terceiro in 30 Seconds
- Terceiro means 'third' in Portuguese, indicating position or order.
- It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (terceiro/terceira).
- Used for rankings, sequences, dates, and physical locations.
- Distinguish from 'três' (three - quantity).
- Core Meaning
- 'Terceiro' signifies the position or order of 'third'. It's used when something comes after the first and second. This applies to sequences, rankings, dates, and even physical positions.
- Ordinal Number
- As an ordinal number, 'terceiro' indicates a specific place in a series. For example, 'o terceiro lugar' means 'the third place'. It answers the question 'which one?' when counting.
- Time and Sequence
- In temporal contexts, 'terceiro' refers to the third occurrence or the third period. Think of 'o terceiro dia' (the third day) or 'a terceira vez' (the third time). It helps to establish a chronological order.
- Ranking and Hierarchy
- 'Terceiro' is crucial for describing rankings, such as in competitions, classifications, or organizational structures. 'Ele ficou em terceiro lugar na corrida' means 'He came in third place in the race'.
- Physical Placement
- It can also describe physical arrangement. For instance, 'a terceira casa à esquerda' means 'the third house on the left'. This applies to rows, streets, or any linear arrangement.
- Feminine Form
- Remember that when referring to feminine nouns, the form changes to 'terceira'. For example, 'a terceira página' (the third page).
O terceiro capítulo do livro é o meu favorito.
Ela está na terceira fila.
Este é o terceiro dia da nossa viagem.
- Common Usage Scenarios
- Competitions: 'terceiro lugar' (third place), 'terceira posição' (third position).
- Sequences: 'o terceiro filho' (the third child), 'o terceiro evento' (the third event).
- Time: 'o terceiro trimestre' (the third quarter), 'o terceiro mês' (the third month).
- Order: 'a terceira rua' (the third street), 'a terceira porta' (the third door).
- Parts of a whole: 'a terceira parte' (the third part).
- Agreement with Nouns
- 'Terceiro' is an adjective, so it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. For masculine singular nouns, use 'terceiro'. For feminine singular nouns, use 'terceira'. For masculine plural nouns, use 'terceiros'. For feminine plural nouns, use 'terceiras'. This is a fundamental rule in Portuguese grammar.
- Placement in Sentences
- Typically, 'terceiro' (and its forms) comes before the noun it modifies, especially when referring to order or position. For example, 'o terceiro andar' (the third floor). However, in some contexts, it might appear after the noun for emphasis or specific stylistic reasons, though this is less common for simple ordinal indications.
- Use with Articles
- When 'terceiro' is used to specify a particular item in a sequence, it is usually preceded by a definite article ('o', 'a', 'os', 'as'). For example, 'o terceiro carro' (the third car), 'a terceira vez' (the third time). This article agrees in gender and number with both 'terceiro' and the noun.
- Indicating Rank
- To express coming in third in a competition or ranking, you often use the preposition 'em' followed by the article and 'terceiro lugar' or 'terceira posição'. For instance, 'Ele ganhou o terceiro prémio' (He won the third prize) or 'A equipa terminou em terceiro' (The team finished third).
- Describing Time Periods
- When referring to months, quarters, or other time divisions, 'terceiro' is used directly. For example, 'o terceiro mês do ano' (the third month of the year), 'o terceiro trimestre financeiro' (the third financial quarter).
- In Lists and Series
- 'Terceiro' is essential for enumerating items in a series. 'A terceira opção' (the third option), 'o terceiro ponto' (the third point). This helps to structure information clearly.
Eu moro no terceiro andar deste prédio.
Esta é a terceira vez que visito Lisboa.
O terceiro candidato foi o mais preparado.
- Example Sentences Breakdown
- 'Eu moro no terceiro andar deste prédio.' (I live on the third floor of this building.) - 'terceiro' agrees with the masculine singular noun 'andar'. The article 'o' is used.
- 'Esta é a terceira vez que visito Lisboa.' (This is the third time I visit Lisbon.) - 'terceira' agrees with the feminine singular noun 'vez'. The article 'a' is used.
- 'O terceiro candidato foi o mais preparado.' (The third candidate was the most prepared.) - 'terceiro' agrees with the masculine singular noun 'candidato'. The article 'o' is used.
