Arabic Ordinal Numbers: First, Second, Third (الأول، الثاني)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Arabic ordinals act like adjectives, meaning they must match the gender and definiteness of the noun they describe.
- Ordinals follow the noun: 'The first house' is 'البيت الأول' (Al-bayt al-awwal).
- They must match gender: 'The first car' is 'السيارة الأولى' (As-sayyara al-ula).
- They must match definiteness: Both the noun and the ordinal need 'al-' (the).
Overview
Ordinal numbers in Arabic, much like in English, serve to indicate position, rank, or sequence within a series. Instead of merely counting items, they specify which item in that count you are referring to. For instance, you differentiate between ثَلَاثَةُ كُتُبٍ (three books – cardinal) and الكِتَابُ الثَّالِثُ (the third book – ordinal).
This distinction is fundamental for expressing chronological order, numerical hierarchy, or specific points in a sequence. At the A2 level, mastering Arabic ordinal numbers allows you to articulate fundamental concepts such as the floor you live on, the chapter you are reading, or your position in a queue. Their proper application is a hallmark of basic fluency, enabling clear and precise communication in various daily scenarios.
Unlike many languages where ordinals might be standalone words or simply inflected cardinal numbers, in Arabic, they behave precisely like adjectives. This adjectival nature is the core principle governing their usage and agreement. Understanding this from the outset simplifies their application significantly.
While the ordinal for 'first' possesses a unique form, the majority follow a highly predictable pattern derived from verbal roots, which you will recognize as فَاعِل (fā‘il), or 'doer' pattern. This deep grammatical connection reinforces the systematic elegance of Arabic morphology. For example, knowing you are أَوَّلُ (first) to arrive or waiting for البَاصُ الثَّانِي (the second bus) involves more than just numbers; it involves describing the object's particular place in a series.
How This Grammar Works
الفَصْلُ الأَوَّلُ (literally: "the chapter the first"). This post-nominal position is non-negotiable for adjectival usage.الصَّفْحَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ (the page the second), not الثَّانِيَةُ الصَّفْحَةُ. If you were to place the ordinal before the noun without الـ, it could imply a different grammatical construction (like an idaafa or construct state, e.g., ثَالِثُ كِتَابٍ - the third of a book), which conveys a different meaning and is beyond the scope of A2 proficiency for adjectival ordinals.ـَة (tā’ marbūṭa) to the end of the ordinal to make it feminine (e.g., ثَالِثٌ for masculine, ثَالِثَةٌ for feminine). Consider البَابُ الرَّابِعُ (the fourth door, masculine) versus المَرْأَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ (the fourth woman, feminine). Neglecting gender agreement is a common error that can make your speech sound unnatural.الـ, e.g., الكِتَابُ - the book), the ordinal must also be definite (الـ, e.g., الثَّالِثُ - the third). Conversely, if the noun is indefinite (without الـ, e.g., كِتَابٌ - a book), the ordinal must also be indefinite (ثَالِثٌ - a third).الـ is a defining characteristic of adjectival agreement in Arabic. For example: الدَّرْسُ الثَّانِي (the second lesson) and دَرْسٌ ثَانٍ (a second lesson). Notice how in the indefinite form of ثَانٍ (second), the final ي is typically dropped in spoken or nominative/genitive written forms when indefinite.الثَّانِي is often sufficient, as الـ preserves the ي.ـُ or ـٌ), the ordinal will also be nominative.هَذَا اليَوْمُ الأَوَّلُ (This is the first day – both nominative). If the noun is in the accusative (ـَ or ـًا), the ordinal follows: قَرَأْتُ الكِتَابَ الثَّالِثَ (I read the third book – both accusative). In the genitive (ـِ or ـٍ), they also agree: نَظَرْتُ إِلَى الغُرْفَةِ الخَامِسَةِ (I looked at the fifth room – both genitive).Formation Pattern
فَاعِل (fā‘il) pattern, which is used for the ordinals from the second (الثَّانِي) to the tenth (العَاشِرُ). However, the ordinal for 'first' is a distinct exception you must memorize. This pattern, فَاعِل, is deeply embedded in Arabic morphology, often signifying the 'doer' or agent of an action, and here it signifies 'the one that performs the count' or 'the one that takes the place'.
