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Arabic Language
Lessons

All The Arabic You Never Learned The First Time Around

Arabic Numbers

by Arabic
Instructor on August 24,
2012

The following is a review of the number system in Modern Standard Arabic and
how it is used grammatically. The discussion below will cover both cardinal and
ordinal numbers as well as a few other details. Most of what is below can be
found in chapters 15 and 21 of volume one of EMSA but the information
is included here for the sake of completeness.

Generally the grammar related to the numbers in Arabic is considered to be
the most complicated thing about the language. In fact, it is considered so
complicated that many teachers argue that not even Arabs use it correctly, so
Americans should not have to learn it properly. This is true. It is also
false.

When someone is speaking Modern Standard Arabic and starts to use numbers,
there is a tendency for the speaker to slip into colloquial usage and
pronunciation. However, in written Arabic only the standard is used. So if you
want to be able to read the numbers correctly (and write them correctly), you
need to be familiar with the material below. Furthermore, since you may not know
any colloquial Arabic, you will need the rules and pronunciation from the
standard when you wish to use numbers in speech. Therefore you really do need to
know this material.

It is also important to note that the number system, while it does present
its difficulties, is in essence not too difficult. A handful of rules will cover
virtually everything you will need to know in using the numbers. Once you get
used to the rules, you will have little or no difficulty. Getting used to the
rules requires about one hour of practice (once you have already learned to
count), and an occasional review.

The treatment below will alternate between the cardinal numbers (one, two,
three) and the ordinal numbers (first, second, third). For example, I will first
discuss the cardinals from 1 to 10 and then give the ordinal version. Try to
absorb this entire section bit by bit. If you go step by step, you will not have
much trouble.

Cardinal Numbers: 1-10

Here are the numbers from 1 to 10 in Arabic. The
numbers are written out fully next to the symbol for each number.

1

واحِدٌ

١

2

إثْنانِ

٢

3

ثَلاثَةٌ

٣

4

أَرْبَعةٌ

٤

5

خَمْسةٌ

٥

6

سِتّةٌ

٦

7

سَبْعةٌ

٧

8

ثَمانِيةٌ

٨

9

تِسْعةٌ

٩

10

عَشرَةٌ

١٠

First of all, you need to be able to recite these numbers in order without
hesitation. Teach them to yourself now before you go on. You also need to be
able to recognize the symbols immediately, so teach them to yourself right now
too. Then continue.

I said that you must be able to recite the numbers above easily and recognize
their symbols. So go back and do it.

Okay – now we will discuss these numbers further. We will start with the
number 1. The number 1 in Arabic is واحِد and
١ is its symbol. If you want to say “one book” in Arabic you
have two choices. The first is just to say “book,” كتابٌ This means both “a
book” and “one book.” However, واحِد can follow the noun for
emphasis. Thus “one book” can be rendered كتابٌ واحدٌ. Since
واحد is an adjective it will have the same case as the noun it
modifies. If the noun is feminine then واحد is made feminine.
“One letter” رسالةٌ واحدةٌ

To say “two books” you can either put the noun in the dual by itself, or you
also add إثْنان for emphasis. Thus you can say either
كتابانِ or كتابان إثنانِ . “I read two books”
is قرأتُ كتابينِ اثْنَيْنِ .
(The اثْنَيْنِ is optional, of course.)
إثْنان becomes, إثْنَتانِ in the
feminine. Therefore to say “two letters” you get رسالتان
اثْنَتانِ”  I read two-letters” is قرأتُ رسالتينِ
اثْنَتَيْنِ

So remember, numbers 1 and 2 in Arabic follow the noun they modify and agree
with it in case and gender.

Now we come to the fun part, the numbers 3-10. Although the numbers are
adjectives, 3-10 are always placed in an idaafa with the counted noun
following the number. The counted noun will be in the plural.
For example, the plural of مدرس is مدرسون. We
want to say “three teachers,” so we get ثلاثة مدرسين. Since we
have an idaafa, the second term is in the genitive case. Notice that the number
is ثلاثة feminine. Here is the fun part. The number is feminine
whenever the singular of the counted noun is masculine. Since the singular of
مدرسون is مدرس which is a masculine word, any cardinal number
from 3 to 10 used with it must be feminine. The principle is known as “reverse
agreement.” Some students of Arabic have other names for it.

