tretji

Tretji is the Slovenian word for the ordinal number “third.” It functions as an adjective and is used to indicate order or sequence relative to a noun.

As an adjective, tretji agrees with the noun it modifies in gender, number, and case. In nominative singular, masculine is tretji, feminine is tretja, and neuter is tretje. For example, tretji dan means the third day, tretja knjiga means the third book, and tretje leto means the third year. The form changes in other cases and numbers according to Slovenian grammar rules. The word can also appear in plural forms when used with plural nouns, following the language’s standard adjective agreement patterns.

Tretji also appears in adverbial form to express repetition or sequence, most commonly as tretjič, meaning “for the third time.” This usage is separate from its role as a modifier of a noun and follows standard Slovenian adverb formation.

Etymology and related forms: tretji is derived from the base numeral tri (three) with an ordinal suffix. It forms cognates with similar Slovenian, Croatian, and Serbian words for “third,” such as tretji in Slovenian and treći in Croatian/Serbian. These forms share a common Slavic heritage, while variations reflect each language’s phonological and grammatical development.

In usage, tretji appears in everyday language, literature, and formal writing to label positions in sequences, stages, or rankings. It is distinct from cardinal numerals (three) and from adverbs like “for the third time” that are formed with suffixes or inflections specific to Slovenian grammar.

See also: ordinal numerals, Slovenian language, number and concord rules in Slovenian.