فَاعِل pattern.
أَوَّلُ (awwal). Example: الرَّجُلُ الأَوَّلُ (the first man).
أُولَى (ūlā). Example: المَرَّةُ الأُولَى (the first time). Note that أُولَى is a diptote (مَمْنُوعٌ مِنَ الصَّرْفِ) and thus does not take tanwin or a kasra at the end.
فَاعِل Pattern (Second to Tenth):
فَاعِل template. The pattern is فَا + root's first letter + عِ + root's second letter + ل + root's third letter. For feminine, you simply add ـَة (tā’ marbūṭa) to the end of the masculine form.
al-awwal) | الأُولَى (al-ūlā) | الفَصْلُ الأَوَّلُ / الصَّفْحَةُ الأُولَى |
ath-thānī) | الثَّانِيَةُ (ath-thāniya) | اليَوْمُ الثَّانِي / السَّاعَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ |
ath-thālith) | الثَّالِثَةُ (ath-thālitha) | الجُزْءُ الثَّالِثُ / الطَّبَقَةُ الثَّالِثَةُ |
ar-rābi‘) | الرَّابِعَةُ (ar-rābi‘a) | الشَّهْرُ الرَّابِعُ / الغُرْفَةُ الرَّابِعَةُ |
al-khāmis) | الخَامِسَةُ (al-khāmisa) | الطَّابِقُ الخَامِسُ / اللَّيْلَةُ الخَامِسَةُ |
as-sādis) | السَّادِسَةُ (as-sādisa) | الدَّرْسُ السَّادِسُ / السَّنَةُ السَّادِسَةُ |
as-sābi‘) | السَّابِعَةُ (as-sābi‘a) | الامْتِحَانُ السَّابِعُ / المُحَاضَرَةُ السَّابِعَةُ |
ath-thāmin) | الثَّامِنَةُ (ath-thāmina) | المَكَانُ الثَّامِنُ / المَرْحَلَةُ الثَّامِنَةُ |
at-tāsi‘) | التَّاسِعَةُ (at-tāsi‘a) | اليَوْمُ التَّاسِعُ / الفُرْصَةُ التَّاسِعَةُ |
al-‘āshir) | العَاشِرَةُ (al-‘āshira) | الاسْبُوعُ العَاشِرُ / السَّاعَةُ العَاشِرَةُ |
ثَانٍ (Second): When ثَانٍ is indefinite and in the nominative or genitive case, the final ي (yā’) is dropped, and the preceding letter takes tanwin kasra (ـٍ). For example, دَرْسٌ ثَانٍ (a second lesson – nominative indefinite), مَعَ دَرْسٍ ثَانٍ (with a second lesson – genitive indefinite). However, in the accusative indefinite, the ي is retained: قَرَأْتُ دَرْسًا ثَانِيًا (I read a second lesson). Crucially, when definite (الـ), the ي is always retained, regardless of case: الدَّرْسُ الثَّانِي.
الحَادِي to التَّاسِع), and the second part is عَشَر (for masculine) or عَشَرَة (for feminine). For example:
الحَادِي عَشَر (masculine) / الحَادِيَةَ عَشَرَةَ (feminine).
الثَّانِي عَشَر (masculine) / الثَّانِيَةَ عَشَرَةَ (feminine).
الأَوَّل, الثَّانِي) followed by وَ (and) and then the cardinal for the tens (e.g., العِشْرُونَ, الثَّلَاثُونَ). For example:
الأَوَّلُ وَ العِشْرُونَ (masculine) / الأُولَى وَ العِشْرُونَ (feminine).