- Everyday Conversations
- You'll hear 'terceiro' frequently in daily life. When someone asks for directions, they might say 'A terceira rua à direita' (The third street on the right). In discussions about family, 'o terceiro filho' (the third child) is common. When talking about plans or sequences of events, 'a terceira etapa' (the third stage) or 'a terceira parte' (the third part) will come up.
- Public Announcements and Signs
- In public spaces, 'terceiro' is ubiquitous. On buildings, you'll see signs for 'Terceiro Andar' (Third Floor). Train or bus stations might announce 'o terceiro vagão' (the third carriage) or 'a terceira plataforma' (the third platform). In libraries or archives, 'o terceiro volume' (the third volume) is standard.
- Sports and Competitions
- Sports commentary is a prime place to hear 'terceiro'. Announcers will often say 'o terceiro colocado' (the third-placed athlete), 'a terceira medalha' (the third medal), or 'o terceiro set' (the third set) in tennis. In races, 'a terceira volta' (the third lap) is frequently mentioned.
- Media and News
- News reports often use 'terceiro' to describe rankings, statistics, or sequences of events. 'A terceira vítima' (the third victim), 'o terceiro dia de protestos' (the third day of protests), or 'o terceiro trimestre fiscal' (the third fiscal quarter) are all common phrases in news broadcasts and articles.
- Educational Settings
- In classrooms, teachers will use 'terceiro' when numbering points on a board, assigning tasks, or referring to parts of a lesson. 'O terceiro exercício' (the third exercise) or 'a terceira questão' (the third question) are standard phrases.
- Business and Finance
- In the business world, 'terceiro' is used for financial reporting, project phases, and organizational charts. 'O terceiro relatório trimestral' (the third quarterly report), 'a terceira fase do projeto' (the third phase of the project), and 'o terceiro departamento' (the third department) are common.
O terceiro colocado na maratona recebeu uma medalha de bronze.
Por favor, pegue o terceiro livro da prateleira.
A conferência terá a sua terceira edição no próximo ano.
- Real-World Examples
- Imagine you are in a Portuguese city. You might hear someone say, 'Onde fica a terceira estação de metro?' (Where is the third metro station?).
- In a classroom, a teacher might ask, 'Quem pode responder à terceira pergunta?' (Who can answer the third question?).
- During a football match, the commentator might exclaim, 'Gol! O terceiro golo da equipa!' (Goal! The team's third goal!).
- Confusing Ordinal and Cardinal Numbers
- A very common mistake for learners is to use the cardinal number 'três' (three) when they mean the ordinal number 'terceiro' (third). For example, saying 'Eu moro em três andar' instead of 'Eu moro no terceiro andar' is incorrect. 'Três' refers to a quantity, while 'terceiro' refers to a position in a sequence.
- Gender and Number Agreement Errors
- Forgetting to make 'terceiro' agree with the noun's gender and number is a frequent error. For instance, using 'o terceiro casa' (masculine adjective with feminine noun) instead of 'a terceira casa' is grammatically incorrect. Always check the gender of the noun (e.g., 'casa' is feminine, so you need 'terceira'). Similarly, for plural nouns, ensure you use 'terceiros' or 'terceiras'.
- Incorrect Article Usage
- While 'terceiro' often appears with a definite article ('o', 'a'), learners might sometimes omit it or use the wrong article, especially in less formal contexts or when translating directly from English. For example, saying 'terceiro lugar' without an article might be acceptable in some very specific contexts, but in standard usage, 'o terceiro lugar' is preferred. Ensure the article matches the gender and number of 'terceiro' and the noun.
- Misplacing 'Terceiro' in the Sentence
- While less common for basic usage, some learners might incorrectly place 'terceiro' after the noun where it doesn't naturally fit, or use it in a way that sounds unnatural. The standard position is before the noun, especially with definite articles. For instance, 'o andar terceiro' is generally not used; 'o terceiro andar' is correct.
- Overuse or Underuse
- Some learners might underuse ordinal numbers, opting for cardinal numbers even when order is implied, or they might overuse them where a simpler structure would suffice. It's important to use 'terceiro' when specifically indicating the third position or item in a sequence, and to rely on cardinal numbers for mere quantities.
Incorrect: Eu preciso do três livros.
Correct: Eu preciso dos três livros.
