neljäs

Neljäs is the Finnish ordinal numeral meaning "the fourth." It is used to indicate the position of an item in a sequence or to describe something that occurs fourth in order. As an adjective, neljäs typically precedes the noun it modifies, for example neljäs kerros (the fourth floor) or neljäs kappale (the fourth piece). The form agrees with the noun in case and number, and in different contexts it may appear in inflected forms such as neljännen (genitive/partitive) or neljännellä (adessive).

In calendar and date usage, neljäs is employed to refer to the fourth item in a time sequence, such as the fourth day of a month or the fourth month of the year when combined with a noun, for example maaliskuun neljäs päivä (the fourth day of March). It is also common to use the ordinal in compound expressions like neljäs päivä viikossa (the fourth day of the week) depending on the construction.

Neljäs is also used in scientific and mathematical contexts to denote the fourth dimension or other hierarchical or sequential positions, such as neljäs ulottuvuus (the fourth dimension) or neljäs luku (the fourth chapter or section) when specified by the accompanying noun.

Etymology and grammar: neljäs derives from the cardinal number neljä (four) with the ordinal suffix -s. In Finnish, ordinal numerals decline to agree with the noun they modify in case and number, and neljäs acts as the base nominative singular form. The word is not capitalized unless it begins a sentence or is part of a proper name.

See also: Finnish ordinal numerals, sixthes and other ordinals in Finnish.