Arabic Numbers 1-100 In Arabic Words

Arabic numerals, the symbols we commonly use to represent numbers, are derived from the Hindu-Arabic numeral system. However, the Arabic language has its own unique way of expressing numbers in words. Understanding these numerical words is essential for anyone learning Arabic or interested in the culture. This comprehensive guide will cover Arabic numbers from 1 to 100, providing transliterations and explanations to help you grasp the system effectively.

Understanding the Basics of Arabic Numbers

Before diving into the numbers themselves, it's crucial to understand the foundational principles governing Arabic numerals:

• Gender Agreement: In Arabic, numbers (specifically 1-10) must agree in gender with the noun they modify. This means the number will have a masculine and feminine form.
• Number Order: The order of numbers can sometimes seem counterintuitive to English speakers. For example, when writing numbers 21-99, the ones place is typically stated before the tens place.
• Construct State (Idafa): Numbers can often be part of a construct state, which affects their form. This is especially true when used with nouns.

Arabic Numbers 1-10: The Foundation

These numbers form the bedrock of counting in Arabic. Note the masculine and feminine forms:

1. One:
   • Masculine: وَاحِد (wāḥid)
   • Feminine: وَاحِدَة (wāḥidah)
2. Two:
   • Masculine: اِثْنَان (ithnān)
   • Feminine: اِثْنَتَان (ithnatān)
3. Three:
   • Masculine: ثَلَاثَة (thalāthah)
   • Feminine: ثَلَاث (thalāth)
4. Four:
   • Masculine: أَرْبَعَة (ʾarbaʿah)
   • Feminine: أَرْبَع (ʾarbaʿ)
5. Five:
   • Masculine: خَمْسَة (khamsah)
   • Feminine: خَمْس (khams)
6. Six:
   • Masculine: سِتَّة (sittah)
   • Feminine: سِتّ (sitt)
7. Seven:
   • Masculine: سَبْعَة (sabʿah)
   • Feminine: سَبْع (sabʿ)
8. Eight:
   • Masculine: ثَمَانِيَة (thamāniyah)
   • Feminine: ثَمَان (thamān)
9. Nine:
   • Masculine: تِسْعَة (tisʿah)
   • Feminine: تِسْع (tisʿ)
10. Ten:
    • Masculine: عَشَرَة (ʿasharah)
    • Feminine: عَشْر (ʿashr)

Arabic Numbers 11-19: Combining 'Ten' and Single Digits

Numbers 11-19 follow a pattern of combining the word for 'ten' (ʿashar) with a modified version of the single-digit numbers. These numbers are generally invariable for gender.

11. Eleven: أَحَدَ عَشَرَ (ʾaḥada ʿashara)
12. Twelve: اِثْنَا عَشَرَ (ithnā ʿashara)
13. Thirteen: ثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ (thalāthata ʿashara)
14. Fourteen: أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ (ʾarbaʿata ʿashara)
15. Fifteen: خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ (khamsata ʿashara)
16. Sixteen: سِتَّةَ عَشَرَ (sittata ʿashara)
17. Seventeen: سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ (sabʿata ʿashara)
18. Eighteen: ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ (thamāniyata ʿashara)
19. Nineteen: تِسْعَةَ عَشَرَ (tisʿata ʿashara)

Arabic Numbers 20-90: The Tens

These are the building blocks for the numbers between 20 and 99. They are generally followed by the single-digit number (1-9) to form compound numbers.

20. Twenty: عِشْرُونَ (ʿishrūn)
21. Thirty: ثَلَاثُونَ (thalāthūn)
22. Forty: أَرْبَعُونَ (ʾarbaʿūn)
23. Fifty: خَمْسُونَ (khamsūn)
24. Sixty: سِتُّونَ (sittūn)
25. Seventy: سَبْعُونَ (sabʿūn)
26. Eighty: ثَمَانُونَ (thamānūn)
27. Ninety: تِسْعُونَ (tisʿūn)

Arabic Numbers 21-99: Combining Tens and Units

Numbers 21 through 99 combine the tens (20-90) with the units (1-9). Here's where the order might seem reversed to English speakers. The unit (ones place) is stated first, followed by "and," then the tens place.