Or, if referring to order: Eu quero o terceiro livro da pilha.
Incorrect: A terceiro casa é azul.
Correct: A terceira casa é azul.
- Common Error Examples
- Mistake: 'Ele chegou três na corrida.' (He arrived three in the race.) This confuses quantity with position.
- Correction: 'Ele chegou em terceiro na corrida.' (He arrived third in the race.)
- Mistake: 'A terceiro livro é interessante.' (The third book is interesting.) Here, 'livro' is masculine, but 'terceiro' is used in its feminine form.
- Correction: 'O terceiro livro é interessante.' (The third book is interesting.)
- Cardinal Numbers (e.g., 'Três')
- 'Três' is the cardinal number for 'three', indicating quantity. 'Terceiro' is the ordinal number for 'third', indicating position. You would say 'comprei três livros' (I bought three books) to state the quantity, but 'o terceiro livro da pilha' (the third book in the pile) to indicate its order. The key difference is quantity versus order.
- Other Ordinal Numbers (e.g., 'Primeiro', 'Segundo')
- 'Primeiro' means 'first', and 'segundo' means 'second'. These follow the same grammatical rules as 'terceiro' regarding gender and number agreement and use of articles. For example, 'o primeiro dia', 'a segunda chance', 'o terceiro problema'. They are direct counterparts in sequence.
- 'Meio' (Half)
- 'Meio' refers to 'half' or 'middle'. It's not an ordinal number. You might say 'a meio caminho' (halfway there) or 'a meia-noite' (midnight). It doesn't indicate a specific numbered position like 'terceiro'.
- 'Restante' (Remaining)
- 'Restante' means 'remaining' or 'rest of'. It refers to what is left after some have been taken or considered, not a specific ordinal position. For example, 'os restantes alunos' (the remaining students). It's a quantity or a group, not a sequential place.
- 'Último' (Last)
- 'Último' means 'last' or 'final'. It marks the end of a sequence. While 'terceiro' marks a specific point within a sequence, 'último' marks the very end. For example, 'o último dia' (the last day).
- 'Antepenúltimo' (Penultimate)
- 'Antepenúltimo' means 'penultimate' or 'second to last'. It's the position just before the last one. If 'terceiro' is the third, 'antepenúltimo' would be further down the line, depending on the total number of items. For example, if there are five items, 'terceiro' is position 3, and 'antepenúltimo' is position 4.
Eu tenho três cães.
O terceiro cão é o mais novo.
- Comparison Table
- | Term | Type | Meaning | Example |
- |---|---|---|---|
- | Três | Cardinal | Three (quantity) | Tenho três carros. |
- | Terceiro | Ordinal | Third (position) | O terceiro carro é vermelho. |
- | Primeiro | Ordinal | First (position) | O primeiro carro é azul. |
- | Segundo | Ordinal | Second (position) | O segundo carro é verde. |
- | Último | Ordinal | Last (position) | O último carro é preto. |
Examples by Level
Este é o terceiro livro.
This is the third book.
'terceiro' agrees with 'livro' (masculine singular).
Ela é a terceira pessoa.
She is the third person.
'terceira' agrees with 'pessoa' (feminine singular).
O terceiro dia foi chuvoso.
The third day was rainy.
'terceiro' agrees with 'dia' (masculine singular).
Chegámos em terceiro lugar.
We arrived in third place.
'terceiro' used with 'lugar' to indicate rank.
A terceira porta está aberta.
The third door is open.
'terceira' agrees with 'porta' (feminine singular).
Ele é o terceiro filho.
He is the third child.
'terceiro' agrees with 'filho' (masculine singular).
É a terceira vez que venho.
It's the third time I've come.
'terceira' agrees with 'vez' (feminine singular).
O terceiro andar está ocupado.
The third floor is occupied.
'terceiro' agrees with 'andar' (masculine singular).
Na competição, ele ficou em terceiro.
In the competition, he came in third.
Implies 'em terceiro lugar'. 'Terceiro' is used adverbially here.
Este é o terceiro capítulo do livro.
This is the third chapter of the book.
'terceiro' agrees with 'capítulo' (masculine singular).
A terceira opção é a mais segura.
The third option is the safest.
'terceira' agrees with 'opção' (feminine singular).
Ele mora no terceiro prédio da rua.
