Mastering German Ordinal Numbers and Dates

Learning German can be challenging, but mastering ordinal numbers and dates is essential for everyday communication.

Ordinal Numbers in German

Ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) are treated like adjectives in German, which means they are declined accordingly. For 1 to 19, simply take the number, add a "t" and the case ending. Here is a list of common ordinal numbers in the nominative, with the masculine article:

• the 1st - der erste

• the 2nd - der zweite

• the 3rd - der dritte

• the 4th - der vierte

• the 5th - der fünfte

• the 6th der sechste

• the 7th der siebte

• the 8th der achte

• the 9th der neunte

• the 10th der zehnte

• the 11th der elfte

• the 12th der zwölfte

• the 13th der dreizehnte

• the 14th der vierzehnte

• the 15th der fünfzehnte

• the 16th der sechzehnte

• the 17th der siebzehnte

• the 18th der achtzehnte

• the 19th der neunzehnte

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For ordinal numbers above 20, use -st instead of -t, followed by the case ending:

• the 20th – der zwanzigste

• the 21st - der einundzwanzigste

• the 22nd - der zweiundzwanzigste

• the 30th – der dreißigste

• the 32nd - der zweiunddreißigste

• the 40th - der vierzigste

• the 46th - der sechsundvierzigste

• the 50th - der fünfzigste

• the 100th – der hundertste

• the 123rd – der einhundertdreiundzwanzigste

• the 235th – der zweihundertfünfunddreißigste

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The Cases

➡️ You will use the nominative case when you say what date it is:

• Heute ist der 5. (fünfte) Oktober.

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➡️ The dative and the preposition "an" have to be used to say when something happens:

• Das Treffen ist am / an dem 12. (zwölften) Mai.

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➡️ The genitive is not that common. It means "of":

• Es war am Abend des 2. (zweiten) Oktobers.

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➡️ In a letter, in the top right corner, write the date using the accuative case "den":

• Berlin, den 8. (achten) August

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Talking About Dates in German

When stating dates, you have to use ordinal numbers:

✅ Welches Datum ist heute? (What date is today?)

Use the nominative case and remember that all months are masculine.

• Heute ist der sechste März.  (Today is the 6th of March.)

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✅ Wann hast du Geburtstag? (When is your birthday?)

You will need the preposition "an", followed by the dative case: "an" + "dem" = "am".

• Ich habe am dritten Februar Geburtstag.  (My birthday is on the 3rd of February.)

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✅ Wann fliegst du nach Deutschland? (When do you fly to Germany?) Again, it's "an" + dative.

• Ich fliege am vierten Juli nach Deutschland.  (I'll fly to Germany on the 4th of July.)

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✅ Talking about holidays:

• Der deutsche Nationalfeiertag ist am dritten Oktober.  (The German National Holiday is on the 3rd of October.)

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How Long Have You Been Doing Something?

Ordinal numbers are also useful when discussing time durations. Remember, time-related prepositions are followed by the dative case, and so is "seit" (since). Here’s how you can express since what date you’ve been learning German or living in Germany:

✅ Ich lerne seit dem zwanzigsten Februar 2025 Deutsch.  (I have been learning German since February 20th, 2025.)

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✅ Ich wohne seit dem dreißigsten Juli 2024 in Deutschland.  (I have been living in Germany since the 30th of July, 2024.)

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Watch one of my Course Videos on Ordinal Numbers:

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Final Tips for Learning Ordinal Numbers

• Practice speaking them out loud – The more you say them, the easier they become.

• Use flashcards – Write the number on one side and the ordinal form on the other.

• Listen to native speakers – Pay attention to how they pronounce dates and numbers.

• Try talking about your schedule in German – This will help you become more familiar with using ordinal numbers in context.

Now that you have a solid understanding of German ordinal numbers and dates, try practicing them in real-life situations! What’s your birthday in German? Let us know in the comments!