Ordinal Numbers in Arabic: A Simple Guide
Ordinal numbers in Arabic are used to show the order of things, like “first,” “second,” “third,” and so on. These numbers are different from regular numbers and have their own special forms. Let’s take a look at how they work!
How Do Ordinal Numbers in Arabic Work?
- Ordinal numbers change depending on whether the noun is masculine (for men or things like “book”) or feminine (for women or things like “school”).
- The masculine form is used with masculine nouns, and the feminine form is used with feminine nouns.
Ordinal Numbers from 1 to 10 in Arabic
Here are the ordinal numbers from 1 to 10 in Arabic. Each number has a different form for masculine and feminine nouns:
| Number | Masculine (for a man or object) | Feminine (for a woman or object) |
|---|---|---|
| First | الأَوَّل (al-awwal) | الأُولَى (al-ūlā) |
| Second | الثَّانِي (ath-thānī) | الثَّانِيَة (ath-thānīyah) |
| Third | الثَّالِث (ath-thālith) | الثَّالِثَة (ath-thālithah) |
| Fourth | الرَّابِع (ar-rābiʿ) | الرَّابِعَة (ar-rābiʿah) |
| Fifth | الخَامِس (al-khāmis) | الخَامِسَة (al-khāmisah) |
| Sixth | السَّادِس (as-sādis) | السَّادِسَة (as-sādisah) |
| Seventh | السَّابِع (as-sābiʿ) | السَّابِعَة (as-sābiʿah) |
| Eighth | الثَّامِن (ath-thāmin) | الثَّامِنَة (ath-thāminah) |
| Ninth | التَّاسِع (at-tāsiʿ) | التَّاسِعَة (at-tāsiʿah) |
| Tenth | العَاشِر (al-ʿāshir) | العَاشِرَة (al-ʿāshirah) |
For example:
- “The first book” is الكتاب الأوَّل (al-kitāb al-awwal).
- “The first school” is المدرسة الأولى (al-madrasah al-ūlā).
Ordinal Numbers from 11 to 19 in Arabic
In Arabic, ordinal numbers from 11 to 19 have unique rules compared to the rest. These numbers are indeclinable (غير معربة), meaning they do not change their form regardless of their position in the sentence or the case of the noun they modify. Additionally, the second part of these numbers always ends with a fatḥa (the short vowel ‘a’).
Here are the ordinal numbers from 11th to 19th:
| Number | Masculine Ordinal | Feminine Ordinal |
|---|---|---|
| 11th | الحَادِيَ عَشَر (al-ḥādī ʿashar) | الحَادِيَةَ عَشْرَة (al-ḥādīyah ʿashrah) |
| 12th | الثَّانِيَ عَشَر (ath-thānī ʿashar) | الثَّانِيَةَ عَشْرَة (ath-thānīyah ʿashrah) |
| 13th | الثَّالِثَ عَشَر (ath-thālith ʿashar) | الثَّالِثَةَ عَشْرَة (ath-thālithah ʿashrah) |
| 14th | الرَّابِعَ عَشَر (ar-rābiʿ ʿashar) | الرَّابِعَةَ عَشْرَة (ar-rābiʿah ʿashrah) |
| 15th | الخَامِسَ عَشَر (al-khāmis ʿashar) | الخَامِسَةَ عَشْرَة (al-khāmisah ʿashrah) |
| 16th | السَّادِسَ عَشَر (as-sādis ʿashar) | السَّادِسَةَ عَشْرَة (as-sādisah ʿashrah) |
| 17th | السَّابِعَ عَشَر (as-sābiʿ ʿashar) | السَّابِعَةَ عَشْرَة (as-sābiʿah ʿashrah) |
| 18th | الثَّامِنَ عَشَر (ath-thāmin ʿashar) | الثَّامِنَةَ عَشْرَة (ath-thāminah ʿashrah) |
| 19th | التَّاسِعَ عَشَر (at-tāsiʿ ʿashar) | التَّاسِعَةَ عَشْرَة (at-tāsiʿah ʿashrah) |
Key Points to Remember:
- Indeclinable Numbers: These numbers remain in the same form regardless of their case or position in the sentence (nominative, accusative, or genitive).
- Fatḥa on the Second Part: The second part of these numbers (عَشَر for masculine, عَشْرَة for feminine) always ends with a fatḥa. For example, الحادِيَ عَشَر (al-ḥādī ʿashar) for masculine and الحادِيَةَ عَشْرَة (al-ḥādīyah ʿashrah) for feminine.
