vigésimo primero
/bixesimo pɾimeɾo/from spelling rules
In Spanish, the English phrase "twenty first" is expressed as vigésimo primero.
This phrase is the ordinal number used to describe the position of something after the twentieth.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase must agree in gender with the noun it modifies, changing the ending to 'a' for feminine nouns. Use vigésimo primera for feminine singular nouns and vigésimas primeras for feminine plural nouns. For masculine plural nouns, use vigésimos primeros. There is also a special apocopated form: when preceding a masculine singular noun, the second word primero drops the final o to become primer, resulting in vigésimo primer.
Did you know?
- When referring to the date, Spanish speakers use veintiuno for the twenty first of the month, whereas the first of the month is often the only day that retains its ordinal form primero.
- The word vigésimo did not evolve naturally from spoken Latin to Spanish but was a learned borrowing, meaning scholars consciously brought the word back into the language from written texts.
- While vigésimo primero is grammatically correct, it is so rare in casual conversation that using it in a relaxed setting can sound overly formal or academic to native speakers.
Examples in context
- La vigésima primera edición de la conferencia se llevará a cabo en Barcelona.The twenty first edition of the conference will take place in Barcelona.
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are looking at a list of dates.
- Javier¿Cuál es la fecha del evento, Lucía?What is the date of the event, Lucía?
- LucíaEs el vigésimo primero de mayo.It is the twenty first of May.
- JavierPerfecto, lo anotaré en mi calendario.Perfect, I will write it in my calendar.
- LucíaGracias por confirmarlo, Javier.Thank you for confirming it, Javier.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries primero, vigésimo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
