
Défi
Look around your room and name 5 objects in order using ordinals (e.g., 'prva stolica', 'druga knjiga'). Write them down with digits and dots.
Notes culturelles
Croatians use the 24-hour clock, but ordinals are rarely used for hours (unlike 'first hour'). They are strictly for dates, floors, and rankings.
The use of the dot after digits (1., 2.) is a shared Austro-Hungarian heritage found in Croatia, Austria, and Germany.
In Croatian universities, 'godina' (year) is always used with an ordinal to indicate which year of study a student is in.
Derived from Proto-Slavic ordinal forms, which were already adjectival in nature.
Amorces de conversation
Koji je danas datum?
Na kojem katu živiš?
U kojem si razredu/godini studija?
Koji je bio najvažniji događaj u 20. stoljeću?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
Ovo je moja ___ (1.) kava danas.
Živim na ___ katu.
Find and fix the mistake:
Danas je 15 siječnja.
Živimo ___.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
In compound numbers like 155th, every word must decline.
A: Koji je danas datum? B: Danas je ___ (2.) svibnja.
pet (5) vs. peti (5.)
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesOvo je moja ___ (1.) kava danas.
Živim na ___ katu.
Find and fix the mistake:
Danas je 15 siječnja.
Živimo ___.
1. | 2. | 3.
In compound numbers like 155th, every word must decline.
A: Koji je danas datum? B: Danas je ___ (2.) svibnja.
pet (5) vs. peti (5.)
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
The dot distinguishes an ordinal number (1. = first) from a cardinal number (1 = one). It's a mandatory rule in Croatian orthography.
Yes! They decline like adjectives, so they have plural forms (e.g., 'prvi dani' - the first days).
You use the Genitive case: 'prvog siječnja'.
Usually, but it can also mean 'other' or 'another' depending on the sentence.
They are treated exactly like digits and also require a dot (e.g., XVIII. stoljeće).
No, in compound numbers, only the last part ('prvi') declines.
Both are Genitive masculine. 'Prvoga' is the 'long form' often used for emphasis or in formal writing.
You say 'prvi put'. In this phrase, 'put' is masculine, so 'prvi' is in the Accusative (which looks like Nominative here).
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
first, second, -th suffix
Croatian ordinals change endings for gender/case; English ones are static.
erste, zweite + dot (1., 2.)
Croatian has 7 cases vs German's 4.
primero, segundo
Spanish uses superscript letters (1º, 1ª) instead of a dot.
premier, deuxième
French lacks the case system found in Croatian.
أول، ثاني (awwal, thani)
Arabic script and right-to-left orientation.
第一, 第二 (dì yī, dì èr)
Chinese uses a prefix; Croatian uses suffixes and agreement.