Now, let’s take the word مُدَرِّسة “a female teacher.” We
now want to say “three female teachers.” The singular word is feminine, so we
will use the MASCULINE form of the number. The result is ثلاث
مدرساتٍ

This principle of reverse agreement hold for all nouns (that means all, not
most of, or the majority of, or just about all). It does not matter whether the
noun refers to a human or a non-human thing. Just remember, the number has the
opposite gender of the singular noun.

This principle holds for the numbers 3 through 10. Here are some more
examples of numbers between 1 and 10 used with nouns. Look at the English first
and try to predict the Arabic. Then look at the Arabic answers. By the way, the
numbers 3-10 are made masculine by just dropping the ة. For عشرة the masculine
form not only drops the ة but requires putting a sukuun over the
ش, so you get عَشْرٌ

Four students (masculine)

أربعةُ طلابٍ

Five students (feminine)

ارْبَعُ طالباتٍ

Ten cars

عَشْرُ سياراتٍ

Six fanatics

ستّةُ متطرّفين

Two pens

قلمانِ اثْنانِ

Eight silly reporters (masculine)

ثمانيةُ مراسلين
سُخفاء

Eight superb reports (feminine)

ثماني مراسلاتٍ
ممتازاتِ

Pay attention to the word for “eight” in Arabic. It comes from a defective
root. When the number is feminine it is regular. However when it is masculine
(as is the case for the last example above), it will work like any defective
word used in an idaafa or made definite. That is, it will not have any case
marker for the nominative or the genitive, but it will show a fatha for the
accusative. Thus “I read eight boring articles about numbers” is قرأتٌ
ثمانيَ مقالاتٍ مملةٍ عن الارقام .

The numbers 3 through 10 are often used in noun adjective phrases “the three
books,” “these four tanks,” etc. The principle of reverse agreement will still
apply, but now the number will follow the noun just as any adjective does. “The
three books” is الكتبُ الثلاثةُ . “These four tanks” is
هذا الدبابات الاربعُ

A rarer usage of numbers with nouns in order to express “the three books”
etc. is as follows: الثلاثةُ كتبٍ . Here the number is made
definite and shows reverse agreement. However, the counted noun is without the
definite article, is genitive, and has nunation. This usage, minus the case
endings, is what is commonly done in colloquial Arabic, but is rare in MSA.

You will find that most of the time you use numbers you will be using the
numbers 1 through 10. So if you know the material above you know much of what
you will be using on a regular basis.

The next section will treat the ordinal numbers 1-10. If you wish to stay
with the cardinals, skip the following section and go on to the section after it
which treats the cardinal numbers 11-19.

Ordinal Numbers: 1 – 10

The ordinal numbers are adjectives which follow the noun they modify. Since
they are usually definite, the list below gives them with the definite article
attached. Memorize the list below and then read the comments which follow.

First

ألأَوَّلُ (أٌولى
feminine)

Second

الثّاني

Third

الثّالِثُ

Fourth

الرّابِعُ

Fifth

الْخامِسُ

Sixth

السّادِسُ

Seventh

السابعُ

Eighth

الثّامِنُ

Ninth

التّاسِعُ

Tenth

الْعاشِرُ

The ordinal for “first” is not related to واحد but comes
from another root. Its feminine is the same pattern as that for the feminine
elative;كبْرى from ( أكْبَرُ) is an example.

The ordinal for “second” is a defective adjective. Without the definite
article it is ثانٍ. This word has the same characteristics as
the defective words you studied in Chapter Two of Part II, words like
قاضٍ. When made definite ثانٍ becomes
الثاني just like قاضٍ becomes
القاضي In the nominative and genitive this word will not show
case, but it will have a fatha in the accusative. This is just as is the case
for words like القاضي Note also that قاضٍ is
an active participle. ثانٍ is also an active participle.

When made feminine ثانٍ becomes ثانية and
always will have regular case endings.

To say “the first book” you will get الكتابُ الأَوَّلُ. The,
ordinal follows the noun and agrees with it in definiteness, gender, and case.
“The first letter” is الرسالةُ الأولى . As you know, words that
end in alif maqsuura do not show case, so there is never a case marker
أولى .

