01
zwölft
twelfth
The ordinal number that indicates position 12 in a sequence.
example
Er feiert heute seinen zwölften Geburtstag.
He is celebrating his twelfth birthday today.
zwölft
twelfth
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
Ordinal numbers from 2 to 19 are formed by adding the ending '-t' to the cardinal number. This turns the number 'zwölf' (twelve) into the ordinal number 'zwölft-' (twelfth).
EXAMPLE
Wir wohnen im zwölften Stock.
We live on the twelfth floor.
Use as an adjective
Ordinal numbers like 'zwölft-' (twelfth) are treated like adjectives and must be declined. The ending changes depending on the article, case, and gender of the noun.
EXAMPLE
Das ist schon sein zwölfter Versuch.
That is already his twelfth attempt.
Dates
In dates, the ordinal number is always used with the preposition 'am' (on the) and the dative ending '-en'. So the fixed form is 'am zwölften' (on the twelfth).
EXAMPLE
Mein Geburtstag ist am zwölften März.
My birthday is on the twelfth of March.
Compare with
zwölft vs zwölf
twelve
'zwölf' and 'zwölft' look similar, but they have different jobs. 'Zwölf' is the normal number and says how many people or things there are. 'Zwölft-' is the ordinal number and says where something stands in an order, for example 'der zwölfte Platz' (twelfth place) or 'am zwölften Mai' (on the twelfth of May). They are easy to confuse because both belong to the number 12. Remember: 'zwölf' counts the quantity, while 'zwölft-' names the position.
zwölft
Frau Richter sitzt im Zug in der zwölften Reihe.
Ms. Richter is sitting in the twelfth row on the train.
zwölf
Im Supermarkt legt er zwölf Äpfel in den Korb.
At the supermarket, he puts twelve apples in the basket.
In real life
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