Arabic Numbers: Digits, Counting, Gender Rules, and Usage

Eastern vs. Western Arabic Digits

Arabic uses two main sets of digits. The Eastern Arabic numerals, commonly seen in the Middle East, are ٠ ١ ٢ ٣ ٤ ٥ ٦ ٧ ٨ ٩. These are often called 'Hindi numerals' (أرقام هندية - arqām hindiyyah) in Arabic, acknowledging their origin.

The digits 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, familiar to English speakers, are also used in Arabic-speaking countries. These are prevalent in the Maghreb (North Africa) and universally online. When learning, it is helpful to be aware of both systems.

Despite Arabic text being written from right to left, numbers themselves are always written from left to right. For example, the number 123 is written as ١٢٣ (123) or 123, not in reverse order.

Counting from Zero to Ten

Mastering the numbers from zero to ten is fundamental. These words form the basis for all other numbers. Pay close attention to the pronunciation and the slight variations in form.

The numbers one and two agree in gender with the noun they describe. For example, one book (كتاب واحد - kitāb wāḥid) uses the masculine form of 'one' because 'book' is masculine. Two books (كتابان اثنان - kitābān ithnān) also shows agreement.

From three to ten, a specific gender rule applies, which is crucial for correct usage. This rule is often a point of confusion for learners but becomes straightforward with practice.

• ٠ صفر (ṣifr)
• ١ واحد (wāḥid) / واحدة (wāḥidah)
• ٢ اثنان (ithnān) / اثنتان (ithnatān)
• ٣ ثلاثة (thalāthah) / ثلاث (thalāth)
• ٤ أربعة (arbaʿah) / أربع (arbaʿ)
• ٥ خمسة (khamsah) / خمس (khams)
• ٦ ستة (sittah) / ست (sitt)
• ٧ سبعة (sabʿah) / سبع (sabʿ)
• ٨ ثمانية (thamāniyah) / ثماني (thamānī) / ثمانٍ (thamānin)
• ٩ تسعة (tisʿah) / تسع (tisʿ)

The Gender Rule for Numbers 3-10

For numbers three through ten, the number word takes the opposite gender of the noun it is counting. This is a consistent rule. If the noun is masculine, the number takes its feminine form (ending with a tāʾ marbūṭah, ة). If the noun is feminine, the number takes its masculine form (without the tāʾ marbūṭah).

Consider three books: 'book' (كتاب - kitāb) is masculine. Therefore, we use the feminine form of three: ثلاثة كتب (thalāthat kutub). The number 'three' (ثلاثة - thalāthah) has the tāʾ marbūṭah.

For three cars: 'car' (سيارة - sayyārah) is feminine. We use the masculine form of three: ثلاث سيارات (thalāth sayyārāt). The number 'three' (ثلاث - thalāth) does not have the tāʾ marbūṭah. This opposite gender agreement is key.

Counting in Tens and Beyond

Once you know the numbers 1-10, counting in tens becomes straightforward. The tens are formed by adding the suffix ون (ūn) or ين (īn) to the base number, depending on their grammatical case. For example, 'twenty' is عشرون (ʿishrūn).

Numbers like 'eleven' and 'twelve' have specific forms. For example, 'eleven' is أحد عشر (aḥada ʿashar) for masculine and إحدى عشرة (iḥdā ʿasharah) for feminine. 'Twelve' is اثنا عشر (ithnā ʿashar) for masculine and اثنتا عشرة (ithnatā ʿasharah) for feminine.

For numbers 13-19, the first digit follows the opposite gender rule (like 3-9), and the 'ten' part (عشر - ʿashar or عشرة - ʿasharah) generally agrees in gender with the noun. For example, 'fourteen students' (masculine) would be أربعة عشر طالباً (arbaʿata ʿashara ṭāliban).

Practical Applications: Prices, Phone Numbers, Time

When stating a price, numbers are usually read out directly. For example, 'five dirhams' is خمسة دراهم (khamsat darāhim). The currency unit follows the number. If the price includes fractions, like 'five and a half dirhams', it would be خمسة دراهم ونصف (khamsat darāhim wa niṣf).

Phone numbers are typically read digit by digit. For example, 0501234567 would be صفر خمسة صفر واحد اثنان ثلاثة أربعة خمسة ستة سبعة (ṣifr khamsah ṣifr wāḥid ithnān thalāthah arbaʿah khamsah sittah sabʿah). Sometimes, digits are grouped in pairs or triplets.

Telling time uses numbers with specific vocabulary. 'What time is it?' is كم الساعة؟ (kam as-sāʿah?). 'It is one o'clock' is الساعة الواحدة (as-sāʿah al-wāḥidah). 'It is two o'clock' is الساعة الثانية (as-sāʿah ath-thāniyah). For minutes, 'and' (و - wa) is used for minutes past the hour, and 'except' (إلا - illā) for minutes to the hour. For example, 'five past three' is الساعة الثالثة وخمس دقائق (as-sāʿah ath-thālithah wa khams daqāʾiq).