الثَّانِي وَ العِشْرُونَ (masculine) / الثَّانِيَةُ وَ العِشْرُونَ (feminine).
When To Use It
- Floors in a building:
أَنَا أَسْكُنُ فِي الطَّابِقِ السَّابِعِ.(I live on the seventh floor.) - Chapters or parts of a book/series:
قَرَأْتُ الفَصْلَ الثَّالِثَ مِنَ الرِّوَايَةِ.(I read the third chapter of the novel.) - Rank in a competition or list:
هُوَ فِي المَرْكَزِ الأَوَّلِ فِي السِّبَاقِ.(He is in first place in the race.) - Steps in a process:
الخُطْوَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ هِيَ تَسْجِيلُ الدُّخُولِ.(The second step is logging in.)
السَّاعَةُ الخَامِسَةُ(It's five o'clock / literally: the fifth hour.)سَأَصِلُ فِي السَّاعَةِ السَّابِعَةِ صَبَاحًا.(I will arrive at seven o'clock in the morning.)
سَاعَة (hour).نَحْتَفِلُ فِي اليَوْمِ العَاشِرِ مِنْ رَمَضَانَ.(We celebrate on the tenth day of Ramadan.)الرَّابِعُ وَ العِشْرُونَ مِنْ دِيسَمْبِرَ هُوَ يَوْمُ عُطْلَةٍ.(The twenty-fourth of December is a holiday.)
هَذِهِ هِيَ المَرَّةُ الأُولَى لِي فِي مِصْرَ.(This is my first time in Egypt.)شَاهَدْتُ الفِيلْمَ لِلمَرَّةِ الثَّانِيَةِ.(I watched the film for the second time.)
النُّقْطَةُ الأُولَى هِيَ... وَ النُّقْطَةُ الثَّانِيَةُ...(The first point is... and the second point is...)
فَاعِل pattern for most ordinals means that once you grasp the core principles, you can apply them broadly.Common Mistakes
الـ): This is arguably the most frequent mistake. Remember, the ordinal number acts as an adjective. If the noun it describes is definite (has الـ), the ordinal must also have الـ. If the noun is indefinite, the ordinal must also be indefinite. Failing to match الـ can fundamentally change the meaning or render the phrase ungrammatical.- Incorrect:
الكِتَابُ ثَالِثٌ(The book is third – this is a complete sentence, not an adjective describing the book). - Correct:
الكِتَابُ الثَّالِثُ(The third book – adjectival description). - Incorrect:
دَرْسٌ الثَّانِي(A lesson the second – grammatically incoherent). - Correct:
دَرْسٌ ثَانٍ(A second lesson – both indefinite).
- Incorrect:
السَّاعَةُ الأَوَّلُ(The hour the first –سَاعَةis feminine,أَوَّلُis masculine). - Correct:
السَّاعَةُ الأُولَى(The first hour). - Incorrect:
طَالِبَةٌ خَامِسٌ(A female student a fifth –طَالِبَةis feminine,خَامِسٌis masculine). - Correct:
طَالِبَةٌ خَامِسَةٌ(A fifth female student).
one, two, three), while ordinals express position (first, second, third).- Incorrect:
زُرْتُ مِصْرَ مَرَّتَيْنِ(I visited Egypt two times – if you mean 'for the second time'). - Correct:
زُرْتُ مِصْرَ لِلمَرَّةِ الثَّانِيَةِ(I visited Egypt for the second time). - Incorrect:
الكِتَابُ اِثْنَانِ(The book two – sounds like 'the book is two'). - Correct:
الكِتَابُ الثَّانِي(The second book).
فَاعِل Pattern to 'First': Many learners, after grasping the فَاعِل pattern for 2nd-10th, try to force 'first' into it, leading to non-existent forms. Remember, أَوَّلُ (masc.) and أُولَى (fem.) are unique.- Incorrect:
وَاحِدٌorالفَاعِلُfor first ordinal. - Correct:
الأَوَّلُandالأُولَى.
