How to Use Ordinal Numbers in Slovak for English Speakers

What Are Ordinal Numbers in Slovak?

Ordinal numbers in Slovak indicate the position or order of things in a sequence, such as first, second, third, etc. They are essential for expressing dates, floors in buildings, rankings, and more.

Forming Ordinal Numbers in Slovak

In Slovak, ordinal numbers are formed by adding specific endings to the cardinal numbers. These endings change according to gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular/plural), and case. The most common endings for masculine singular nominative are -ý, for feminine -á, and for neuter -é.

Examples of Ordinal Numbers in Slovak

Here are the first five ordinal numbers in Slovak with their English equivalents:

Using Ordinal Numbers in Sentences

Ordinal numbers agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. For example:

Masculine: prvý deň (the first day)

Feminine: prvá hodina (the first hour)

Neuter: prvé miesto (the first place)

Common Uses of Ordinal Numbers in Slovak

• Expressing dates: 1. január (the 1st of January)
• Indicating floors in buildings: tretie poschodie (third floor)
• Ranking or order: prvý v poradí (first in order)
• Numbering chapters or sections: druhá kapitola (second chapter)

Tips for English Speakers Learning Slovak Ordinal Numbers

• Remember to match the ordinal number ending with the gender and case of the noun.
• Practice common ordinal numbers first, especially 1st to 10th.
• Use ordinal numbers frequently in context, such as dates and rankings, to get comfortable.
• Be aware that Slovak uses a dot after the numeral to indicate ordinals in writing, e.g., 1. for "first."