A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "Third" in Italian
Italian for 'third', used for ordinal numbers in lists, rankings, and positions.
terzo
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Use 'terzo' when referring to the third item in a sequence, like the third floor of a building or the third person in line. It's also used for rankings, such as the third best restaurant in a city.
Alternatives
- terzaUse when the noun it modifies is feminine, like 'la terza volta' (the third time).
- terziUse when referring to multiple masculine nouns, like 'i terzi classificati' (the third-placed ones).
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'terzo' with 'tre'
'Tre' means 'three' (the cardinal number), while 'terzo' means 'third' (the ordinal number).
Incorrect gender agreement
Remember to match the gender of 'terzo' to the noun it describes: 'terzo' (masculine), 'terza' (feminine).
A small cultural note
In Italy, when counting floors in a building, the ground floor is 'piano terra', and the first floor above it is 'primo piano'. So, the 'terzo piano' is what English speakers would call the third floor.
Frequently asked
how to say third place in italian
You would say 'il terzo posto'. This is used for rankings and competitions.
italian third floor building
In Italy, the 'terzo piano' is the third floor above the ground floor. The ground floor itself is 'piano terra'.
third time in italian
The phrase for 'the third time' is 'la terza volta'. Note the feminine ending 'a' because 'volta' is a feminine noun.