“The second book” is الكتابُ الثاني (no case on the cardinal
because it is defective). “The second letter” is الرسالة
الثانية .

The ordinals for 3 through 10 are all active participle patterns. Note that
the ordinal for “sixth” is السادِس . This word is the only one
of the ordinals from 3-10 which significantly deviates from the cardinal
number.

Note also that the ordinal for “eight” is not defective, unlike the cardinal.
Therefore the feminine form also will not have the defective ي.
The feminine form is الثامنة.

Normally, all of the ordinals follow the noun they modify and agree with it
in definiteness, case, and gender. Below are a few examples. Cover up the Arabic
and read the English and try to generate the Arabic.

The fourth
building

البناءُ الرابِعُ

the ninth
car

السيارةُ التاسعةُ

the tenth
day

اليوم العاشِرُ

the sixth
page

الصفحةُ
السادِسةُ

Sometimes these ordinals are placed before the noun in an idaafa construction
with the same meaning. Thus “the first book” is أَوَّلُ كتابٍ
and “the third time” is ثالث مرةٍ Note that the noun has no
definite article but the translation is definite. This is just like the
situation using the elative followed by the noun as in أطوَلُ
نهر “the longest river.”

These ordinals take sound plurals in noun-adjective phrases. Thus “the first
students” is الطلابُ الأولون

The next section will treat the cardinal numbers from 11 to 19. If you wish
to continue with just the ordinals, skip the next section and go to the section
which follows it. That section will deal with the ordinals from 11 to 19.

Cardinal Numbers: 11 – 19

Below are the cardinal numbers from 11 to 19 along with the Arabic symbols.
Memorize them and then read the comments which follow.

Cardinal Number

Masculine

Feminine

Symbol

11

أحَدَ عَشَرَ

إِحْدى عَشْرةَ

١١

12 Nominative

إثْنا عَشَرَ

إثْنَتا عَشْرةَ

١٢

12 Acc./Gen.

إثْنَىْ عَشَرَ

إِثْنَتَيْ عَشْرةَ

١٢

13

ثلاثةَ عَشَرَ

ثلاثَ عَشْرةَ

١٣

14

أَرْبَعةَ عَشَرَ

أرْبعَ عَشْرةَ

١٤

15

خَمْسةَ عَشَرَ

خِمْسَ عَشْرةَ

١٥

16

سِتّةَ عَشَرَ

سِتَّ عَشْرةَ

١٦

17

سَبْعةَ عَشَرَ

سِبْعَ عَشْرةَ

١٧

18

ثَمانيةَ عَشَرَ

ثمانيَ عَشْرةَ

١٨

19

تِسْعةَ عَشَرَ

تِسْعَ عَشْرةَ

١٩

First look at the symbols for the numbers. Although Arabic goes from right to
left, the numbers are arranged in the same order as in English, the tens column
is to the left of the single digits column.

Now for even more fun. We will start with the numbers 11 and 12 since they
present the most exciting challenge.

When the number 11 modifies a masculine word both the unit number
أحد and the tens number , عَشرَ are masculine.
However, they are both IN THE ACCUSATIVE WITHOUT NUNATION just
as they are presented in the list above. The counted noun will follow the number
and will be SINGULAR AND IN THE ACCUSATIVE CASE WITH NUNATION.
For example, “eleven books” is أحدَ عَشَرَ كتاباً .Remember
that the noun is always singular, accusative and has nunation.

If the counted noun is feminine then both parts of the number 11 are
converted to the feminine. The feminine of أحد is
إحدى Since إحدى ends in an alif maqsuura it
will not show case. However, the feminine of , عَشرَ will show
the accusative case without having nunation. The feminine of
عَشرَ is عَشرَة Note that a sukuun is placed
over the ش in the feminine. “Eleven letters” is إحدى
عَشرَة رسالة . Since رسالة is feminine, both words
used in the number are also feminine.

Again, both elements of the number will be in the accusative (except for
إحدى which cannot show case) and will not have nunation. Both
elements of the number will agree with the counted noun in gender. The counted
noun will always be singular, accusative, and will have nunation.

