järjestusnumbri

Järjestusnumbri is an Estonian term that translates to "ordinal number" in English. Ordinal numbers are used to indicate the position or rank of an item in a sequence or order. They answer the question "which one?" rather than "how many?". In Estonian, ordinal numbers are typically formed by adding a suffix to the cardinal number. For example, the cardinal number "üks" (one) becomes "esimene" (first), "kaks" (two) becomes "teine" (second), and "kolm" (three) becomes "kolmas" (third). This pattern continues, though there are some irregularities, particularly with the numbers one to three, which have distinct forms.

Ordinal numbers are crucial for expressing order in sentences, such as in "ta elas neljandal korrusel" (he lived on the fourth floor) or "see oli tema esimene katse" (it was his first attempt). They are used in various contexts, including dates, rankings, and enumerating items in a list. The grammatical form of ordinal numbers in Estonian can change depending on their case and number, similar to other nouns and adjectives in the language. Understanding and correctly using järjestusnumbri is fundamental for accurate and clear communication in Estonian.