He lives in the third building on the street.
'terceiro' agrees with 'prédio' (masculine singular).
A terceira reunião foi cancelada.
The third meeting was cancelled.
'terceira' agrees with 'reunião' (feminine singular).
Qual é o terceiro maior rio do país?
What is the third largest river in the country?
'terceiro' agrees with 'rio' (masculine singular).
Este é o terceiro erro que cometes.
This is the third mistake you make.
'terceiro' agrees with 'erro' (masculine singular).
A terceira parte da história é a mais emocionante.
The third part of the story is the most exciting.
'terceira' agrees with 'parte' (feminine singular).
O terceiro trimestre do ano foi produtivo.
The third quarter of the year was productive.
'terceiro' agrees with 'trimestre' (masculine singular).
Ele se tornou o terceiro homem a escalar o Everest sem oxigênio.
He became the third man to climb Everest without oxygen.
'terceiro' agrees with 'homem' (masculine singular).
A terceira tentativa de contato foi bem-sucedida.
The third contact attempt was successful.
'terceira' agrees with 'tentativa' (feminine singular).
Na lista de prioridades, o projeto ficou em terceiro lugar.
On the list of priorities, the project came in third place.
'terceiro' used with 'lugar' to indicate rank.
O terceiro ato da peça foi o mais dramático.
The third act of the play was the most dramatic.
'terceiro' agrees with 'ato' (masculine singular).
A terceira edição do festival atraiu mais visitantes.
The third edition of the festival attracted more visitors.
'terceira' agrees with 'edição' (feminine singular).
O terceiro andar abriga a biblioteca principal.
The third floor houses the main library.
'terceiro' agrees with 'andar' (masculine singular).
Esta é a terceira vez que enfrentamos este problema.
This is the third time we have faced this problem.
'terceira' agrees with 'vez' (feminine singular).
O terceiro pilar da nossa estratégia é a inovação.
The third pillar of our strategy is innovation.
'terceiro' agrees with 'pilar' (masculine singular).
A terceira revolução industrial mudou a forma como vivemos.
The third industrial revolution changed the way we live.
'terceira' agrees with 'revolução' (feminine singular).
Ele ocupou a terceira posição no ranking mundial de tenistas.
He occupied the third position in the world tennis rankings.
'terceira' agrees with 'posição' (feminine singular).
A terceira fase do projeto será lançada no próximo ano.
The third phase of the project will be launched next year.
'terceira' agrees with 'fase' (feminine singular).
O terceiro elemento da tabela periódica é o lítio.
The third element of the periodic table is lithium.
'terceiro' agrees with 'elemento' (masculine singular).
A terceira lei de Newton descreve a ação e reação.
Newton's third law describes action and reaction.
'terceira' agrees with 'lei' (feminine singular).
O terceiro mandato do presidente foi marcado por controvérsias.
The president's third term was marked by controversies.
'terceiro' agrees with 'mandato' (masculine singular).
A terceira via de desenvolvimento económico tem sido discutida.
The third path of economic development has been discussed.
'terceira' agrees with 'via' (feminine singular).
O terceiro setor desempenha um papel crucial na sociedade.
The third sector plays a crucial role in society.
'terceiro' refers to the non-profit/NGO sector.
A terceira dimensão da realidade ainda é um mistério para a ciência.
The third dimension of reality is still a mystery to science.
'terceira' agrees with 'dimensão' (feminine singular).
A terceira República Portuguesa enfrentou desafios significativos.
The Third Portuguese Republic faced significant challenges.
'terceira' agrees with 'República' (feminine singular).
O terceiro princípio da termodinâmica é fundamental para a física.
The third principle of thermodynamics is fundamental to physics.
'terceiro' agrees with 'princípio' (masculine singular).
A terceira onda de globalização trouxe novas oportunidades e desafios.
The third wave of globalization brought new opportunities and challenges.
'terceira' agrees with 'onda' (feminine singular).
A terceira via de resolução de conflitos tem sido a mais eficaz.
The third way of conflict resolution has been the most effective.
'terceira' agrees with 'via' (feminine singular).
O terceiro artigo do tratado estabelece as condições de paz.
The third article of the treaty establishes the conditions of peace.
'terceiro' agrees with 'artigo' (masculine singular).
