A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Third" in French
The French word for 'third,' used for ordinal numbers in lists, rankings, and dates.
troisième
TRWAH-zyemneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use 'troisième' when you're referring to the third item in a sequence, like the third floor of a building or the third person in line. It's also essential for stating the third day of the month.
Alternatives
- tierceUsed mainly in specific contexts like horse racing or a type of prayer.
- troisThis is the cardinal number 'three,' not the ordinal 'third.'
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing the 's'
The 's' in 'troisième' is silent; focus on the 'trwa' sound and the nasal 'em' at the end.
Forgetting the accent
The grave accent on the 'e' (è) is crucial for the correct pronunciation and spelling.
A small cultural note
In French, ordinal numbers like 'troisième' are used for dates, so you'd say 'le trois mai' (May 3rd), but for other sequential items, it's standard.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say third floor in French?
You would say 'le troisième étage.' This is the standard way to refer to the third floor.
French ordinal numbers pronunciation?
Ordinal numbers often have nasal vowels and silent final consonants. Practice 'troisième' slowly to get the 'trwa-zyem' sound.
When to use cardinal vs ordinal numbers in French?
Use cardinal numbers (like 'trois' for three) for counting objects, but use ordinal numbers (like 'troisième' for third) for rankings, order, and dates.
