derde

Derde is the Dutch ordinal numeral meaning third. It is used to express position in a sequence, following eerst (first) and tweede (second). As an adjective it typically precedes the noun it modifies, as in de derde man, het derde plan, of het derde huis. It can also stand alone to refer to the third item in a known set, for example: De derde is nog niet gearriveerd.

Derde is formed from drie plus the ordinal suffix -de, and is part of a regular set of Dutch ordinals that also includes vierde, vijfde, and so on. The word remains the same regardless of the noun’s gender; the definite article (de or het) marks the noun’s status and, in standard usage, the ordinal itself does not take an extra ending.

In everyday language, derde appears in phrases such as derde verdieping (the third floor), derde dag (the third day), or derde plek (third place). In technical contexts, derde is used to denote the third derivative in calculus (derde afgeleide). In political and development discourse, the term Derde Wereld (the Third World) is a standard expression, often capitalized when treated as part of a proper noun.

Overall, derde functions as a core ordinal in Dutch, enabling speakers to indicate order and hierarchy across a wide range of domains, from daily speech to scientific and geopolitical terminology.