If you think 11 was fun, now we come to 12. Look at the examples below and
then see my comments.

twelve books

إثْنا عَشرَ كتاباً

I read twelve
books

إثْنىْ عَشرَ
كتاباً

twelve letters

إثْنَتا عشرةَ
رسالةً

I read twelve
letters

قرأتُ إثْنىْ عَشرةَ
رسالةَ

Essentially, 12 works just like 11 but with a unique twist. First, the
similarities. The counted noun is always singular and accusative with nunation.
The two elements of the number twelve both agree with the noun in gender. The
second term of the number, عشر or عشرة , is
always accusative without nunation.

The difference between 11 and 12 lies in the first element of the number. The
first element in 12 is إثْنا for masculine nominative, but is
إِثْنَىْ for the accusative and genitive. Thus, the first
element does decline for case. The same is true when the first element is
feminine. The feminine is إثْنَتا for the nominative and
إِثْنَتَيْ for the accusative.

Now we come to the numbers 13-19 and things become much simpler. For 13-19
the rules are as follows:

1. The second element (عشر or
عشرة) agrees with the counted noun in gender.

2. The first element ( ثلاثة,
اربعة etc.) shows the reverse agreement that we saw for the numbers
3-10.

3. Both elements of the number are always
accusative without nunation.

4. The counted noun is singular, accusative, and
has nunation.

5. Baseball has too many divisions and should get
rid of the wild card.

Below are some examples. Cover up the Arabic and try to produce it by looking
at the English. Then look at the Arabic to check yourself. When you do so,
review the four rules above one at a time and see how they apply to each example
below.

Fifteen professors
(masculine)

خَمْسةَ عَشرَ أستاذاً

sixteen professors (feminine)

سِتَّ عَشْرَةَ استاذةً

nineteen morons (masculine)

تِسْعةَ عَشرَ بليداً

eighteen windows

ثمانيةَ عَشرَ شباكاً

seventeen airplanes

سَبْعَ عَشرةَ طائرةً

fourteen soldiers (masculine)

اربعةَ عَشرَ
جندياً

If you got all of these right, you have mastered most of the grammar
associated with Arabic numbers. As always, there is more. Keep smiling.

How would you say “fourteen great students?” “Fourteen students (masc.)” is
أربعةَ عشرَ طالبا . The word “great” مُمتاز will be used to modify طالبا. Thus
we get اربعة عشرَ طالبا ممتازا. The adjective remains singular and agrees with
the noun in case.

How would you say “Fourteen great students went to the library?” If the verb
comes first it will be singular, as usual. However, if the fourteen students
come before the verb then the verb will be plural. Thus اربعةَ عشرَ طالبا ممتازا
ذهبوا الى المكتبة

I love this.

“The fourteen students” is الطلابُ الاربعةَ عَشرَ Now the noun is plural. The
unit number shows reverse agreement, is accusative and has the definite article.
The tens number shows true agreement, is accusative, and does not have the
definite article.

Now we come to the ordinal numbers from 11-19. If you wish to skip them, go
to the section which follows.

Ordinal Numbers: 11-19

Below is a list of the ordinal numbers from 11-19. Enjoy them and then read
the comments which follow.

Ordinal Number

Masculine

Feminine

eleventh

الحادِيَ عَشَرَ

الحادية عَشْرةَ

twelfth

الثانيَ عَشَرَ

الثانيةَ عَشْرةَ

thirteenth

الثالثَ عَشَرَ

الثالثةَ عَشْرةَ

fourteenth

الرابعَ عَشَرَ

الرابعةَ عَشْرةَ

fifteenth

الخامِسَ عَشَرَ

الخامسةَ عَشْرةَ

sixteenth

السادِسَ عَشَرَ

السادسةَ عَشْرةَ

seventeenth

السابعَ عَشَرَ

السابعةَ عَشْرةَ

eighteenth

الثامنَ عَشَرَ

الثامنةَ عَشْرةَ

nineteenth

التاسعَ عَشَرَ

التاسعةَ عَشْرةَ

The ordinals from 11 to 19 are always in the accusative case, just as are the
cardinals. The ordinals work as regular adjectives in terms of gender agreement.
Therefore, if the noun is masculine, both parts of the ordinal will be
masculine. If the noun is feminine, both parts will be feminine. Only the first
element will take the definite article. The second element never does. Note also
that the word for “eleventh” is from a different root that the word for “one”
واحد , or the word for “first” أَوَّل .

