Cardinal & Ordinal Numbers in Turkish
Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
Turkish numerals are decimal and additive (yirmi bir = 21); ordinals take -(I)ncI (birinci = 1st), and distributives take -(ş)Ar (ikişer = two each).
Turkish uses a highly regular decimal numeral system. Cardinal numbers are formed by placing the tens digit before the units digit with a space: on bir (11), yirmi beş (25), yüz elli (150), bin dokuz yüz (1900). Crucially, nouns modified by cardinal numbers never take the plural suffix: üç kitap (three books), beş öğrenci (five students).
Derivative numeral categories include: 1. Ordinal Numbers (Sıra Sayıları): Formed with -(I)ncI (governed by 4-way harmony). If the number ends in a vowel, the initial vowel of the suffix drops: bir → birinci (1st), iki → ikinci (2nd), altı → altıncı (6th), yedi → yedinci (7th). 2. Distributive Numbers (Üleştirme Sayıları): Formed with -(ş)Ar (meaning 'X each / X at a time'). Vowel stems insert the buffer consonant ş: birer (one each), ikişer (two each), üçer (three each), altışar (six each). 3. Fractions and Percentages: In Turkish, the whole precedes the part in the locative case: yüzde yirmi (20 percent, literally 'in 100, 20'), üçte bir (one third, literally 'in 3, 1').
Learners frequently forget to drop the plural suffix after numbers (iki çocuklar instead of iki çocuk) or confuse percentage word order.
Examples
Sınavda birinci olan öğrenciye güzel bir ödül verildi.
A fine award was given to the student who came in first in the exam.
Öğretmen çocuklara üçer elma paylaştırdı.
The teacher distributed three apples to each of the children.
Şirketin gelirinde bu yıl yüzde yirmi artış oldu.
There was a twenty percent increase in the company's revenue this year.
Apartmanın beşinci katında aydınlık bir daire kiraladık.
We rented a bright apartment on the fifth floor of the building.
Related terms
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