A terceira potência mundial em termos económicos é a China.
The world's third economic power is China.
'terceira' agrees with 'potência' (feminine singular).
O terceiro estado da matéria, o plasma, é omnipresente no universo.
The third state of matter, plasma, is omnipresent in the universe.
'terceiro' agrees with 'estado' (masculine singular).
A terceira via política propõe uma alternativa ao bipartidarismo.
The third political way proposes an alternative to bipartisanship.
'terceira' agrees with 'via' (feminine singular).
O terceiro fator de risco para doenças cardíacas é o sedentarismo.
The third risk factor for heart disease is a sedentary lifestyle.
'terceiro' agrees with 'fator' (masculine singular).
A terceira narrativa histórica contada pelos vencedores muitas vezes omite verdades inconvenientes.
The third historical narrative told by the victors often omits inconvenient truths.
'terceira' agrees with 'narrativa' (feminine singular).
O terceiro princípio da hermenêutica sugere uma leitura contextual.
The third principle of hermeneutics suggests a contextual reading.
'terceiro' agrees with 'princípio' (masculine singular).
A terceira ordem do universo, segundo algumas filosofias, é a do espírito.
The third order of the universe, according to some philosophies, is that of the spirit.
'terceira' agrees with 'ordem' (feminine singular).
O terceiro quadrante do plano cartesiano contém números negativos.
The third quadrant of the Cartesian plane contains negative numbers.
'terceiro' agrees with 'quadrante' (masculine singular).
A terceira via diplomática falhou em evitar a escalada do conflito.
The third diplomatic path failed to prevent the escalation of the conflict.
'terceira' agrees with 'via' (feminine singular).
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
— On the third floor. Used to indicate a specific location within a building.
O meu apartamento fica no terceiro andar.
— In third place. Used for rankings and competitions.
O atleta chegou em terceiro lugar na maratona.
— The third time that... Used to emphasize repetition.
Esta é a terceira vez que lhe digo isto.
— The third day of... Used to mark a specific day in a series of events.
O terceiro dia do festival teve a melhor programação.
— The third part of... Used to divide something into sections.
A terceira parte do livro é a mais complexa.
— The third largest... Used for comparisons of size or scale.
O Brasil é o terceiro maior país da América do Sul.
— The third option. Used when presenting choices.
Se nenhuma das outras opções funcionar, teremos de escolher a terceira.
— Third World. An older term for developing countries, often used historically.
A pobreza é um problema sério no terceiro mundo.
— Third sector. Refers to non-profit organizations and NGOs.
Organizações do terceiro setor lutam por causas sociais.
— The third term. Used in politics for a leader's third period in office.
O presidente foi eleito para o seu terceiro mandato.
Idioms & Expressions
— Third, but no less important. Used to introduce a point that is significant, even if it's not the first or second.
O nosso terceiro objetivo, e não menos importante, é a sustentabilidade.
— Literally 'to give a third finger'. This idiom is not common or standard Portuguese. It might be a misunderstanding or a very localized slang. The common gesture is 'dar o dedo do meio' (to give the middle finger).
This idiom is not standard. Avoid using it.
— In the third age. Refers to old age or retirement years.
Muitos reformados dedicam-se a atividades voluntárias na terceira idade.
— To outsource. While not a direct idiom, the verb 'terceirizar' (derived from 'terceiro') means to contract a third party to perform a service. It's a commo
Summary
The Portuguese word 'terceiro' (and its feminine form 'terceira') means 'third'. It is an ordinal number used to specify position or order in a sequence, such as the third person, the third day, or third place. It must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, and is often used with definite articles. For instance, 'o terceiro andar' (the third floor) and 'a terceira vez' (the third time).
- Terceiro means 'third' in Portuguese, indicating position or order.
- It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (terceiro/terceira).
- Used for rankings, sequences, dates, and physical locations.
- Distinguish from 'três' (three - quantity).
Related Content
Related Phrases
More general words
a cerca de
B1About; approximately.
à direita
A2To the right side.
à esquerda
A2To the left side.
a fim de
A2in order to
à frente
A2In front of.
a frente
A2At or toward the front.
À frente de
A2In front of
a tempo
A2on time, punctually
à volta de
A2Around.
abaixo
A1At a lower level or layer than; below.