For “the seventeenth book” you say الكتابُ السابعَ عَشرَ Note that the
ordinal is in the accusative while the noun is in the nominative. “The
seventeenth letter” is الرسالةُ السابعةَ عَشرَةَ

The ordinals from 1-12 are used for telling time. See the section on telling
time in the next chapter.

Now we come to the cardinal numbers from 20-99. If you wish to skip them, go
to the next section to continue with the ordinals.

Cardinal Numbers: 20-99

Below are the numbers in Arabic for the tens. Memorize them now.

Cardinal Number

Nominative

Acc./Gen.

20

عِشْرونَ

عِشْرينَ

٢٠

30

ثَلاثونَ

ثَلاثينَ

٣٠

40

أَرْبَعونَ

أَرْبَعينَ

٤٠

50

خَمْسونَ

خَمْسينَ

٥٠

60

ستّونَ

ستّينَ

٦٠

70

سَبْعونَ

سَبْعينَ

٧٠

80

ثَمانونَ

ثَمانينَ

٨٠

90

تِسْعونَ

تِسْعينَ

٩٠

These numbers are easy to memorize as they are essentially the numbers 3
through 10 made plural. These numbers decline for case, just as masculine sound
plurals do. The nouns they modify are singular, accusative,” and have nunation.
These numbers have no feminine versions. Thus “50 male students” is خَمْسونَ
طالبا and 50 female students is خَمْسونَ طالبة

In order to produce numbers such as 21, 22, 23, 98, etc., you use the numbers
1 through 9 along with the tens number. Loot at the examples below.

twenty-one

واحِدٌ وعِشْرونَ

or

أحدٌ

twenty-two

إثْنانِ وعِشرْونَ

thirty-six

سِتّةٌ وثلاثونَ

ninety-eight

ثمانيةٌ
وتِسعونَ

Notice that وَis used to connect the unit number with the tens number. Notice
also that the number for 1 can either be .واحد and its feminine counterpart
واحدة, or أحد and its feminine counterpart إحْدى .

Now the issue is agreement. The unit numbers for one and two agree with the
noun just as they do on their own. For example “twenty one books” is واحدٌ
وعشرون كتابا or أحدٌ وعشرون كتابا . “Twenty one letters” is واحدةُ وعشرونَ
رسالةً or إحْدى وعِشرونَ رسالة . The same agreement takes place whenever two is
combined with one of the tens. The unit element will show regular case endings
except for إحدى which, as you know, does not show case. The tens unit shows the
cases just as a masculine sound plural would.

For the numbers 3-9, when used in combination with the tens, the principal of
reverse agreement applies just as it does when these numbers are used by
themselves. The unit numbers will show regular case endings. Thus “forty-three
books” is ثلاثةٌ واربعون كتابا “Forty-three letters” is ثلاث واربعون .كتابا

The counted noun for all numbers from 11-19 is always singular, indefinite,
and accusative with nunation.

Below are examples using numbers from 1-99 with counted nouns. Look at the
English on the left and translate it into Arabic. Then check your work by
looking at the Arabic on the right.

seventy-two
books

إثْنان وسَبْعونَ كتابا

thirty-eight
morons

ثمانيةٌ وثلاثونَ بليدا

I read
twenty-three letters.

قرأتُ ثلاثا وعشرينَ
رسالةً

I saw six
teachers.

شاهدتُ ستَّ مدرساتٍ

nineteen
offices

تِسْعةَ عَشرَ مكتبا

seventy-two
words

إثْنتانِ وسبعون كلمةً

forty-eight
hours

ثمان وأربعون ساعةً* (see note 1
below)

eleven
cars

إحدى عَشرةَ سيارةً

four
days

أربعةُ أيامٍ

eight
schools

ثماني
مدارسَ

I hope you got all of these correct. If not, make sure you understand why you
made the mistakes you did. There will be more opportunities for you to redeem
yourself below.

These compound numbers can also be made definite, as in “the twenty-three
books” which is الكتبُ الثلاثُ والعشرون. Both elements are made definite. The
first element takes the agreement characteristic of it, regular for 1 and 2,
reverse for 3 through 9.

