Ordinal Numbers in French
Premier, Deuxième, Troisième - With Feminine Forms
Updated June 2026
Ordinal numbers in French (first, second, third...) follow a simple rule for numbers 2 and above: add -ième to the cardinal number. If the cardinal ends in e, drop the final e before adding -ième. Two exceptions break this pattern: cinq (five) adds a u to give cinquième, and neuf (nine) changes its f to v for neuvième. Only "premier" (first) is completely irregular.
Unlike many languages, French ordinals do not change for gender - only "premier" has a feminine form "première". From deuxième onwards, the word stays the same whether referring to a masculine or feminine noun.
The Core Rule
cardinal + ième = ordinal
deux + ième = deuxième
trois + ième = troisième
quatre (drop e) + ième = quatrième
cinq + u + ième = cinquième (exception)
neuf (f to v) + ième = neuvième (exception)
Ordinals 1 to 20
| # | Masculine | Abbreviation | Notes | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | premier | 1er/1re | Irregular. Only ordinal with distinct masculine/feminine in common use. | |
| 2 | deuxième | 2e | "Second" also valid when exactly two exist. | |
| 3 | troisième | 3e | ||
| 4 | quatrième | 4e | ||
| 5 | cinquième | 5e | Cinq adds u before -ième. | |
| 6 | sixième | 6e | ||
| 7 | septième | 7e | ||
| 8 | huitième | 8e | ||
| 9 | neuvième | 9e | Neuf changes f to v. | |
| 10 | dixième | 10e | ||
| 11 | onzième | 11e | ||
| 12 | douzième | 12e | ||
| 13 | treizième | 13e | ||
| 14 | quatorzième | 14e | ||
| 15 | quinzième | 15e | ||
| 16 | seizième | 16e | ||
| 17 | dix-septième | 17e | ||
| 18 | dix-huitième | 18e | ||
| 19 | dix-neuvième | 19e | ||
| 20 | vingtième | 20e |
Higher Ordinals
| Number | Ordinal | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | vingt et unième | |
| 30 | trentième | |
| 40 | quarantième | |
| 50 | cinquantième | |
| 60 | soixantième | |
| 70 | soixante-dixième | |
| 80 | quatre-vingtième | |
| 90 | quatre-vingt-dixième | |
| 100 | centième | |
| 1,000 | millième | |
| 1,000,000 | millionième |
Special Usage Rules
Dates
Only the 1st of the month uses an ordinal: le premier mai. All other dates use cardinals: le 2 juin, le 17 avril. This is different from English which says "the second of June".
Monarchs
For kings and queens, use the cardinal: Louis quatorze (XIV), Henri quatre (IV). Exception: François premier (François I). This is opposite to English convention.
Centuries
Centuries use ordinals: le XXIe siècle (the 21st century), le XIXe siècle (the 19th century). The Roman numeral superscript e is standard in written French.
Fractions
Ordinals can form fractions: un deuxième (one second = 1/2), un troisième (one third = 1/3). Demi is also used informally for half.
Ordinal Converter
FAQ
What is the rule for French ordinal numbers?
For all ordinals 2 and above, add -ième to the cardinal. If the cardinal ends in e, drop the e first (quatre becomes quatr-, then quatrième). Exceptions: cinq adds a u (cinquième), neuf changes f to v (neuvième). Only "premier" (first) is irregular.
What is the difference between "second" and "deuxième"?
Both mean second. The traditional distinction: use "second" when there are only two items (le second tome of a two-volume work), and "deuxième" when there are more (le deuxième jour of a seven-day week). In modern spoken French, deuxième is more common in all contexts. Second is slightly literary or formal.
Do French ordinals have masculine and feminine forms?
Only "premier" (masculine) and "première" (feminine) have distinct forms. From "deuxième" onwards, ordinals do not change for gender: la deuxième fois, le deuxième jour. This is simpler than cardinal numbers which have "un/une" and "vingt et un/vingt et une" distinctions.
How do you write ordinals for kings and monarchs?
For monarchs, use the cardinal not the ordinal: Henri quatre (Henry IV), Louis quatorze (Louis XIV), François premier (François I - only the first uses premier). This is the opposite of English convention where "Henry the Fourth" uses the ordinal.