ثَانٍ (Second): The dropping of the ي (yā’) in ثَانٍ when indefinite and in certain cases (دَرْسٌ ثَانٍ) can be challenging. For A2, the safest approach is to ensure definiteness (الـ) when referring to a specific "second" item, thus always retaining the ي (الدَّرْسُ الثَّانِي). As you progress, you will naturally encounter and internalize the indefinite forms.Real Conversations
Understanding how native speakers deploy Arabic ordinal numbers in everyday interactions will significantly enhance your practical fluency. They are not confined to formal texts but are interwoven into casual speech, social media, and even professional communication. Observing these patterns helps you sound more natural and less like a textbook.
1. Giving or Asking for Directions: When navigating cities or explaining locations, ordinals are essential.
- اُسْلُكْ الشَّارِعَ الثَّانِيَ عَلَى اليَسَارِ. (Take the second street on the left.)
- أَيُّ مَخْرَجٍ هُوَ الأَوَّلُ؟ (Which exit is the first one?)
2. Making Appointments or Discussing Schedules: Specifying times or dates.
- لَدَيْنَا اِجْتِمَاعٌ فِي السَّاعَةِ التَّاسِعَةِ صَبَاحًا. (We have a meeting at nine o'clock in the morning.) (Note the feminine ordinal for 'hour').
- عِيدُ الفِطْرِ فِي اليَوْمِ الأَوَّلِ مِنْ شَوَّال. (Eid al-Fitr is on the first day of Shawwal.)
3. Ordering Food or Items in a List: Whether at a restaurant or online, you'll hear and use these frequently.
- سَآخُذُ الطَّبَقَ الثَّالِثَ مِنْ القَائِمَةِ. (I'll take the third dish from the menu.)
- هَلْ يُمْكِنُنِي أَنْ أَحْصُلَ عَلَى الكُوبِ الأَوَّلِ مِنَ الرَّفِّ؟ (Can I have the first cup from the shelf?)
4. Social Media and Casual Chat: Ordinals often appear in quick, informal contexts, especially for emphasis or ranking.
- أَنَا الأَوَّلُ مَنْ شَاهَدَ هَذَا الفِيدْيُو! (I'm the first one who watched this video!)
- المَرَّةُ الخَامِسَةُ الَّتِي أَسْمَعُ فِيهَا هَذِهِ الأُغْنِيَةَ اليَوْمَ. (This is the fifth time I've heard this song today.)
5. Referring to Media (Books, Movies, Games): Discussing sequels, series, or chapters.
- الجُزْءُ الثَّانِي مِنْ الفِيلْمِ أَفْضَلُ مِنَ الأَوَّلِ. (The second part of the film is better than the first.)
- أَيُّ مَرْحَلَةٍ أَنْتَ فِيهَا فِي اللُّعْبَةِ؟ أَنَا فِي المَرْحَلَةِ الرَّابِعَةِ. (Which stage are you on in the game? I'm on the fourth stage.)
6. In Formal Documents or Presentations: When enumerating points or sections.
- الاسْتِنْتَاجُ الأَوَّلُ يُشِيرُ إِلَى... (The first conclusion indicates...)
- تَجِدُونَ التَّفَاصِيلَ فِي القِسْمِ السَّادِسِ. (You will find the details in the sixth section.)
In daily spoken Arabic (عامية - āmmiyya), while the standard forms are understood, case endings are often dropped, and sometimes even the الـ for definiteness might be implicitly understood rather than explicitly stated in very casual speech, particularly for numbers like الأَوَّل. However, as an A2 learner, adhering to the Modern Standard Arabic (فصحى - fuṣḥā) rules for agreement and placement will ensure you are universally understood and lay a strong foundation for future fluency.
