In this Article We will learn about What Are The Arabic Numbers No Rewrite? . What are Arabic numbers, then?
Arabic numbers can be one of the most difficult things for Arabic learners. Although numbers in Arabic language-learning can be challenging, they are so essential to language mastery!
Ever listen to a conversation in a language that you understand and then suddenly be hit with “…? And then on a date that would live forever …”
It can be difficult to fully understand and absorb the rules of a new system of numbers. It takes more time to produce numbers if the numbers you are given are complex.
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It is important to practice the numbers whenever you can. These lessons are a great place to start if you want to learn basic Arabic numbers. Understanding the whole system is the first step.
| Arabic Numeral | Transcription | Arabic Name | English Numeral |
| 0 | Sifr | Sfr | 0 |
| 1 | waaHid | w Hd | 1 |
| 2 | ithnaan | Thnn | 2 |
| 3 | Thalaatha | thlth@ | 3 |
| 4 | arbi3a | ‘rb`@ | 4 |
| 5 | Khamsa | khms@ | 5 |
| 6 | sitta | stW@ | 6 |
| 7 | sab3a | sb`@ | 7 |
| 8 | thamaaniya | thmny@ | 8 |
| 9 | tis3a | t`s@ | 9 |
| 10 | 3ashara | `shr@ | 10 |
. They’re also used around the globe. In China, the term for Arabic digits is “Arabic number” (as opposed Chinese digits).
The only exception to this rule is when they speak Arabic.
What English-speakers call “Arabic numerals” are actually Western Arabic number. These numbers are called “Hindu-Arabic numerals” (nizam al’ad alhindi al-‘arabi in Arabic).
What are Arabic numerals, you ask?
We will be focusing on the Eastern Arabic numerals today. They are still used in Arabic writing. It is important, and perhaps reassuring, to remember that Western Arabic numerals are universally recognized. They have actually replaced the Eastern Arabic characters in public signage, such as advertising and street signs.
Let’s take a look at these numbers and go over the Arabic numbers formats. Then, let’s get started using them Modern Standard Arabic to better understand how to count numbers in Arabic languages.
2. Cardinal Numbers Zero to Ten
Hit the Ground Running with Arabic Numbers
What are Arabic numbers, then?
Arabic numbers can be one of the most difficult things for Arabic learners. Although numbers in Arabic language-learning can be challenging, they are so essential to language mastery!
Ever listen to a conversation in a language that you understand and then suddenly be hit with “…? And then on a date that would live forever …”
Poof. Your comprehension is lost. It’s impossible to know the exact moment. It can be difficult to fully understand and absorb the rules of a new system of numbers. It takes more time to produce numbers if the numbers you are given are complex.
It is important to practice the numbers whenever you can. These lessons are a great place to start if you want to learn basic Arabic numbers. Understanding the whole system is the first step.
Table Of Contents
- How Arabic are These Numerals?
- Cardinal Numbers Zero to Ten
- A Taste of Numbers In Colloquial Arab
- Ordinal Numbers
- Some Very Easy Math
- Lemme Get Your Number
- Time
- Conclusion: How ArabicPod101 Can Help You Learn More Arabic
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1. These Numerals are How Arabic Are They?
The United States calls our numbers “Arabic numerals.” They’re used all around the globe. In China, the term for Arabic digits is “Arabic number .
The only exception to this rule is when they speak Arabic.
What English-speakers call “Arabic numerals” are actually Western Arabic number. These numbers are called “Hindu-Arabic numerals” (nizam al’ad alhindi al-‘arabi in Arabic).
What are Arabic numerals, you ask?
We will be focusing on the Eastern Arabic numerals today. They are still used in Arabic writing. It is important, and perhaps reassuring, to remember that Western Arabic numerals are universally recognized. They have actually replaced the Eastern Arabic characters in public signage, such as advertising and street signs.
Let’s take a look at these numbers and go over the Arabic numbers formats. Then, let’s get started using them Modern Standard Arabic to better understand how to count numbers in Arabic languages.
2. Cardinal Numbers Zero through Ten
We also have an basic number vocabulary list that you can look at first. You can hear every word spoken and view an image with the English numeral.
| Number | Eastern Arabic Numeral | Pronunciation |
| Zero | 0 | Sifr ( , sifr). |
| One | 1 | wHd (wahid) |
| Two | 2 | thnn (`itnan) |
| Three | 3 | thalth@ (talatah) |
| Four | 4 | ‘rba`@ (`arba’ah) |
| Five | 5 | khams@ (hamsah) |
| Six | 6 | sitW@ (sittah) |
| Seven | 7 | sab`@ (sab’ah) |
| Eight | 8 | thamny@ (tamaniyah) |
| Nine | 9 | tis`@ (tis’ah) |
| Ten | 10 | `ashr@ (‘asrah) |
Although we are using the Eastern Arabic numerals, you will see on many signs and public notices the Western Arabic forms (1 2, 3, 3) that you are already familiar with. This is especially true in countries like Pakistan, which have an Arabic-derived alphabet and a large English-speaker population.