• The Connector "and": The word "و" (wa) is used as "and" to connect the units and tens.

Here are some examples:

28. Twenty-One: وَاحِد وَعِشْرُونَ (wāḥid wa ʿishrūn)
29. Twenty-Two: اِثْنَان وَعِشْرُونَ (ithnān wa ʿishrūn)
30. Twenty-Three: ثَلَاثَة وَعِشْرُونَ (thalāthah wa ʿishrūn)
31. Thirty-Four: أَرْبَعَة وَثَلَاثُونَ (ʾarbaʿah wa thalāthūn)
32. Forty-Five: خَمْسَة وَأَرْبَعُونَ (khamsah wa ʾarbaʿūn)
33. Fifty-Six: سِتَّة وَخَمْسُونَ (sittah wa khamsūn)
34. Sixty-Seven: سَبْعَة وَسِتُّونَ (sabʿah wa sittūn)
35. Seventy-Eight: ثَمَانِيَة وَسَبْعُونَ (thamāniyah wa sabʿūn)
36. Eighty-Nine: تِسْعَة وَثَمَانُونَ (tisʿah wa thamānūn)
37. Ninety-One: وَاحِد وَتِسْعُونَ (wāḥid wa tisʿūn)
38. Ninety-Nine: تِسْعَة وَتِسْعُونَ (tisʿah wa tisʿūn)

One Hundred: The Culmination

39. One Hundred: مِائَة (miʾah)

Putting it All Together: Examples and Context

Understanding the rules is one thing, but seeing the numbers in context is crucial. Here are some examples of how you might use these numbers in everyday Arabic:

• Age: "I am twenty-five years old" - "عُمري خَمْسَة وَعِشْرُونَ سَنَة" (ʿumrī khamsah wa ʿishrūn sanah)
• Price: "This book costs thirty-two riyals" - "هَذَا الكِتَابُ بِاثْنَان وَثَلَاثُونَ رِيَالًا" (hādhā al-kitābu bi-ithnān wa thalāthūn riyālan)
• Quantity: "I have four brothers" - "لِي أَرْبَعَةُ إِخْوَة" (lī ʾarbaʿatu ʾikhwah) (Note the use of the masculine form because "brothers" is masculine in this context)
• Time: "It is seven o'clock" - "السَّاعَةُ السَّابِعَة" (as-sāʿatu as-sābiʿah)

Gender Agreement in Detail: A Closer Look

The gender agreement of numbers 3-10 with the nouns they count is a key concept.

• The Rule: If the noun is masculine, the number will be feminine, and vice versa.

• Example 1: Books (Masculine)

  • "Three books" - ثَلَاثَةُ كُتُب (thalāthatu kutub) (The number is feminine: thalāthatu)

• Example 2: Girls (Feminine)

  • "Three girls" - ثَلَاثُ بَنَات (thalāthu banāt) (The number is masculine: thalāthu)

This can be confusing, but remember that the number is agreeing with the gender of the noun, not necessarily the grammatical gender of the people or objects themselves. The noun is always plural when used with numbers 3-10.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Forgetting Gender Agreement: This is the most common mistake. Always check the gender of the noun you are counting.
• Incorrect Order (21-99): Remember to say the unit (ones place) first, then "and," then the tens place.
• Mispronunciation: Arabic has sounds that don't exist in English. Use online resources to hear the correct pronunciation.
• Ignoring the Construct State: The form of the number can change when it's directly linked to a noun in a construct state (Idafa).

Tips for Memorizing Arabic Numbers

• Flashcards: Create flashcards with the Arabic number, the transliteration, and the English equivalent.
• Repetition: Practice saying the numbers out loud regularly.
• Use in Context: Try to use the numbers in real conversations or writing exercises.
• Apps and Websites: There are many language learning apps and websites that can help you learn Arabic numbers.
• Associate with Images: Link each number with a memorable image. For example, picture three trees when you think of thalāthah.
• Break it Down: Focus on mastering the numbers 1-10 first, then build from there.
• Listen to Arabic: Listen to Arabic speakers counting or using numbers in everyday conversation.

Advanced Concepts: Beyond 100

While this article focuses on numbers 1-100, it’s useful to briefly touch on numbers beyond that.

• One Hundred (100): مِائَة (miʾah)
• Two Hundred (200): مِائَتَان (miʾatān)
• Three Hundred (300): ثَلَاثُمِائَة (thalāthu miʾah)
• One Thousand (1000): أَلْف (ʾalf)
• Two Thousand (2000): أَلْفَان (ʾalfān)
• Ten Thousand (10,000): عَشْرَة آلَاف (ʿashrata ʾālāf)
• One Million (1,000,000): مِلْيُون (milyūn)

The pattern for numbers beyond 100 largely follows the same principles of combining numbers and using "and" (wa) to connect them. For example:

• One Hundred and Twenty-Five (125): مِائَة وَخَمْسَة وَعِشْرُونَ (miʾah wa khamsah wa ʿishrūn)
• Three Hundred and Forty-Two (342): ثَلَاثُمِائَة وَاثْنَان وَأَرْبَعُونَ (thalāthu miʾah wa ithnān wa ʾarbaʿūn)
• One Thousand Five Hundred (1500): أَلْف وَخَمْسُمِائَة (ʾalf wa khamsu miʾah)

The Importance of Learning Arabic Numbers

Learning Arabic numbers in words offers several advantages:

• Improved Language Skills: It enhances your overall understanding of the Arabic language and its grammatical structures.
• Cultural Appreciation: Numbers are integral to everyday life, and knowing them provides deeper insight into Arabic culture.
• Communication: It allows you to communicate more effectively in Arabic-speaking environments, especially when dealing with prices, quantities, and time.
• Reading Comprehension: You'll be able to understand numbers written out in text, which is common in various forms of Arabic writing.
• Business Opportunities: If you're involved in business with Arabic-speaking countries, knowing the numbers is essential for financial transactions and negotiations.

Variations in Dialects

It is important to note that while the standard Arabic numbers provided here are widely understood, variations exist in different Arabic dialects. For example, the pronunciation or even the word used for certain numbers might differ slightly in Egyptian Arabic, Levantine Arabic, or Gulf Arabic. While Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is generally used in formal contexts and writing, being aware of dialectal variations can enhance your comprehension in informal settings.

Resources for Further Learning

Numerous resources are available to help you continue learning Arabic numbers:

• Arabic Language Textbooks: Most Arabic textbooks dedicate a section to numbers, often with exercises and examples.
• Online Arabic Courses: Platforms like Coursera, edX, and Duolingo offer Arabic courses that cover numbers.
• Arabic Language Learning Apps: Apps such as Memrise, Babbel, and Rosetta Stone have specific lessons on Arabic numbers.
• YouTube Channels: Many YouTube channels offer free Arabic lessons, including those focused on numbers. Search for topics like "Learn Arabic Numbers" or "Arabic Counting."
• Arabic-English Dictionaries: Use a reliable Arabic-English dictionary to look up the meanings and pronunciations of numbers.
• Native Arabic Speakers: The best way to learn is to practice with native Arabic speakers. Find a language partner or tutor who can help you with pronunciation and usage.
• Websites Dedicated to Arabic Language: Websites like Madinah Arabic and Bayna Yadayk offer structured lessons on various aspects of Arabic grammar and vocabulary, including numbers.

Conclusion

Mastering Arabic numbers from 1 to 100 is a vital step in your Arabic language journey. By understanding the rules of gender agreement, number order, and construct states, and by practicing regularly, you can confidently use these numbers in everyday conversations and writing. Remember to pay attention to pronunciation and be aware of potential dialectal variations. With consistent effort and the right resources, you'll be counting like a native speaker in no time!