Quick FAQ
الأُولَى with the singular مَجْمُوعَة (group). If you were referring to multipleOrdinal Number Patterns (1-5)
| Number | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
|
الأول (Al-awwal)
|
الأولى (Al-ula)
|
|
2nd
|
الثاني (Ath-thani)
|
الثانية (Ath-thaniya)
|
|
3rd
|
الثالث (Ath-thalith)
|
الثالثة (Ath-thalitha)
|
|
4th
|
الرابع (Ar-rabi')
|
الرابعة (Ar-rabi'a)
|
|
5th
|
الخامس (Al-khamis)
|
الخامسة (Al-khamisa)
|
Meanings
Ordinal numbers indicate the position of an item in a sequence. In Arabic, they function as adjectives that agree with the noun in gender, number, and definiteness.
Sequence
Used to denote order (first, second, third).
“الطابق الأول (The first floor)”
“المرة الثانية (The second time)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Noun + Ordinal
|
البيت الأول (The first house)
|
|
Definite
|
Al-Noun + Al-Ordinal
|
السيارة الثانية (The second car)
|
|
Question
|
Hal + Noun + Ordinal?
|
هل هذا هو الدرس الثالث؟ (Is this the third lesson?)
|
|
Negative
|
Laysa + Noun + Ordinal
|
ليس هذا هو اليوم الرابع (This is not the fourth day)
|
Formality Spectrum
الطابق الأول (Directions)
الدور الأول (Directions)
أول دور (Directions)
أول طابق (Directions)
Ordinal Agreement Map
Gender
- Masculine No ta-marbuta
- Feminine Add ta-marbuta
Definiteness
- Definite Add Al-
- Indefinite No Al-
Examples by Level
الدرس الأول
The first lesson
الطابق الثاني
The second floor
اليوم الثالث
The third day
المرة الأولى
The first time
هذه هي المرة الثانية التي أزور فيها مصر.
This is the second time I visit Egypt.
أنا أسكن في البيت الثالث.
I live in the third house.
هل هذا هو السؤال الرابع؟
Is this the fourth question?
السيارة الخامسة حمراء.
The fifth car is red.
وصلت في اليوم السادس من الشهر.
I arrived on the sixth day of the month.
هذه هي المحاولة السابعة للنجاح.
This is the seventh attempt at success.
الشارع الثامن مغلق اليوم.
The eighth street is closed today.
هذا هو الفصل التاسع من الكتاب.
This is the ninth chapter of the book.
كانت هذه هي المرة العاشرة التي يطلب فيها المساعدة.
This was the tenth time he asked for help.
الشركة في المركز الحادي عشر عالمياً.
The company is in the eleventh position globally.
هذا هو الاجتماع الثاني عشر هذا الأسبوع.
This is the twelfth meeting this week.
القطار الثالث عشر تأخر عن موعده.
The thirteenth train was delayed.
يحتل الفريق المرتبة الرابعة عشرة في الدوري.
The team occupies the fourteenth rank in the league.
هذه هي النسخة الخامسة عشرة من المؤتمر.
This is the fifteenth edition of the conference.
القرن السادس عشر كان عصر النهضة.
The sixteenth century was the Renaissance.
المرحلة السابعة عشرة تتطلب تركيزاً عالياً.
The seventeenth stage requires high focus.
الذكرى الثامنة عشرة لتأسيس المؤسسة.
The eighteenth anniversary of the foundation's establishment.
الفقرة التاسعة عشرة توضح الشروط.
The nineteenth paragraph clarifies the terms.
هذا هو العقد العشرون في تاريخ الشركة.
This is the twentieth contract in the company's history.
المرة الحادية والعشرون كانت حاسمة.
The twenty-first time was decisive.
Easily Confused
Learners use 'wahid' (one) instead of 'awwal' (first).
Learners use masculine ordinals for feminine nouns.
Learners forget 'al-' on the ordinal.