The next section treats the ordinals from 20-99. You may skip it if you wish
to remain working with the cardinals.

Ordinal Numbers: 20-99

The ordinal numbers for the even tens are the same as the cardinals with the
addition of the definite article. Thus العِشرونَ is “the twentieth” and
التِسعونَ is “the ninetieth.” These ordinals will not decline for gender but
will decline for case.

The compound ordinals used the same ordinals for the singles digits as you
have seen before. Both the singles element and the tens element will have the
definite article. The singles element will agree in gender and case. The tens
element will agree only in case. Note that for “first,” الحادي is used here just
as is the case with “eleventh.” Here are some examples.

the twenty-first
day

اليومُ الحادي والعِشْرونَ

the twenty-first
hour

الساعةُ الحاديةُ والعشرون

the fifty-sixth
page

الصفحةُ السادسةُ والخمسون

the forty-fifth
minute

الدقيقةُ الخامسةُ
والاربعون

I read the
thirty-ninth page

قرأتُ الصفحةَ التاسعةَ
والثلاثين

We will now proceed to the last section on cardinal numbers. The final
section on ordinal numbers will immediately follow it.

Cardinal Numbers: From 100 To As
Close To Infinity As I Am Willing To Get

The word for “one hundred” is مِئةٌ Sometimes it is spelled differently –
مائة. However, both spellings are pronounced “mi’ah.” The word is a noun and is
used in an idaafa with the counted noun following in the singular. Thus “one
hundred men” is مئة رجل. Since مئة is a noun we don’t have to worry about
reverse agreement. It will always be feminine even when followed by a feminine
noun. Thus “one hundred women” is مئة امرأةٍ

“Two hundred” is مئتانِ. The dual ending أنِ is simply added to مئة. This
word is declined for case like any dual noun and will drop the ن when used in an
idaafa. “Two hundred men” is مئتا رجلٍ. In the accusative/genitive it would be
مئتيْ رجلٍ

The rest of the hundreds are themselves idaafas consisting of the numbers 3
through 9 written before مئة. Since مئة is a noun, the numbers will be
masculine. However, مئة will remain singular. “Three hundred” is ثلاث مئة Often,
the numbers 3 through 9 are attached to مئة but you will still have an idaafa.
So “three hundred” can also be written ثلاثمئةٍ Note that ثلاث is still
inflected for case. This latter way of doing the hundreds seems to be more
common. “Three hundred men” is ثلاثمئتِ رجلٍ. Here are all of the hundreds.

one hundred

مِئة or مائة (both pronounced
“mi”ah”)

١٠٠

two hundred

مئتانِ (مئتين in gen./acc.)

٢٠٠

three hundred

ثلاثُمئةٍ or ثلاثُ مئةٍ

٣٠٠

four hundred

أرْبَعُمئةٍ or أَرْبَعُ مئةٍ

٤٠٠

five hundred

خَمْسُمئةٍ or خَمسُ مئةٍ

٥٠٠

six hundred

سِتُّمئةٍ or سِتُّ مئةٍ

٦٠٠

seven hundred

سَبعُمئةٍ or سَبعُ مئةٍ

٧٠٠

eight hundred

ثَمانيمئةٍ or ثَماني مئةٍ

٨٠٠

nine hundred

تِسْعُمئةٍ or تِسْعُ مئةٍ

٩٠٠

Recall that the word for “eight” is defective. Therefore the ي on ثماني will
show no case for nominative and genitive, but will show a fatha in the
accusative.

To say “one hundred one” you use مئة وواحد (or واحدة for feminine). The same
is true for “one hundred two” مئة وإثْنان (or إِثْنتان for feminine). However,
if you mention the counted noun you do not use واحد or اثنان. “One hundred men”
is مئة رجلٍ ورجل “One hundred two men” is مئة رجلٍ ورجلان

103-109 all have مئة preceding the singles number. “One hundred five” is مئة
وخمسة

For all numbers from 103 to 999, the case and number of the counted noun
fol]ow the rules governing the last numeral in the number. Thus “one hundred
three men” is مئة ثلاثة رجال but “one hundred fifty three men” is مئةٌ وثلاثةٌ
وخَمْسون رجلا In the first example, ثلاثة was the last numeral. Since three
through nine are always in an idaafa, show reverse agreement, and are followed
by the plural noun, the word رجل is made plural and is in the genitive, while
the number ثلاثة is feminine.

