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Maths

Ordinal Numbers 1 to 100 – Definition, Chart, Rules & Practice

Ordinal Numbers 1 to 100 – Definition, Chart, Rules & Practice

Q: 3. What's the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers?

Cardinal numbers tell us how many (quantity), while ordinal numbers tell us the position or order of something in a sequence. For example, 'There are five apples' uses the cardinal number five. 'This is the fifth apple' uses the ordinal number fifth.

Q: 10. What are some real-world examples of ordinal numbers?

Ordinal numbers are used in many daily situations: Ranking (first, second, third place in a race), Dates (25th December), Addresses (3rd floor, 10th street), Chapters in a book etc.

Reviewed by:

Rama Sharma

How to Write and Use Ordinal Numbers with Spelling (1st to 100th)

The concept of ordinal numbers 1 to 100 plays a key role in mathematics and is widely applicable to both real-life situations and exam scenarios.

What Is Ordinal Numbers 1 to 100?

An ordinal number is a number used to indicate the exact position or order of objects, people, or items in a list — such as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on, up to 100th. These numbers answer the question: “Which position?” You’ll find this concept applied in ranking, event sequencing, dates, competitions, and arrangements. Ordinal numbers differ from cardinal numbers, which indicate quantity (like one, two, three). In ordinal form, numbers show order, not count. For example, in a race, “third” tells you who finished at which spot, not how many runners there were.

Ordinal Numbers 1 to 100 Chart

Below is a handy reference chart showing ordinal numbers from 1st to 100th, both in numeric symbol and word spelling. This helps you quickly find the correct way to write or say any ordinal number.

Number	Ordinal Symbol	Ordinal Spelling	Number	Ordinal Symbol	Ordinal Spelling
1	1st	First	51	51st	Fifty-First
2	2nd	Second	52	52nd	Fifty-Second
3	3rd	Third	53	53rd	Fifty-Third
4	4th	Fourth	54	54th	Fifty-Fourth
5	5th	Fifth	55	55th	Fifty-Fifth
6	6th	Sixth	56	56th	Fifty-Sixth
7	7th	Seventh	57	57th	Fifty-Seventh
8	8th	Eighth	58	58th	Fifty-Eighth
9	9th	Ninth	59	59th	Fifty-Ninth
10	10th	Tenth	60	60th	Sixtieth
11	11th	Eleventh	61	61st	Sixty-First
12	12th	Twelfth	62	62nd	Sixty-Second
13	13th	Thirteenth	63	63rd	Sixty-Third
14	14th	Fourteenth	64	64th	Sixty-Fourth
15	15th	Fifteenth	65	65th	Sixty-Fifth
16	16th	Sixteenth	66	66th	Sixty-Sixth
17	17th	Seventeenth	67	67th	Sixty-Seventh
18	18th	Eighteenth	68	68th	Sixty-Eighth
19	19th	Nineteenth	69	69th	Sixty-Ninth
20	20th	Twentieth	70	70th	Seventieth
21	21st	Twenty-First	71	71st	Seventy-First
22	22nd	Twenty-Second	72	72nd	Seventy-Second
23	23rd	Twenty-Third	73	73rd	Seventy-Third
24	24th	Twenty-Fourth	74	74th	Seventy-Fourth
25	25th	Twenty-Fifth	75	75th	Seventy-Fifth
26	26th	Twenty-Sixth	76	76th	Seventy-Sixth
27	27th	Twenty-Seventh	77	77th	Seventy-Seventh
28	28th	Twenty-Eighth	78	78th	Seventy-Eighth
29	29th	Twenty-Ninth	79	79th	Seventy-Ninth
30	30th	Thirtieth	80	80th	Eightieth
31	31st	Thirty-First	81	81st	Eighty-First
32	32nd	Thirty-Second	82	82nd	Eighty-Second
33	33rd	Thirty-Third	83	83rd	Eighty-Third
34	34th	Thirty-Fourth	84	84th	Eighty-Fourth
35	35th	Thirty-Fifth	85	85th	Eighty-Fifth
36	36th	Thirty-Sixth	86	86th	Eighty-Sixth
37	37th	Thirty-Seventh	87	87th	Eighty-Seventh
38	38th	Thirty-Eighth	88	88th	Eighty-Eighth
39	39th	Thirty-Ninth	89	89th	Eighty-Ninth
40	40th	Fortieth	90	90th	Ninetieth
41	41st	Forty-First	91	91st	Ninety-First
42	42nd	Forty-Second	92	92nd	Ninety-Second
43	43rd	Forty-Third	93	93rd	Ninety-Third
44	44th	Forty-Fourth	94	94th	Ninety-Fourth
45	45th	Forty-Fifth	95	95th	Ninety-Fifth
46	46th	Forty-Sixth	96	96th	Ninety-Sixth
47	47th	Forty-Seventh	97	97th	Ninety-Seventh
48	48th	Forty-Eighth	98	98th	Ninety-Eighth
49	49th	Forty-Ninth	99	99th	Ninety-Ninth
50	50th	Fiftieth	100	100th	Hundredth

How to Write and Use Ordinal Numbers

Most ordinal numbers are formed by adding -st, -nd, -rd, or -th to the number – for example, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. The main patterns are:

For numbers ending in 1, use "st" (except 11 → 11th): 21st, 31st
For numbers ending in 2, use "nd" (except 12 → 12th): 22nd, 32nd
For numbers ending in 3, use "rd" (except 13 → 13th): 23rd, 33rd
For all other numbers, use "th": 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 20th, etc.

