Ordinal Numbers in Danish

Overview

Ordinal Numbers (Ordenstal) is an important grammar concept at the A1 level in Danish. Ordinal numbers: første, anden/andet, tredje, fjerde... Used for dates, floors, sequences. Agree with gender in 'anden/andet'.

At the beginner level, understanding this concept allows you to express yourself with greater accuracy and nuance. This grammar point builds on foundations you have established at earlier levels and connects to several related areas of Danish grammar.

As you work through this topic, pay attention to how it functions in authentic Danish texts and conversations. The patterns you learn here will become more natural with regular practice and exposure to the language.

How It Works

Core rules

Ordinal numbers: første, anden/andet, tredje, fjerde... Used for dates, floors, sequences. Agree with gender in 'anden/andet'.

Key patterns

Danish	English
den første dag	the first day
den anden etage	the second floor
det tredje forsøg	the third attempt
Jeg bor på fjerde sal.	I live on the fourth floor.

Ordinal numbers 1st-10th

Cardinal	Ordinal	Translation
en/et	forste	first
to	anden/andet	second
tre	tredje	third
fire	fjerde	fourth
fem	femte	fifth
seks	sjette	sixth
syv	syvende	seventh
otte	ottende	eighth
ni	niende	ninth
ti	tiende	tenth

Gender agreement for "second"

Context	Form	Example
Common gender	anden	den anden dag (the second day)
Neuter gender	andet	det andet forsog (the second attempt)
Plural	andre	de andre born (the other children)

Examples in Context

Danish	English	Note
den forste dag	the first day	Irregular: forste
den anden etage	the second floor	Irregular: anden (common)
det tredje forsog	the third attempt	Irregular: tredje
Jeg bor pa fjerde sal.	I live on the fourth floor.	fjerde: regular
den femte maj	the fifth of May	Date
den sjette sans	the sixth sense	sjette: regular
det syvende ar	the seventh year	syvende: regular
det ottende kapitel	the eighth chapter	ottende: regular
den tiende gang	the tenth time	tiende: regular
det andet hus	the second house	Gender agreement: andet (neuter)

Common Mistakes

Transferring English patterns directly

• Wrong: Using English word order or structure when expressing ordinal numbers in Danish.
• Right: Follow Danish-specific rules for this grammar point.
• Why: Danish and English handle ordinal numbers differently. Learning the Danish pattern as its own system prevents interference from English.

Neglecting subordinate clause word order

• Wrong: Keeping main clause word order when ordinal numbers appears in a subordinate clause.
• Right: Remember that adverbs like ikke move before the verb in subordinate clauses.
• Why: The main clause/subordinate clause word order distinction is fundamental in Danish and affects how all grammar structures are used.

Overgeneralizing rules

• Wrong: Applying one pattern to all cases of ordinal numbers without considering exceptions.
• Right: Learn both the regular patterns and the common exceptions.
• Why: Danish grammar has regular patterns but also important exceptions, particularly with frequently used words.

Practice Tips

• Practice with flashcards. Create cards with examples of ordinal numbers on one side and their English translations on the other. Review daily until the patterns feel automatic.
• Use ordinal numbers in daily sentences. Try to create three new sentences each day using this grammar point. Write them in a notebook and review them weekly.
• Listen for ordinal numbers in Danish media. Even at the beginner level, try listening to simple Danish podcasts or children's shows and notice how native speakers use this pattern.

Related Concepts

• Numbers and Time - Parent concept