Ordinal number converter
Type whole numbers, one per line, and get each one as an ordinal: 1 becomes 1st and first, 22 becomes 22nd and twenty-second. Choose numerals with suffixes, words, or both.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Type or paste whole numbers, one on each line.
- Pick Both for 21st and twenty-first side by side, 1st, 2nd for numerals only, or first, second for words only.
- Copy the result. Blank lines stay blank, so a list keeps its shape.
How it works
The suffix depends on the last two digits: 11, 12 and 13 take th; otherwise a final 1 takes st, 2 takes nd, 3 takes rd and anything else takes th. For the words, the number is spelled out with the same routine as the number to words tool and then only its last word is turned into an ordinal.
| Number |
Suffix |
Words |
| 1 |
1st |
first |
| 12 |
12th |
twelfth |
| 22 |
22nd |
twenty-second |
| 40 |
40th |
fortieth |
| 103 |
103rd |
one hundred third |
| 1,000 |
1000th |
one thousandth |
Example
For 112 the last two digits are 12, so the suffix is th: 112th, spelled one hundred twelfth. For 121 the last two digits are 21 and the suffix is st: 121st, one hundred twenty-first.
Tips
- Ordinals show position (first place) and dates (the 3rd of May); cardinals show amounts (three apples). To convert amounts, use the number to words tool.
- In dates, the numeral form is common (May 3rd); in formal writing, small ordinals are often spelled out.
Frequently asked questions
How do you decide between st, nd, rd and th?
Look at the last digit: 1 takes st, 2 takes nd, 3 takes rd, and everything else takes th. The exception is numbers ending in 11, 12 or 13, which always take th: 11th, 12th, 13th, 111th. So 21st, 22nd, 23rd but 111th, 112th, 113th.
How are long ordinals written in words?
Only the final word changes: 101 is one hundred first, 1,000 is one thousandth, 2,000,000 is two millionth. Twenty to ninety change y to ieth (twentieth, ninetieth), and a few are irregular: first, second, third, fifth, eighth, ninth and twelfth.
Does it add 'and' as in British English?
No. The words follow the US style used by the number-to-words tool: one hundred first, not one hundred and first, with a hyphen between tens and units (thirty-second).
What is the largest number it accepts?
Numbers up to 12 digits, that is 999,999,999,999 (nine hundred ninety-nine billion and so on). Commas, spaces and a suffix you already typed, such as 21st, are accepted. Decimals and negative numbers are not ordinals and are rejected.