tercero
/teɾˈθeɾo/
The English word 'third' is translated into Spanish as tercero.
tercero is the ordinal form of the cardinal number three. It can also function as a noun to mean 'a third party' or 'a third person'. Additionally, the related noun tercera refers to an interval and tercio refers to one of three equal parts of a whole.
Meaning: the ordinal form of the cardinal number three (adj)
Which one should you use?
While tercero is the ordinal number 'third', it can also function as a noun meaning 'a third party' or 'a third person'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, using tercera for feminine nouns. The word uses the masculine plural form terceros to modify masculine plural nouns and the feminine plural form terceras to modify feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/teɾˈθeɾo/
Did you know?
- In sports, a tercer tiempo or 'third half' is the informal social gathering where opposing teams drink and eat together after a match.
- The word tercio for 'a third' is also the name of the legendary Spanish infantry units that dominated European battlefields in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- When tercero comes before a masculine singular noun, it drops the final 'o' and becomes tercer, as in el tercer piso for 'the third floor'.
Examples in context
- Era el tercero de la cola.I was third in line.This sentence shows how to use tercero to indicate position in a line.Tatoeba #5864189 by arh, translation #5860788 by CK
- Arreglemos el asunto sin terceros.Let us settle the matter without a third party.This sentence uses tercero as a noun meaning a third party.Tatoeba #1262452 by marcelostockle, translation #20897 by Duck
- Estoy a cargo del curso de tercero.I am in charge of the third-year class.This sentence uses tercero to refer to a third-year class.Tatoeba #3116865 by marcelostockle, translation #252567 by CK
- El terceroThe third one
- El tercer díaThe third day
- La tercera preguntaThe third question
- El tercer perroThe third dog
- La tercera vezThe third time
- En la tercera filaIn the third row
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are discussing their apartment building's floors.
- Alejandro¿En qué piso vives, María?Which floor do you live on, María?
- MaríaVivo en el tercero.I live on the third.
- Alejandro¡Qué bien! Yo vivo en el segundo.Great! I live on the second.
- MaríaEstamos muy cerca.We are very close.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “third” translations and entries tercero, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