In the second example, the word “fifty” is the last numeral. Since خَمْسون is
always followed by a singular, indefinite, accusative noun, رجل is written
رجلا

Below are more examples. Look at the English on the left and see if you can
produce the Arabic on the right. Then look at the Arabic to check
yourself.

two hundred five
books

مئتان وخمسةُ كتبٍ

four hundred forty-four
days

اربعمئةٍ واربعةٌ وارْبعون
يوماً

five hundred seventeen
men

خمسُمئةٍ وسبعةَ عشرَ رجلا

(eight hundred twenty-one
students (masc

ثمانيمئةٍ وواحدٌ وعشرونَ
طالباً

(six hundred eight
teachers (fem

ستُمئةٍ وثماني
مدرساتٍ

The word for “thousand” is ألْفٌ . Like مئة it is a noun. Unlike مئة it is
masculine. When it is preceded by the numbers three through ten, in order to say
“three thousand” etc., the number is feminine and the plural of الف , آلاف is
used. Thus to say “three thousand men” you produce ثلاثةُ آلافِ رجلٍ.

You can see that what you have is a three-term idaafa.

When ألْف is preceded by a number greater than ten, it remains singular and
is put into the accusative, just like any noun. Thus “twenty thousand” is عشرون
ألْفاً If ألف is then followed by the counted noun , الف will be in an idaafa
with that noun. “Twenty thousand men” is عشرون ألفَ رجلٍ

When ألْف is singular or dual, it works just like مئة. “One thousand nights”
is الفُ ليلةٍ. “One thousand one nights” is الفُ ليلة وليلة . “One thousand two
nights” is الفُ ليلةٍ وليلتان “Two thousand nights” is الفا ليلةٍ

The word for “million” is مِليون It works exactly as does ألْف . Its plural
is ملايين The word for billion is مليار Do not confuse this word with مليون .
مليار takes a feminine sound plural, but works in all ways just like الف and
مليون . Now, just so that you will not think this has all been too easy – be
aware that “billion” is also rendered by بِلْيون which has بَلايين as its
plural. It too works like الف and مليون.

“Three million men” is ثلاثةُ ملايين رجلٍ and “three billion men” is ثلاثةُ
ملياراتِ رجلٍ or ثلاثةُ بلايين رجلٍ.

Ordinal Numbers From 100 To As Close
To Infinity As I Am Willing To Get

The words ملْيار , ملْيون , ألْف , مئة and بلْيون are also used as ordinals.
“The one hundredth book” is الكتابُ المئةُ . “The one millionth book” is الكتابُ
المليون. These words do not change for the feminine.

“The one thousandth night” is الليلة الألْفُ

If you can do the ordinals from 11-99, you will be able to do the ordinals
from 101 to 1 less than infinity. Since مئة , الف , etc., do not change, all you
need to remember are the rules for 11-99.

If you will remember, “the thirty-seventh lesson” is الدرس السابع والثلاثون .
“The thirty seventh letter” is الرسالة السابعة والثلاثون . To say “the one
hundred thirty-seventh book” you say الكتابُ المئة والسابع والثلاثون • For “the
letter” you will say الرسالة المئة والسابعة والثلاثون.

The only gender agreement you need to worry about is for the ones unit. The
other units agree only in case. If the ordinal you are using contains something
in the teens, then you do have to worry about it a bit more since the word عشرة
will also agree in gender, but it,won’t take the definite article. For example
“the one million seventeenth mistake” is الخطأ المليون والسابعَ عشرَ

Note 1 – Remember that the word for “eight,” ثمانٍ/ثمانية is a defective
word. Therefore, the final ي will only appear if the word is in an idaafa, as in
the last example above, or is used with the definite article or with a pronoun
suffix. (This does not apply to the ordinal “eighth,” الثامن , as I have
indicated in a previous section.)

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How to Tell Time | Arabic Language Lessons

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Arabic Lessons

Tareekh
Tabari – Relative Clauses

Drill
4 – Genitive Case & Idaafa

Drill
3 – