Arabic 1 10 Numbers: Learn to Count in Arabic

Arabic 1 10 Numbers

If you’re learning Arabic, one of the most important things to start with is numbers. In this post, we’ll show you how to count from 1 to 10 in Arabic. Arabic numbers are simple once you understand them, and knowing them is useful in everyday situations like shopping, telling time, and more.

Zero in Arabic

In Arabic, the word for zero is “صِفْر” (ṣifr). It is used in mathematics and everyday speech to represent the number 0.

Arabic 1 10 Numbers

Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in Arabic, along with how they are written and pronounced:

  1. وَاحِد (wāḥid) – One
    This is the number 1 in Arabic. It’s pronounced “wah-hid.”
  2. اِثْنَان (ithnān) – Two
    The number 2 is pronounced “ith-nan.”
  3. ثَلاثَة (thalātha) – Three
    To say 3 in Arabic, you say “tha-la-tha.”
  4. أَرْبَعَة (arbaʿa) – Four
    The number 4 is pronounced “ar-ba-a.”
  5. خَمْسَة (khamsa) – Five
    In Arabic, the number 5 is “kham-sa.”
  6. سِتَّة (sitta) – Six
    The number 6 is “sit-ta.”
  7. سَبْعَة (sabʿa) – Seven
    To say 7 in Arabic, you say “sab-a.”
  8. ثَمَانِيَة (thamāniya) – Eight
    The number 8 is “tha-ma-ni-ya.”
  9. تِسْعَة (tisʿa) – Nine
    The number 9 is “tis-a.”
  10. عَشَرَة (ʿashara) – Ten
    To say 10, you pronounce it “a-sha-ra.”

Here’s a table showing numbers 1-10 with Arabic and English numerals:

English NumberArabic Number (Numeral)Arabic Number (Word)
1١واحد (wāḥid)
2٢اثنان (ithnān)
3٣ثلاثة (thalātha)
4٤أربعة (arbaʿa)
5٥خمسة (khamsa)
6٦ستة (sitta)
7٧سبعة (sabʿa)
8٨ثمانية (thamāniya)
9٩تسعة (tisʿa)
10١٠عشرة (ʿashara)

This table provides a quick reference for the numbers 1-10 in both their numeral and word forms in Arabic, alongside their English counterparts.

READ ALSO: Understanding Arabic Harakat: A Guide for Beginners

Tips to Remember the Numbers

  • Practice out loud: The more you say the numbers, the easier they become. Try counting things around you in Arabic.
  • Write them down: Writing the numbers in Arabic helps you recognize their shapes and get used to the script.
  • Use them in daily life: Whether you’re counting money, days, or objects, practice using these numbers in your daily routine.

Here’s a table showing the masculine and feminine forms of Arabic numbers from 1 to 10:

English NumberFeminine Form (Arabic)Masculine Form (Arabic)
1واحدة (wāḥida)واحد (wāḥid)
2اثنتان (ithnatān)اثنان (ithnān)
3ثلاثة (thalātha)ثلاث (thalāth)
4أربعة (arbaʿa)أربع (arbaʿ)
5خمسة (khamsa)خمس (khams)
6ستة (sitta)ست (sit)
7سبعة (sabʿa)سبع (sabʿ)
8ثمانية (thamāniya)ثماني (thamān)
9تسعة (tisʿa)تسع (tisʿ)
10عشرة (ʿashara)عشر (ʿashr)

This table highlights both the masculine and feminine forms of Arabic numbers, which are crucial for proper number agreement with the nouns they count.

Arabic 1 10 Numbers

Arabic Numbers and Noun Agreement

In Arabic, numbers (singular: “عدد” – ʿadad) are fully declinable nouns. This means they follow specific grammatical rules, including case endings and gender agreement, just like other nouns in Arabic.

The noun being counted is called “ma’dud” (معدود), and the grammatical rules governing how numbers relate to the nouns they count can change depending on the range of the numbers used.

Here, we will explore these rules, focusing on numbers 1-10 and how they interact with the noun being counted.

Numbers 1 and 2: Agreement as Adjectives

The numbers one (واحد – wāḥid) and two (اِثْنَان – ithnān) behave like adjectives in Arabic. This means that they follow the same grammatical rules as adjectives in terms of gender, definiteness, and case.

Both the number and the noun being counted must agree in gender and definiteness.

Here are the key points for numbers 1 and 2:

  • Number 1 (واحد – wāḥid):
  • The number follows the noun it modifies, just like an adjective.
  • It agrees with the noun in gender (masculine or feminine) and definiteness (whether the noun is definite or indefinite).
    • Masculine Example: كِتَابٌ وَاحِد (kitābun wāḥid) – One book
    • Feminine Example: سَيَّارَةٌ وَاحِدَة (sayyāra wāḥida) – One car
  • Number 2 (اِثْنَان – ithnān):
  • The number also follows the noun and agrees with it in gender and case.
  • The dual form in Arabic (مُثنّى – muthanna) is used to indicate two of something, and this form follows the same adjective rules as number one.
    • Masculine Example: رَجُلان اِثْنَان (rajulān ithnān) – Two men
    • Feminine Example: سَيَّارَتَان اِثْنَتَان (sayyāratān ithnatān) – Two cars

Numbers 3 to 10: Complex Agreement Rules

When counting between three and ten, the rules become more specific, and there are some key points to remember:

  1. Number Precedes the Noun:
  • In contrast to numbers one and two, the numbers three to ten come before the noun being counted.
  • Example: ثَلاثَة كُتُب (thalātha kutub) – Three books
  1. No Tanwin or Alif-Lam on the Number:
  • Numbers 3 to 10 do not take tanwin (double vowel marking) or alif-lam (definite article “the”).
  • Example: سَبْعَة كُتُب (sabʿa kutub) – Seven books
  1. The Noun is in Mudaf-Ilaihi Construction (Majrur Case):
  • The noun being counted is treated as mudaf ilaihi (the second part of a possessive construction), and it must be in the genitive case (majrur). This means it usually ends with kasra (-i sound) or kasratayn (double kasra).
  1. The Noun Must be Plural:
  • The noun being counted is always in the plural form when paired with numbers 3 to 10.
  • Example: ثَمَانِيَة أَوْلاد (thamāniya awlād) – Eight boys
  1. Opposite Gender Rule:
  • One of the trickiest aspects of numbers 3 to 10 is that the number and the noun being counted must have opposite gender.
    • A feminine noun will be counted with a masculine number.
    • A masculine noun will be counted with a feminine number.
  • Example 1: خَمْسَة طُلَّاب (khamsa ṭullāb) – Five students (ṭullāb is masculine, so the number “five” is feminine).
  • Example 2: أَرْبَع سَيَّارَات (arbaʿ sayyārāt) – Four cars (sayyārāt is feminine, so the number “four” is masculine).

Examples of Numbers 3-10 in Action

Here’s a breakdown of how these numbers work with nouns in Arabic:

  • Three Books: ثَلاثَة كُتُب (thalātha kutub)
  • Noun: كُتُب (kutub) is masculine plural, so the number “three” is in its feminine form (ثَلاثَة – thalātha).
  • Four Cars: أَرْبَع سَيَّارَات (arbaʿ sayyārāt)
  • Noun: سَيَّارَات (sayyārāt) is feminine plural, so the number “four” is in its masculine form (أَرْبَع – arbaʿ).
  • Seven Boys: سَبْعَة أَوْلاد (sabʿa awlād)
  • Noun: أَوْلاد (awlād) is masculine plural, so the number “seven” is in its feminine form (سَبْعَة – sabʿa).

Mastering Arabic numbers and their interaction with nouns can be challenging due to the complex rules surrounding gender, declension, and case endings.

However, with consistent practice and an understanding of the core rules—especially the opposite gender rule—you can gain confidence in using Arabic numbers in everyday conversations.

Here’s a table showing examples of Arabic numbers from 1 to 10 with masculine nouns being counted:

Arabic Number (Masculine)Thing Being Counted (Masculine)Arabic ExampleEnglish Translation
واحد (wāḥid)كتاب (kitāb) – Bookكِتَابٌ وَاحِد (kitābun wāḥid)One book
اثنان (ithnān)طالب (ṭālib) – Studentطَالِبَانِ اثْنَانِ (ṭālibān ithnān)Two students
ثلاثة (thalātha)كرسي (kursī) – Chairثَلاثَة كَرَاسِي (thalātha karāsī)Three chairs
أربعة (arbaʿa)قلم (qalam) – Penأَرْبَعَة أَقْلَام (arbaʿa aqlām)Four pens
خمسة (khamsa)باب (bāb) – Doorخَمْسَة أَبْوَاب (khamsa abwāb)Five doors
ستة (sitta)ولد (walad) – Boyسِتَّة أَوْلَاد (sitta awlād)Six boys
سبعة (sabʿa)كرسي (kursī) – Chairسَبْعَة كَرَاسِي (sabʿa karāsī)Seven chairs
ثمانية (thamāniya)كتاب (kitāb) – Bookثَمَانِيَة كُتُب (thamāniya kutub)Eight books
تسعة (tisʿa)ولد (walad) – Boyتِسْعَة أَوْلَاد (tisʿa awlād)Nine boys
عشرة (ʿashara)قلم (qalam) – Penعَشَرَة أَقْلَام (ʿashara aqlām)Ten pens

This table shows examples where the noun being counted is masculine, demonstrating how the number changes but the noun is in its plural form from 3 to 10.

Here’s a table showing examples of Arabic numbers from 1 to 10 with feminine nouns being counted:

Arabic Number (Feminine)Thing Being Counted (Feminine)Arabic ExampleEnglish Translation
واحدة (wāḥida)سيارة (sayyāra) – Carسَيَّارَةٌ وَاحِدَة (sayyāra wāḥida)One car
اثنتان (ithnatān)شجرة (shajara) – Treeشَجَرَتَانِ اثْنَتَانِ (shajaratān ithnatān)Two trees
ثلاث (thalāth)تفاحة (tuffāḥa) – Appleثَلَاث تُفَّاحَات (thalāth tuffāḥāt)Three apples
أربع (arbaʿ)ساعة (sāʿa) – Clockأَرْبَع سَاعَات (arbaʿ sāʿāt)Four clocks
خمس (khams)حقيبة (ḥaqība) – Bagخَمْس حَقَائِب (khams ḥaqāʾib)Five bags
ست (sit)طاولة (ṭāwila) – Tableسِتّ طَاوِلَات (sit ṭāwilāt)Six tables
سبع (sabʿ)زهرة (zahra) – Flowerسَبْع زَهَرَات (sabʿ zaharāt)Seven flowers
ثمان (thamān)سلة (salla) – Basketثماني سِلَال (thamān silāl)Eight baskets
تسع (tisʿ)نافذة (nāfiḏa) – Windowتِسْع نَوَافِذ (tisʿ nawāfiḏ)Nine windows
عشر (ʿashr)دجاجة (dajāja) – Chickenعَشْر دَجَاجَات (ʿashr dajājāt)Ten chickens

This table shows examples where the noun being counted is feminine, demonstrating the use of feminine numbers and plural nouns for numbers 3 to 10.

More Guide

In Arabic, numbers between three and ten have a unique relationship with gender, which means they change depending on whether the noun they describe is masculine or feminine.

While this might sound tricky at first, once you understand the rules, it becomes much easier. This guide will help you understand how gender works with Arabic numerals and how to use them correctly.

Masculine and Feminine Numbers in Arabic

Arabic numbers between three and ten are usually feminine because they end with a letter called “Taa marbuta” (تاء مربوطة).

However, these feminine numbers are paired with masculine nouns. When the noun is feminine, the number takes a masculine form (which doesn’t have the “Taa marbuta”).

This may seem like a reverse rule, but it’s a key concept in Arabic grammar.

Here’s how it works:

  • Three to ten: The numbers used with masculine nouns end with Taa marbuta and are considered feminine. When you are counting feminine nouns, the number form doesn’t have Taa marbuta, making it masculine.

Examples of Masculine and Feminine Numbers

  1. Three cars (feminine noun): ثَلاث سَيّارات (thalātha sayyārāt) – The number three is in the feminine form, but “cars” (sayyārāt) is a masculine noun.
  2. Four men (masculine noun): أَرْبَعَة رِجَال (arbaʿa rijāl) – The number four is in the feminine form, used with the masculine noun “men” (rijāl).

Special Cases: Numbers One and Two

  • Number One (واحد – wāḥid): The numeral one in Arabic has no “Taa marbuta” at the end, but it changes according to the gender of the noun it describes. For masculine nouns, it remains masculine, and for feminine nouns, it takes a feminine form.
  • Masculine example: رَجُل وَاحِد (rajul wāḥid) – one man
  • Feminine example: سَيَّارَة وَاحِدَة (sayyāra wāḥida) – one car
  • Number Two (اِثْنَان – ithnān): The number two is a special case in Arabic. It’s known as “muthanna” (مُثنّى), which means dual. Like other numbers, it changes according to the gender of the noun.
  • Masculine example: رَجُلان اِثْنَان (rajulān ithnān) – two men
  • Feminine example: سَيَّارَتَان اِثْنَتَان (sayyāratān ithnatān) – two cars

Arabic Numbers Table for Masculine and Feminine Nouns

Masculine FormExample (Masculine Noun)Feminine FormExample (Feminine Noun)
وَاحِد (wāḥid)رَجُل وَاحِد (one man)وَاحِدَة (wāḥida)سَيَّارَة وَاحِدَة (one car)
اِثْنَان (ithnān)رَجُلان اِثْنَان (two men)اِثْنَتَان (ithnatān)سَيَّارَتَان اِثْنَتَان (two cars)
ثَلاثَة (thalātha)ثَلاثَة رِجَال (three men)ثَلاث (thalāth)ثَلاث سَيَّارَات (three cars)
أَرْبَعَة (arbaʿa)أَرْبَعَة رِجَال (four men)أَرْبَع (arbaʿ)أَرْبَع سَيَّارَات (four cars)
خَمْسَة (khamsa)خَمْسَة كُتُب (five books)خَمْس (khams)خَمْس سَيَّارَات (five cars)

Everyday Examples of Using Arabic Numbers

Let’s take a look at how these numbers can be used in real-life situations:

  • Counting objects in a store:
  • ثَلاثَة أَقْلَام (thalātha aqlām) – Three pens
  • خَمْس سَيَّارَات (khams sayyārāt) – Five cars
  • Talking about people:
  • سَبْعَة طُلَّاب (sabʿa ṭullāb) – Seven students
  • تِسْع فَتَيَات (tisʿ fatayāt) – Nine girls

As you can see, the number changes depending on whether the noun is masculine or feminine.

Key Tips for Learning Arabic Numbers

  1. Practice with Nouns: Always practice counting numbers with a noun. This will help you get used to the gender agreement. For example, try counting books (masculine) or chairs (feminine).
  2. Focus on Reverse Gender Rule: Remember, numbers from three to ten follow a reverse gender rule. Feminine numbers are used with masculine nouns, and masculine numbers are used with feminine nouns.
  3. Pay Special Attention to Dual Forms: The number two follows the muthanna (dual) rule, so make sure you learn both the masculine and feminine versions.

Why Learn Arabic Numbers?

Learning how to count in Arabic helps in many ways:

  • Travel: If you’re visiting an Arabic-speaking country, you’ll need to understand numbers for prices, directions, and more.
  • Shopping: Arabic numbers are used in shops and markets.
  • Daily conversation: You’ll use numbers in regular conversations, like telling someone your age or asking the time.

Practice Makes Perfect!

Keep practicing your Arabic numbers 1 to 10. You can start by counting small things like your fingers, or even counting objects around your house. Once you’re confident, you can move on to larger numbers and more complex sentences.

By mastering these basic numbers, you’re taking a big step towards fluency in Arabic. Good luck, and happy learning!

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