Italian Ordinal Numbers

Use of Ordinal Numbers
Each of the first ten ordinal numbers has a distinct form. After decimo, they are formed by dropping the final vowel of the cardinal number and adding -esimo. Numbers ending in -trè and -sei retain the final vowel.

undici—undicesimo
ventitré—ventitreesimo
trentasei—trentaseiesimo

Unlike cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.

la prima volta (the first time)
il centesimo anno (the hundredth year)

As in English, ordinal numbers normally precede the noun. Abbreviations are written with a small ° (masculine) or ª (feminine).

il 5° piano (the fifth floor)
la 3ª pagina (the third page)

Roman numerals are frequently used, especially when referring to royalty, popes, and centuries. In such cases they usually follow the noun.

Luigi XV (Quindicesimo)—Louis XV
Papa Giovanni Paolo II (Secondo)—Pope John Paul II
il secolo XIX (diciannovesimo)—the nineteenth century

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