- Definite Article: To make these numbers definite, only the first word (e.g., الحادِي, الثانِي, etc.) takes the definite article (الـ). The second part remains without the definite article.Example:
- The 12th day: اليوم الثَّانِيَ عَشَر (al-yawm ath-thānī ʿashar)
- The 12th hour: الساعة الثَّانِيَةَ عَشْرَة (as-sāʿah ath-thānīyah ʿashrah)
Pronunciation Tips:
- Linking the Words: When pronouncing these numbers, make sure to link the two parts smoothly, as they are treated as a single unit. For instance, in الحادِيَ عَشَر, the ʿayn (ع) in عَشَر should flow smoothly from the ending of الحادِيَ.
READ ALSO: Numbers in Arabic 1-1000: Complete Guide for Beginners
Ordinal Numbers for Tens (20 to 90) in Arabic
In Arabic, ordinal numbers for the tens (20, 30, 40, etc.) are identical to the corresponding cardinal numbers. The only difference is that, when they are used as ordinals, they are made definite by adding the definite article (الـ).
Here are the ordinal numbers from 20 to 90:
| Number | Masculine/Feminine Ordinal (Same as Cardinal) |
|---|---|
| 20th | العِشْرُونَ (al-ʿishrūn) |
| 30th | الثَّلَاثُونَ (ath-thalāthūn) |
| 40th | الأَرْبَعُونَ (al-arbaʿūn) |
| 50th | الخَمْسُونَ (al-khamsūn) |
| 60th | السِّتُّونَ (as-sittūn) |
| 70th | السَّبْعُونَ (as-sabʿūn) |
| 80th | الثَّمَانُونَ (ath-thamānūn) |
| 90th | التِّسْعُونَ (at-tisʿūn) |
Key Points to Remember:
- Identical to Cardinals: Ordinals for tens (20 to 90) look exactly the same as cardinal numbers (20, 30, 40, etc.), but they take the definite article (الـ) in order to become ordinals.
- Case Agreement with the Noun: Unlike other ordinal numbers, tens do not change based on the gender of the noun they describe. However, they must agree with the noun’s case:
- Nominative (مرفوع) case: If the noun is the subject of the sentence, the tens ordinal will be in the nominative case.
- Accusative (منصوب) case: If the noun is the object of the sentence, the ordinal will be accusative.
- Genitive (مجرور) case: If the noun is governed by a preposition, the ordinal will be in the genitive case.
Examples:
- Nominative Case (مرفوع):
- The 40th year: السنة الأربعون (as-sanah al-arbaʿūn).
- Here, السنة (as-sanah, “the year”) is the subject of the sentence, so the ordinal number agrees in the nominative case.
- The 40th year: السنة الأربعون (as-sanah al-arbaʿūn).
- Accusative Case (منصوب):
- I visited the 20th city: زرتُ المدينةَ العِشْرِينَ (zurtu al-madīnah al-ʿishrīn).
- In this sentence, المدينةَ (al-madīnah, “the city”) is the object, so the ordinal number takes the accusative case (العِشْرِينَ).
- I visited the 20th city: زرتُ المدينةَ العِشْرِينَ (zurtu al-madīnah al-ʿishrīn).
- Genitive Case (مجرور):
- In the 60th chapter: في الفصلِ السِّتِّينَ (fī al-faṣl as-sittīn).
- Here, الفصلِ (al-faṣl, “the chapter”) is governed by the preposition “في” (fī, “in”), so the ordinal number is in the genitive case (السِّتِّينَ).
- In the 60th chapter: في الفصلِ السِّتِّينَ (fī al-faṣl as-sittīn).
Actionable Practice Tips:
- Practice Case Agreement: Write sentences using tens ordinals with different nouns in the nominative, accusative, and genitive cases. Pay attention to how the case of the noun affects the form of the ordinal number.
- Example: Write three different sentences using “the 30th year” as a subject, an object, and in a prepositional phrase.
- Use in Context: Create sentences where you describe the order of events or items. For example:
- “The 70th anniversary” = الذكرى السبعون (adh-dhikrā as-sabʿūn).
- “I won the 50th prize” = فُزْتُ بالجائزةِ الخمسينَ (fuztu bil-jāʾizah al-khamsīn).
- Create Flashcards: Use flashcards with ordinal numbers on one side and a sample sentence on the other. This will help reinforce the concept of agreement with noun case.
By following these steps and practicing regularly, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how to use tens ordinal numbers in Arabic accurately.
Important Points to Remember
- Gender Matters: Always match the ordinal number to the gender of the noun (masculine or feminine).
- Definite and Indefinite: Ordinal numbers can also change based on whether the noun is specific or general. For example, the first book is definite, but a first book would be indefinite.
Ordinal numbers are important in Arabic to show the order of things, and once you get used to them, they become easy to use!
- “The third day” = اليوم الثالث (al-yawm ath-thālith)
- “The fifth car” = السيارة الخامسة (as-sayyārah al-khāmisah)
This guide helps you understand how to use Arabic ordinal numbers in everyday conversation or writing. Keep practicing, and soon it will feel natural!