Common Mistakes
البيت الأول
البيت الأول
السيارة الأول
السيارة الأولى
واحد درس
الدرس الأول
الأول بيت
البيت الأول
البيت الثانية
البيت الثاني
بيت ثاني
بيت ثانٍ
الدرس الثالثة
الدرس الثالث
المرة الثالث
المرة الثالثة
الشارع الرابع
الشارع الرابع
الخامس يوم
اليوم الخامس
المرتبة الحادي عشر
المرتبة الحادية عشرة
العشرون يوم
اليوم العشرون
النسخة الخامس عشر
النسخة الخامسة عشرة
القرن السادس عشر
القرن السادس عشر
Sentence Patterns
هذا هو ___ ___.
أنا أسكن في ___ ___.
هذه هي ___ ___ التي أزور فيها المكان.
الترتيب هو: ___، ثم ___، ثم ___.
Real World Usage
أنا في الدور التاني
هذه هي المرة الأولى لي هنا
أريد الغرفة الثالثة
الطلب الأول وصل
اليوم الأول من التحدي
الفصل الأول من الكتاب
The 'Fā'il' Pattern
The First Mistake
Naming Sons
Smart Tips
Always add ة to your ordinal.
Add 'al-' to both.
Use the 'Fa'il' pattern.
It's okay to drop 'al-' in some dialects.
Pronunciation
Sun Letters
When the ordinal starts with a sun letter (like 'th' in 'thani'), the 'l' in 'al-' is silent.
Statement
الدرس الأول ↘
Falling intonation for facts.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Remember 'Awwal' sounds like 'All-well' (the first thing you want to hear).
Visual Association
Imagine a race track. The winner wears a gold medal labeled 'الأول' (First).
Rhyme
For first use Awwal, for second use Thani, Arabic ordinals are easy for any.
Story
I walked into the first (الأول) room. I saw the second (الثاني) chair. I sat on the third (الثالث) cushion.
Word Web
Challenge
Look at the next 5 items you see (books, chairs, etc.) and say their ordinal position in Arabic.
Cultural Notes
Egyptians often use the 'tani' (second) form even for 'next'.
They often drop the 'al-' in casual speech.
More formal adherence to 'al-' is common.
Derived from the root 'A-W-L' for first and 'Th-N-Y' for second.
Conversation Starters
ما هو الدرس الأول؟
هل هذه هي المرة الأولى لك في دبي؟
في أي طابق تسكن؟
ما هو ترتيبك في العائلة؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
البيت ___ (first).
السيارة ___ (second).
Find and fix the mistake:
الدرس الأولى
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
The third day.
Answer starts with: الي...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
I live in the second house.
المحاولة ___ (fourth).
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesالبيت ___ (first).
السيارة ___ (second).
Find and fix the mistake:
الدرس الأولى
الأول / البيت / هو / هذا
The third day.
1st -> ?
I live in the second house.
المحاولة ___ (fourth).
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesأنا أسكن في الشقة ___.
الخامس / الدرس / صعب
The tenth floor
First place:
هذا هو الفصل الستة.
Match the pairs
وصلت في المركز ___.
The ninth cup:
Second time
اليوم السابعة.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It's an irregular form derived from a different root.
Only if the noun is definite.
Ordinals usually follow the noun's singular gender.
Yes, for days of the month.
Yes, pronunciation and 'al-' usage vary.
It's a compound: 'Al-hadi 'ashar'.
Yes, they function as adjectives.
Check the noun's ending (ta marbuta).
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Primero, Segundo
Spanish has specific masculine apocope (primer).
Premier, Deuxième
French ordinals are usually invariable after 'deuxième'.
Erste, Zweite
German ordinals decline for case.
Dai-ichi, Dai-ni
Arabic uses suffixes/adjectival agreement.
Di-yi, Di-er
Chinese has no gender or case agreement.
First, Second
English has no gender agreement.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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