Birinci öğrenci geldi.
English: The first student arrived.
- 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
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'.