Spanish vocabulary · Beginner
How to Say Fourth in Spanish: Cuarto & Its Uses
Cuarto · adjective/ordinal number · KWAHR-toh
Fourth in Spanish is cuarto (masculine) or cuarta (feminine). Beyond ordinal numbering, cuarto also means room or quarter, so context determines the meaning. As an ordinal adjective it agrees in gender with the noun it modifies.
KWAHR-toh — stress falls on the first syllable. The cu- sounds like the English kw, and the final -o is a short, open vowel.
Vivo en el cuarto piso del edificio.
I live on the fourth floor of the building.
Fourth in Spanish: Quick Reference
Below are the most common Spanish words for fourth, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.
| Spanish | English | Pronunciation | Region / Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| cuarto | fourth | KWAHR-toh | Default, widely understood |
| cuarta | fourth | feminine form | |
| cuarto/a | fourth | adjective agreeing with noun gender |
How Native Speakers Use Cuarto
Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.
Floor of a building
La oficina está en el cuarto piso.
The office is on the fourth floor.
Ordinal numbers precede the noun in most contexts in Spanish.
Fourth attempt
Lo logré al cuarto intento.
I managed it on the fourth attempt.
Al + ordinal is a common construction meaning on the nth try.
Feminine agreement
Es la cuarta vez que te lo digo.
It's the fourth time I'm telling you.
Cuarta agrees with vez (feminine noun).
Avoid These Mistakes When Using Cuarto
Confusing cuarto (fourth) with cuarto (room)
Incorrect: Tengo un cuarto hermano. (meaning I have a fourth brother)
Correct: Tengo un cuarto hermano. / Tengo un hermano en mi cuarto.
Cuarto can mean room or fourth. Word order and context disambiguate: cuarto before a noun is ordinal; after ser or as a standalone noun it typically means room.
Using cuatro instead of cuarto for ordinal
Incorrect: Ella terminó en cuatro lugar.
Correct: Ella terminó en cuarto lugar.
Cuatro is the cardinal number (4). Cuarto is the ordinal (fourth). Ordinals are required for rankings and positions.
Lock in Fourth Vocabulary with the Parrot Method
Why word lists alone don't stick
Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.
See Cuarto used by native speakers
Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using cuarto in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Vivo en el cuarto piso del edificio. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.
Save, review, repeat, stay consistent
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Common Questions About Fourth in Spanish
- How do you say fourth in Spanish?
- Fourth in Spanish is cuarto (masculine) or cuarta (feminine). It functions as an ordinal adjective and agrees in gender with the noun it modifies.
- Does cuarto always mean fourth?
- Not exactly — cuarto has multiple meanings: fourth (ordinal), room (noun), and quarter (fraction). Context makes the meaning clear — el cuarto piso (fourth floor) vs. mi cuarto (my room).
- When do I use cuarto vs cuarta?
- Use cuarto with masculine nouns (el cuarto capítulo) and cuarta with feminine nouns (la cuarta semana). The ending matches the gender of the noun.