Move on to 100!
| Number | Eastern Arabic Numeral | Pronunciation |
| Eleven | 11 | Hd~ `shr (`ihda ‘asar) |
| Twelve | 12 | thn shr itna |
| Treisteen | 13 | thlth@ `shr (talatatu ‘asar) |
| Fourteen | 14 | ‘rb`@ `shr (`arba’atu ‘asar) |
| Fifteen | 15 | khms@ `shr (hamsatu ‘asar) |
| Sixteen | 16 | st@ `shr (sittata ‘asar) |
| Seventeen | 17 | sb`@ `shr (sab’ata ‘asar) |
| Eighteen | 18 | thmny@ `shr (tamaniyata ‘asar) |
| Nineteen | 19 | ts`@ `shr (tis’ata ‘asar) |
| Twenty | 20 | `shrwn (‘isrun) |
Grammar and additional structure rules in Arabic are crucial when it comes to Arabic numbers. The structure of the numbers 11 through 19 is similar to that of their English counterparts.
`arba’atu ‘asar
Four ten (fourteen)
But what’s the deal with the order of the digits? This isn’t a mistake. The Arabic digits are written in reverse order to the rest of the script.
It’s not as strange as it sounds. However, you will see that the numbers after twenty make more sense.
- wHd w `shrwnwahid wa ‘isrun
One and Twenty (21) - sb`@ w`shrwn
sab’ah wa ‘isrun
Seven and Twenty (27)
We simply continue that pattern through ninety-nine. Germans and German students should feel right at home.
As you can see, when Arabic speakers read running text, they don’t need to adjust their speech for two-digit numbers. Instead, their eyes will automatically go to the ones first and then the tens.
1- Counting things Part 1: Counting up to Two
Arabic can be used in place of English singular and plural.
This explicit grammar marking gives the Arabic singular form and dual form the ability to convey the feeling of having one or two of something.
- ktb
Kitab
One book - ktbn
kitaban
Two books
You can emphasize the number by adding the number to the description of the item. The number must match the gender and case of the noun it describes, since it is an adjective.
- ktbun wHdun
itabun idun
One book (one, single book) - rsltn
risal-atan itnatan
Two letters, no more or less
2-Counting Things Part 2 – Universal Reverse Agreement
After the first two, counting and the Arabic numeral system are generally more difficult. It involves so much memorization, and people claim it is the most difficult part of MSA grammar.
This guide will not cover everything, except counting from 3 to 10.
This is important to remember that many people who speak MSA don’t care about these rules. Different colloquial forms have already reduced or eliminated the agreement between number & noun. Most people speaking MSA won’t be fussy enough to insist that correct number grammar is used in speech.
The next section will go into greater detail about colloquial numbering, but for now let’s concentrate on the MSA rules.
You put the number after the noun when counting one or two; when counting three to ten, the number is before the noun. It’s natural for native speakers of English to use the noun form when referring to one or two items.
It is the fact that is that a difference is what makes sense. It is a bit more difficult to explain how this difference manifests in the manner it does.
What happens is that the plural of the noun decreases in the genitive and the number assumes the opposite grammaral gender.
This is reverse agreement. This works with any single noun, provided we are referring to three to ten.
Let’s take a look at “teacher” in Arabic. If we want to say “three educators”, it will look something like this:
talatu mudarrisin
Three of-teachers, three teachers; “teacher” is the genitive plural.
The madrasa word mudariWs@ refers to specifically a female teacher. How about three madrasas. Genitive plural, male number:
- Thlth mdrst
t ala U mudarrisat
Three of-female teachers
Although it may seem overwhelming at first, the rules govern everything. Think about the number of items you use in your day: two sheets of paper, four bananas and so on. You’ll be able to cover all the numbers life throws at your you if you know the rules.
This will make you feel like a grammar superhero. This alone is enough motivation to master grammar. Take a look at the way numbers are used outside of MSA rules books.
3. Colloquial Arabic: A Taste of Numbers
It is easiest to use the masculine version of the number, without changing it. This is a sign of efficiency in MSA. You will be understood by everyone, so it is not a problem if you forget the artificial rules.
What is the difference between numbers used in MSA and different colloquial Arabic varieties? Take a look at the following table.
| Digit | MSA | Egyptian Arabic | Moroccan Arabic |
| 0 | Sifr ( , sifr). | Sifr ( , sifr). | Sfr ( , sifr). |
| 1 | wHd ( id | wHd ( id | wHd ( HTML3_ ed |
| 2 | thnn (`itnan) | thnn (`itnen) | jwj ( , zouj). |
| 3 | thalth@ (talatah) | thalth@ (talatah) | tlt@ (telata) |
| 4 | ‘rba`@ (`arba’ah) | ‘rba`@ (`arba’ah) | rb`@ (reb’a) |
| 5 | khams@ (hamsah) | khams@ (hamsah) | khms@ (hemsa) |
| 6 | sitW@ (sittah) | sitW@ (sittah) | st@ (setta) |
| 7 | sab`@ (sab’ah) | sab`@ (sab’ah) | sb`@ (seb’a) |
| 8 | thamny@ (tamaniyah) | thamny@ (tamanyah) | tmny@ (tmenya) |
| 9 | tis`@ (tis’ah) | tis`@ (tis’ah) | ts`wd (tes’od) |
| 10 | `ashr@ (‘asrah) | `ashr@ (‘asrah) | `shr@ (‘eshra) |
As you can see with the numbers zero to ten, there isn’t much difference in pronunciation (though, short vowels tend not to disappear in Moroccan Arabic).
