sayılar ve sıralama ekleri grammar in Turkish

Language: Turkish
Level: B1
Unit: Sayılar ve Ünlemler
Practice types: 0

What this grammar point covers

In Turkish, numbers (sayılar) and ordinal suffixes (sıralama ekleri) help you express quantities and order. Ordinal suffixes turn numbers into words like 'first', 'second', 'third', etc.

When to use it

Use cardinal numbers to count things. Use ordinal numbers to show the order or rank (like in a race, or listing items).

Key forms

Cardinal numbers: bir, iki, üç, dört, beş...
Ordinal numbers: Add '-inci', '-nci', '-uncu', '-üncü' to the number (e.g., birinci, ikinci, üçüncü, dördüncü, beşinci...)

Examples

Birinci öğrenci geldi.

English: The first student arrived.

İkinci katta oturuyorum.

English: I live on the second floor.

Üçüncü soru çok kolaydı.

English: The third question was very easy.

Beşinci gün yağmur yağdı.

English: It rained on the fifth day.

Tips

Remember to use the correct suffix (-inci, -nci, -uncu, -üncü) based on vowel harmony.
Don't forget to use a buffer letter (like 'n') when necessary, for example: altıncı.
Ordinal suffixes are always attached to the number.

Exceptions and edge cases

For 'bir', the ordinal form is 'birinci' (not 'birinci'), and for 'üç', it is 'üçüncü'.
Some numbers change slightly before adding the suffix, like 'altı' becomes 'altıncı'.