Session 6 — Zahlen: Ordinal Numbers & Dates
Wednesday, 1 July 2026 · with Sabahat Batool · slides: Lektion 7 Zahlen (Part 1)
Note: the recording for this session was lost (the exported transcript duplicated 30 June),
so this lesson is rebuilt from the class slides and the recap done at the start of the 3 July class.
Part 1 · Kardinalzahlen vs Ordinalzahlen
Plain English: a cardinal number answers “how many?” — one, two, three.
An ordinal number answers “which position in line?” — first, second, third.
You need ordinals for dates (“the 6th of March”) and positions (“the 4th house”).
| Kardinal (how many?) | Ordinal (which one?) | |
|---|---|---|
| German | eins, zwei, drei | der/die/das erste, zweite, dritte · am ersten, am zweiten |
| English | one, two, three | the first, second, third · on the first… |
Part 2 · Building ordinal numbers
The rule: 1–19 → number + -te · 20 and up → number + -ste.
| Number | Ordinal | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | erste | irregular |
| 2. | zweite | regular |
| 3. | dritte | irregular |
| 4. | vierte | regular |
| 7. | siebte | irregular (not siebente) |
| 8. | achte | only one t |
| 19. | neunzehnte | last of the -te group |
| 20. | zwanzigste | -ste from here on |
| 21. | einundzwanzigste | “one-and-twentieth” |
| 30. | dreißigste |
The dot = ordinal: in writing, a dot after the digit means read it as an ordinal.
der 6. März is read der sechste März.
Part 3 · Dates, birthdays & positions
Heute ist der 6. (sechste) März.
Today is the 6th of March. (today's date → der + -e)
Sie kommt am 6. (sechsten) März.
She is coming ON the 6th of March. (am → -en!)
Ich wurde am 06.04. (sechsten Vierten) geboren.
I was born on 6 April. (both day AND month as ordinals)
Ich habe am sechsten April Geburtstag.
My birthday is on the 6th of April. (exam sentence!)
Das vierte Haus von links ist mein Haus.
The fourth house from the left is my house.
-e or -en? Naming the date (with der): der sechste März.
Saying “ON” a date (with am): am sechsten März.
For the exam self-intro, you almost always need the am …-en version.
Session 6 recap
If you remember only 4 things
- 1–19 → -te, 20+ → -ste.
- Irregulars: erste, dritte, siebte, achte.
- Dot after digit = ordinal: der 6. März = der sechste März.
- Your birthday: Ich habe am … Geburtstag — after am use -en.
Source: sessions/2026-07-01-wed — zahlen.pptx slides + 3 July recap (recording lost).