It takes a bit of practice to get used to different ways of saying these numbers. Then you will be able understand them all easily.
It is also much simpler. Although there is still a dual form, masculine and female agreement, all colloquial Arabic varieties have lost their cases.
4. Ordinal numbers
All of these have the definite article attached, so it is important to read English as “the first”, “the second”, etc.
Here is the masculine version of the numbers.
| First | ‘l’awaWlu | al-awwal |
| Second | lthWny | at-tani |
| Third | lthWlithu | at-talet |
| Fourth | lrWbi`u | arrabe’ |
| Fifth | lkhmisu | al-haames |
| Sixth | lsWdisu | assadis |
| Seventh | lsb`u | assabe’ |
| Eighth | lthWminu | a amen |
| Ninth | ltWsi`u | attase’ |
| Tenth | l`shiru | al-‘aser |
As the numbers rise higher and higher, one thing to keep in mind: Multiples of ten number form their ordinal by adding a prefix.
That means that we have ‘rbwn arbaun or “forty,” which uses the prefix al– to signify “fortieth.” asab’un would be how you would say, “seventieth.”
5. Some Very Simple Math
Math is not written from left-to-right, numbers are written from right to left. Take a look at these:
- 1+3 =4wHd @ yswy @ ‘rba@
wahid gam’ talatah yusaui `arba’ah
One plus three equals four
Although you might not believe you need to know math words, if you live with an Arabic-speaking family, you will see the words “plus”,’minus, and “equals” quite often.
- jm`
gam’
plus - TrH
tar h
Minus - yswy
yusawi
Equals
Another thing to notice is how people use percentages. It’s easy! The number is then pronounced in Arabic.
- `shrwn blmy’@
‘isrun bilmi`ah
Twenty percent
6. Lemme Get Your Number
The length of phone numbers in different Arabic countries is quite variable.
Tunisia’s phone numbers, for example, are six digits and have a two-digit area number. Egypt has seven digit landlines and eight mobile numbers. Mobile numbers in Iraq are ten digits and include a prefix that is unique for each telecom.
Different languages such as Mandarin and German use different variants of the numbers when they recite phone numbers. Imagine the struggle (perhaps it doesn’t take long to imagine) that an English-learner would have hearing, “My number five oh four,” triple two, seventy eight fourteen.
It takes quite a bit mental gymnastics to convert that number to 504-222-7214.
Arabic learners may be able to take the easy route for the first time in this article. These phrases are worth a look.
- m rqm?htfk
ma raqmu hatifik?
What is your phone number? - rqm.
raqmu hatifi huwa…
My phone number is:
Then? You just need to say each number individually. tis’a wahid wahid sitta… (9117…).
In colloquial Arabic variants, individuals may have their own systems. People tend to speak clearly and slow down when they are speaking MSA. They will keep their phone number recitals as simple and straightforward as possible.
You might also find it useful to have some vocabulary in Arabic for exchanging phone numbers. Keep your eyes open for our Dates in Arabic article, which will help you set up appointments and dates.
7.Verify the Time
Do you remember the differences between MSA numbers and colloquial numbers. This is a big one.
The cardinal numbers are used to tell time in colloquial Arabic. To tell it’s 3 o’clock in Egyptian Arabic you would simply say ls@ thlth@ el-sah talaata or “3 o’clock” and it will be done.
However, MSA requires the ordinal numbers.
- ls`@u lwHd@
al-sa’atu al-wahida
One o’clock - ls`@u lthmn@
al-sa’atu al-taminah
Eight o’clock - km ls@u
Kam al-sa’atu? al-sa’atu al-taniyah.
What time is it now? It’s two o’clock.
These are easy to use, as there are no complicated rules regarding declension and agreement. Remember to use the ordinal forms if you want to adhere to the MSA grammar as much as possible.
It’s also what you’ll see on the news.
8. Conclusion: How ArabicPod101 Can Help You Learn More Arabic
As with any language aspect, Arabic numbers can seem more complicated the more you examine them.
However, your native language will have many similar things to Arabic speakers that may seem maddening.
It all comes down to exposure. You will become more familiar with the number system the more you use it. Then it will seem totally crazy that you have ever had any trouble recalling the cases.
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CONCLUSION
Accept the challenge. Accept the complexity of Arabic numbers and you will be able to say that you have overcome one of the most challenging challenges in Arabic learning.