Common exceptions (all the 'teens') always use "th": 11th, 12th, 13th. Always write or speak the ordinal spelling as "first", "second", "third", etc., and use symbols for informal lists or tables (“21st birthday”, “5th place”).

Ordinal Numbers in Real Life

Ordinal numbers are seen and used everywhere:

Dates and events: “August 15th”, “31st December”
Competitions: “He finished 3rd in the race”
Classrooms: “She sits in the 4th row”
Queue or sequence: “You are 18th to be served”
Levels or floors: “My flat is on the 7th floor”

Practice: Try These Yourself

Write the ordinal number spelling for 27 and 62.
Which ordinal comes after Forty-Ninth?
Fill in the blank: The 15__ student (write correct suffix).
Use ordinal numbers to write any two dates in your birthday month.

Tips and Tricks to Remember Ordinal Spellings

Remember “st” for 1st, “nd” for 2nd, “rd” for 3rd — for all numbers ending with 1, 2, 3 (but not 11, 12, 13!).
Numbers from 4th onwards use “th” (except those ending with 1, 2, or 3 above).
“Eighth”, “Ninth”, “Twelfth” have unique spellings — try creating a mnemonic or visual cue for tricky words.
After twenty, use patterns: “Twenty-first”, “Thirty-second” — just fuse the number names and ordinal suffix.

Vedantu’s live sessions often use charts, games, and tips to help children remember tricky spellings faster.

Ordinal Numbers vs Cardinal Numbers

Type	Definition	Examples
Cardinal Numbers	Show quantity or “how many”	One, two, three, 48
Ordinal Numbers	Show position or “which order”	First, second, third, 48th

For deeper understanding, see Cardinal Numbers article at Vedantu.

FAQs on Ordinal Numbers 1 to 100 – Definition, Chart, Rules & Practice

1. What are ordinal numbers in Maths?

Ordinal numbers in mathematics show the position or order of something in a sequence. Unlike cardinal numbers (1, 2, 3… which show quantity), ordinal numbers show rank (1st, 2nd, 3rd...). They answer the question, 'Which position?'

2. How do you write ordinal numbers from 1 to 100?

Ordinal numbers are written by adding suffixes to cardinal numbers. Generally, -st is added to 1, -nd to 2, -rd to 3, and -th to all others. However, there are exceptions (11th, 12th, 13th). A chart is helpful for quick reference. For numbers above 20, follow the pattern (e.g., twenty-first, thirty-second).

3. What's the difference between cardinal and ordinal numbers?

Cardinal numbers tell us how many (quantity), while ordinal numbers tell us the position or order of something in a sequence. For example, 'There are five apples' uses the cardinal number five. 'This is the fifth apple' uses the ordinal number fifth.

4. Which is the correct ordinal for 21 – 21st or 21th?

21st is correct. The suffix -st is used for 1, 21, 31 etc. The rule of adding -th applies to most numbers but there are specific exceptions for the numbers ending in 1, 2 or 3.

5. Why are 11th, 12th, and 13th exceptions in ordinal spelling?

These are exceptions to the general rule. The spellings 11th (eleventh), 12th (twelfth), and 13th (thirteenth) are irregular and must be memorized. They don’t follow the standard -th rule for numbers greater than three.

6. How are ordinal numbers used in dates?

Ordinal numbers are used to represent the day of the month in dates. For example, we write December 25th, not December 25.

7. How can I quickly find the 15th or 27th object in a sequence?

Practice counting and recognizing the ordinal number patterns. Use a chart or list of ordinal numbers if needed for quick reference, especially for larger numbers.

8. What are some memory tricks for remembering ordinal spellings?

Use mnemonics, flashcards, or repetition to help you memorize tricky spellings like ‘twentieth’ or ‘thirty-second’. Focus on recognizing patterns for numbers greater than 20.

9. Are there any ordinal number activities for kids?

Yes! There are many fun activities like lining up toys, ordering picture cards, or completing worksheets to practice ordinal numbers. Visual aids and games make learning more engaging.

10. What are some real-world examples of ordinal numbers?

Ordinal numbers are used in many daily situations: Ranking (first, second, third place in a race), Dates (25th December), Addresses (3rd floor, 10th street), Chapters in a book etc.

11. How do ordinal numbers relate to patterns in mathematics?

Recognizing patterns in ordinal numbers helps build number sense and understanding of sequences. This skill is valuable in various mathematical concepts, like number sequences and problem-solving.

12. Can ordinal numbers be used in other languages?

Yes! Most languages use ordinal numbers to denote position or order. While the specific suffixes or words might differ, the concept remains the same. For example, in Spanish, first is 'primero', second is 'segundo', and so on.