Inklingo
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tercero

/tehr-SEH-roh/

third

Three brightly colored, identical apples lined up in a row on a surface. The third apple is distinctively highlighted with a soft glow.

As an adjective, 'tercero' means 'third.' Here is the third item in the sequence.

tercero(adjective)

mA1

third

?

ordinal number

Also:

3rd

?

short form

📝 In Action

Este es el tercer libro que leo esta semana.

A2

This is the third book I've read this week.

Ella vive en la tercera planta de este edificio.

A1

She lives on the third floor of this building.

Mi hermana es la tercera de cuatro hijos.

A2

My sister is the third of four children.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • ordinal (ordinal)

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • tercer mundo – third world
  • en tercer lugar – in third place

💡 Grammar Points

The Shortening Rule (Apocope)

When 'tercero' is used directly before a singular masculine noun (like 'día' or 'piso'), it shortens to 'tercer'. (e.g., el tercer día).

Gender Agreement

Like most Spanish adjectives, 'tercero' changes its ending to match the noun it describes: 'tercero' (masculine) and 'tercera' (feminine).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Forgetting to Shorten

Mistake: "El tercero piso."

Correction: El tercer piso. Remember to drop the '-o' before masculine singular nouns.

⭐ Usage Tips

Use for Dates

To say the third of the month, you use the cardinal number (three): 'el tres de mayo', not 'el tercero de mayo'.

Two distinct cartoon figures standing close together and shaking hands, symbolizing an agreement. A third, unrelated figure stands a short distance away, observing the transaction neutrally.

As a noun, 'tercero' refers to a 'third party'—an unrelated person or entity observing or interacting with two others.

tercero(noun)

m/fB1

third party

?

an unrelated person or entity

,

outsider

?

someone not involved

Also:

mediator

?

someone who helps resolve a dispute

📝 In Action

No podemos revelar esa información a un tercero.

B1

We cannot reveal that information to a third party.

Llamaron a una tercera para que mediara en la disputa.

B2

They called a third person (feminine) to mediate the dispute.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • mediador (mediator)
  • ajeno (someone else's)

Common Collocations

  • tercero en discordia – third party in a disagreement

💡 Grammar Points

Referring to People

When used as a noun, 'tercero' refers to any person or entity outside the main two involved, and it must still match the gender of that person (tercero for a man, tercera for a woman).

⭐ Usage Tips

Legal Context

In contracts or discussions about privacy, 'tercero' is the standard formal term for 'third party'.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: tercero

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses the shortened form of 'tercero'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

tres(three) - number
tercera(third (feminine)) - adjective
tercio(one third (fraction)) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

When do I say 'tercero' and when do I say 'tercer'?

You use 'tercer' only when the word comes immediately before a single, masculine noun (e.g., el tercer día). In all other cases—before feminine nouns (la tercera hora) or when used alone (Él fue el tercero)—you use the full form 'tercero' or 'tercera'.

How do I say 'one third' (the fraction)?

The most common way to refer to the fraction is using the specific noun 'un tercio'. 'Tercero' is reserved for position or the 'third party' meaning.