neljäs
Lemma: neljäs
Translation: fourth (ordinal number)
Etymology: Derived from the cardinal number 'neljä' (four) with the ordinal suffix '-s'. The root 'neljä' comes from Proto-Finnic *neljä, ultimately from Proto-Uralic *neljä. This is cognate with Estonian 'neli' and Hungarian 'négy'. The ordinal formation with '-s' is a common pattern in Finnish, similar to how English adds '-th' to form ordinals. The word shares ancient Indo-European connections through the concept of 'four', though Finnish developed independently in the Uralic family.
Mnemonics
- Remember 'neljä' (four) + 's' = fourth
- Think 'NELL-yas' - sounds like 'Nell, yes!' - the fourth person named Nell
Example Wordforms
Cultural Context
Used in all contexts where ordinal numbers are needed - dates, rankings, sequences, addresses. Particularly common in Finnish addresses and floor numbering, where 'neljäs kerros' means fourth floor.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: neljä is the cardinal number 'four' while neljäs is the ordinal 'fourth'
This word:
Hän on neljäs jonossa.
He is fourth in line.
Confused word:
Minulla on neljä kissaa.
I have four cats.
Notes: This is the most common confusion - mixing up cardinal and ordinal numbers
Mnemonic: neljäs has the 's' for sequence/order, neljä is just the plain number