1. How to Count in Arabic: A Comprehensive Guide to Arabic Numeral System

Arabic Numerals
$title$

Embark on a linguistic adventure as we delve into the captivating world of counting in Arabic, a language spoken by over 400 million people worldwide. From the bustling streets of Cairo to the tranquil souks of Marrakech, numbers play an integral role in everyday life. Whether you’re navigating a vibrant market or engaging in lively conversations, mastering the art of Arabic numerals will not only enhance your communication skills but also deepen your understanding of this rich and vibrant culture.

Unlike the familiar numerals we encounter in English, Arabic numbers possess a unique and distinct charm. Their intricate script, flowing characters, and rhythmic pronunciation create a mesmerizing symphony of sounds. Embracing these numerical nuances allows you to connect with the Arabic language on a deeper level, appreciating its nuances and subtleties. As we journey through the intricacies of Arabic counting, you will discover a system that is both logical and elegant, offering a glimpse into the mathematical and linguistic heritage of the Arab world.

To embark on this numerical odyssey, we will begin with the fundamental building blocks of Arabic numbers: the digits 0 to 9. Each digit is represented by a specific symbol, bearing its own unique shape and pronunciation. From the graceful curve of the number 1 to the intricate strokes that form the number 9, these symbols embody the essence of Arabic calligraphy. As we progress, we will explore the formation of larger numbers, deciphering the patterns and rules that govern their construction. Along the way, we will unravel the secrets of Arabic numerals, unlocking their mysteries and revealing their hidden beauty.

Understanding the Basics

Arabic numerals, derived from the Indian numerals, are widely used across the globe. They consist of ten symbols (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) that represent numbers. In Arabic, these symbols are written from right to left.

To begin counting in Arabic, it’s crucial to understand the following principles:

1. Cardinal Numbers:

Cardinal Numbers from 0 to 9

Arabic Numeral	Arabic Script	Transcription
۰	صفر	Sifr
۱	واحد	Waahid
۲	اثنان	Ithnaan
۳	ثلاثة	Thalaathah
٤	أربعة	Arba’ah
٥	خمسة	Khamsah
٦	ستة	Sittah
۷	سبعة	Sab’ah
۸	ثمانية	Thamaaniyah
۹	تسعة	Tis’ah

Cardinal Numbers from 10 to 19

Arabic Numeral	Arabic Script	Transcription
۱۰	عشرة	‘Asharah
۱۱	أحد عشر	‘Aha ‘Ashar
۱۲	اثنا عشر	Ithnaa ‘Ashar
۱۳	ثلاثة عشر	Thalaathat ‘Ashar
١٤	أربعة عشر	Arba’at ‘Ashar
١٥	خمسة عشر	Khamsat ‘Ashar
١٦	ستة عشر	Sittat ‘Ashar
۱۷	سبعة عشر	Sab’at ‘Ashar
۱۸	ثمانية عشر	Thamaaniyat ‘Ashar
۱۹	تسعة عشر	Tis’at ‘Ashar

The Number System

Zero to Ten

Arabic numerals are used to represent numbers in the Arabic language. The numerals are written from right to left, and they have a unique shape for each number. The Arabic number system is a decimal system, which means that it uses the base 10. The place value of each digit in a number is determined by its position in the number. The digit in the rightmost position has a place value of 1, the digit to the left of that has a place value of 10, the digit to the left of that has a place value of 100, and so on.

The Arabic numerals for the numbers zero to ten are as follows:

Numeral	Number
٠	0
١	1
٢	2
٣	3
٤	4
٥	5
٦	6
٧	7
٨	8
٩	9
١٠	10

2

The Arabic numeral for 2 is ٢. It is written as a small circle with a line drawn through it. The line can be either vertical or horizontal. The numeral ٢ is used to represent the number 2 in all Arabic-speaking countries.

Counting from 0 to 10

Arabic numbers are written from right to left, and the Arabic number system is a decimal system, meaning that it uses the numbers 0-9 to represent all numbers. The Arabic word for “zero” is “sifr”, and the word for “ten” is “ashra”.

Counting from 1 to 10

The Arabic numbers from 1 to 10 are as follows:

Number	Arabic
1	واحد (waahid)
2	اثنان (ithnaan)
3	ثلاثة (thalathah)
4	أربعة (arba’ah)
5	خمسة (khamsah)
6	ستة (sittah)
7	سبعة (sab’ah)
8	ثمانية (thamaaniyah)
9	تسعة (tis’ah)
10	عشرة (asharah)

The number 3

The Arabic word for “three” is “thalathah”. It is a feminine noun, and its plural form is “thalathah”. The number 3 is often used in Arabic expressions and phrases, such as:

“Thalath al-muslimeen” means “the three Muslims”.
“Thalath al-ayyameen” means “the three days”.
“Thalath al-sanaat” means “the three years”.

Counting from 10 to 100

Counting in Arabic involves familiarity with both masculine and feminine forms of numbers, with slight variations based on the tens and hundreds place. Here’s a detailed explanation for counting from 10 to 100:

10-19

The numbers 11-19 follow a specific pattern. The masculine form of “ten” is ” عشرة” (ashra), and the feminine form is “عشر” (ashr). For numbers 11-19, the pattern is as follows:

Number	Masculine	Feminine
11	أحد عشر (ahad ‘ashar)	إحدى عشر (ihda ‘ashra)
12	اثنا عشر (ithna ‘ashar)	اثنتا عشر (ithnata ‘ashra)
13	ثلاثة عشر (thalatha ‘ashar)	ثلاث عشر (thalatha ‘ashra)
14	أربعة عشر (arba’a ‘ashar)	أربع عشر (arba’a ‘ashra)
15	خمسة عشر (khamsa ‘ashar)	خمس عشر (khamsa ‘ashra)
16	ستة عشر (sitta ‘ashar)	ست عشر (sitta ‘ashra)
17	سبعة عشر (sab’a ‘ashar)	سبع عشر (sab’a ‘ashra)
18	ثمانية عشر (thamaniya ‘ashar)	ثمان عشر (thamaniya ‘ashra)
19	تسعة عشر (tis’a ‘ashar)	تسع عشر (tis’a ‘ashra)

Note that for the numbers 11-13, the feminine form has a “ت” (ta’) ending, while for 14-19, it has a “ة” (ta’) ending.

Counting From 300 to 999

The way numbers are formed in Arabic is based on a system of three roots. Each root represents a consonant sound, and vowels are added to the roots to form different words. The numbers from 300 to 999 are formed using the roots “m”, “ʾ”, and “t”. These roots are combined with the appropriate vowels to form the following words:

Number	Arabic Word
300	ثلاثماية
400	أربعماية
500	خمسماية
600	ستماية
700	سبعماية
800	ثمانماية
900	تسعماية

The word for “hundred” in Arabic is “miʾa”. It is placed after the number in the hundreds place. For example, 500 is written as “خمسماية” (khamsamiʾa).

The words for “ten” and “one” are also used to form numbers in the hundreds place. For example, 310 is written as “ثلاثماية وعشرة” (thalāthamīʾa wa ʿashara).

The numbers from 300 to 999 can also be formed using the following pattern:

Number	Pattern
300	[Root] + [Vowel 1] + [Vowel 2] + [Root] + [Vowel 3] + “miʾa”
400	[Root] + [Vowel 1] + [Vowel 2] + [Root] + [Vowel 3] + “miʾa”
500	[Root] + [Vowel 1] + [Vowel 2] + [Root] + [Vowel 3] + “miʾa”
600	[Root] + [Vowel 1] + [Vowel 2] + [Root] + [Vowel 3] + “miʾa”
700	[Root] + [Vowel 1] + [Vowel 2] + [Root] + [Vowel 3] + “miʾa”
800	[Root] + [Vowel 1] + [Vowel 2] + [Root] + [Vowel 3] + “miʾa”
900	[Root] + [Vowel 1] + [Vowel 2] + [Root] + [Vowel 3] + “miʾa”

Collective Nouns and Counting Plurables

Collective Nouns

In Arabic, collective nouns are used to refer to groups of entities, such as “herd,” “flock,” or “class.” These nouns take singular verbs and adjectives, but they can be counted using the plural form of the number:

Number	Plural Form
1	Wahid (وَاحِد)
2	Ithnayn (اثنان)
3	Thalatha (ثلاثة)
10	Ashara (عشرة)
100	Mi’a (مائة)
1,000	Alf (ألف)

For example:

Surbatu sha’b yashrabu (سِرْبُ شَعبٍ يَشْرَبُ) – A herd of people is drinking.

Counting Plurables

To count plurals in Arabic, use the plural form of the number followed by the plural form of the noun. For example, to count “books” (kitab), use:

Kitab wahid (كِتَابٌ وَاحِدٌ) – One book

Kitaban (كِتَابَانِ) – Two books

Kutub salasa (كُتُبٌ ثَلَاثَةٌ) – Three books

Special Case: The Number 6

When counting objects in groups of six, a special rule applies. For numbers from six to ten, use the plural forms of the numbers, followed by the singular form of the noun. For example:

Sitta kutub (سِتَّةُ كُتُبٍ) – Six books

Saba’a kalam (سَبْعَةُ أَقْلامٍ) – Seven pens

Thamaniya awraq (ثَمَانِيَةُ أَوْرَاقٍ) – Eight pieces of paper

Exceptions and Irregularities

The numbers 6 and 7 are irregular and have separate plurals for use with masculine nouns:

Number	Masculine Plural	Feminine Plural
6	ستة (sitta)	ست (sitt)
7	سبعة (sab’a)	سبع (sab’)

The number 7 is particularly irregular, as it has three different forms:

سبعة (sab’a) is used when counting masculine nouns, or when referring to a specific number of people.
سبع (sab’) is used when counting feminine nouns.
سبعة عشر (sab’ata ‘ashar) is used when counting from 11 to 19 with masculine nouns.

For example:

سبعة كتب (sab’a kutub) – seven books
سبع نساء (sab’ nisa’) – seven women
سبعة عشر رجلاً (sab’ata ‘ashar rajulan) – seventeen men

Numerical Adjectives and Ordinals

Numerical Adjectives

Numerical adjectives, also known as cardinal numbers, are used to count objects or items. Arabic numerical adjectives are similar to English numerical adjectives, with a few notable differences.

For example, the numbers zero through ten are:

Number	Arabic
0	صفر (sifir)
1	واحد (waahid)
2	اثنان (ithnaan)
3	ثلاثة (thalatha)
4	أربعة (arba’a)
5	خمسة (khamsa)
6	ستة (sitta)
7	سبعة (sab’a)
8	ثمانية (thamaaniya)
9	تسعة (tis’a)
10	عشرة (ashra)

Number 8 (ثمانية)

The number 8 in Arabic is “ثمانية” (thamaaniya). It is a feminine noun and can be used as both a cardinal and an ordinal number.

The ordinal form of 8 is “الثامن” (althaamin). It is used to indicate the eighth position in a sequence.

Practical Tips for Counting

To count in Arabic, it’s helpful to start by learning the numbers from 0 to 10. Once you’ve mastered these basics, you can begin counting larger numbers by combining the individual digits.

9

Counting to nine in Arabic is straightforward, with each number pronounced distinctly:

1 – wahed
2 – ithnan
3 – thalatha
4 – arba’a
5 – khamsa
6 – sitta
7 – sab’a
8 – thamaniya
*9 – tis’a

Tis’a is pronounced with a soft "s" sound, similar to the English word "treasure." The stress falls on the first syllable, giving it a distinct rhythm within the Arabic language. Additionally, the "i" in tis’a is pronounced with a short, quick sound, creating a sharp and concise utterance.

How To Count In Arabic

Arabic is a beautiful and complex language, with a rich history and culture. One of the most important aspects of learning Arabic is understanding how to count. The Arabic number system is based on the decimal system, just like the English number system. However, there are some key differences between the two systems.

The Numbers 1-10

The Arabic numbers 1-10 are as follows:

Arabic	English
١	1
٢	2
٣	3
٤	4
٥	5
٦	6
٧	7
٨	8
٩	9
١٠	10

The Arabic numbers 1-10 are written from right to left, just like the English numbers. However, the Arabic numbers are not written in the same order as the English numbers. For example, the number 1 is written as “١” in Arabic, while the number 10 is written as “١٠”.

The Numbers 11-19

The Arabic numbers 11-19 are formed by adding the word “و” (and) to the numbers 1-9. For example, the number 11 is written as “١١” in Arabic, which means “1 and 10”.

The Numbers 20-99

The Arabic numbers 20-99 are formed by adding the word “عشرون” (twenty) to the numbers 1-9. For example, the number 21 is written as “٢١” in Arabic, which means “20 and 1”.

How to Count in Arabic

Counting in Arabic is a relatively easy task, as the numbers are quite similar to those in English. To count from 1 to 10 in Arabic, simply follow these steps:

One: واحد (pronounced “wa-hid”)
Two: اثنان (pronounced “ith-naan”)
Three: ثلاثة (pronounced “tha-laa-tha”)
Four: أربعة (pronounced “ar-ba-a”)
Five: خمسة (pronounced “khamsa”)
Six: ستة (pronounced “sit-ta”)
Seven: سبعة (pronounced “sa-ba-a”)
Eight: ثمانية (pronounced “tha-ma-ni-ya”)
Nine: تسعة (pronounced “tis-a-a”)
Ten: عشرة (pronounced “ash-ra”)

To count from 11 to 19, simply say the number from 1 to 9, followed by the word “wa” (pronounced “wah”), meaning “and”, and then the word “ashar” (pronounced “a-shar”), meaning “ten”. For example:

Eleven: أحد عشر (pronounced “a-had ‘a-shar”)
Twelve: اثنا عشر (pronounced “ith-na ‘a-shar”)
Thirteen: ثلاثة عشر (pronounced “tha-laa-tha ‘a-shar”)
Fourteen: أربعة عشر (pronounced “ar-ba-a ‘a-shar”)
Fifteen: خمسة عشر (pronounced “khamsa ‘a-shar”)
Sixteen: ستة عشر (pronounced “sit-ta ‘a-shar”)
Seventeen: سبعة عشر (pronounced “sa-ba-a ‘a-shar”)
Eighteen: ثمانية عشر (pronounced “tha-ma-ni-ya ‘a-shar”)
Nineteen: تسعة عشر (pronounced “tis-a-a ‘a-shar”)

To count from 20 to 99, simply say the number from 2 to 9, followed by the word “wa” (pronounced “wah”), meaning “and”, and then the word “een” (pronounced “een”), meaning “tens”. For example:

Twenty: عشرون (pronounced “ish-reen”)
Thirty: ثلاثون (pronounced “tha-laa-thoon”)
Forty: أربعون (pronounced “ar-ba-oon”)
Fifty: خمسون (pronounced “khams-oon”)
Sixty: ستون (pronounced “sit-toon”)
Seventy: سبعون (pronounced “sa-ba-oon”)
Eighty: ثمانون (pronounced “tha-ma-no-on”)
Ninety: تسعون (pronounced “tis-o-on”)

To count from 100 to 999, simply say the number from 1 to 9, followed by the word “mi’a” (pronounced “mee-a”), meaning “hundred”. For example:

One hundred: مائة (pronounced “mee-a”)
Two hundred: مائتان (pronounced “mee-a-tayn”)
Three hundred: ثلاثمائة (pronounced “tha-laa-tha-mee-a”)
Four hundred: أربعمائة (pronounced “ar-ba-a-mee-a”)
Five hundred: خمسمائة (pronounced “khams-a-mee-a”)
Six hundred: ستمائة (pronounced “sit-ta-mee-a”)
Seven hundred: سبعمائة (pronounced “sa-ba-a-mee-a”)
Eight hundred: ثمانمائة (pronounced “tha-ma-ni-ya-mee-a”)
Nine hundred: تسعمائة (pronounced “tis-a-a-mee-a”)

To count from 1,000 to 9,999, simply say the number from 1 to 9, followed by the word “alf” (pronounced “alf”), meaning “thousand”. For example:

One thousand: ألف (pronounced “alf”)
Two thousand: ألفان (pronounced “alf-ayn”)
Three thousand: ثلاثة آلاف (pronounced “tha-laa-tha a-laaf”)
Four thousand: أربعة آلاف (pronounced “ar-ba-a a-laaf”)
Five thousand: خمسة آلاف (pronounced “khams-a a-laaf”)
Six thousand: ستة آلاف (pronounced “sit-ta a-laaf”)
Seven thousand: سبعة آلاف (pronounced “sa-ba-a a-laaf”)
Eight thousand: ثمانية آلاف (pronounced “tha-ma-ni-ya a-laaf”)
Nine thousand: تسعة آلاف (pronounced “tis-a-a a-laaf”)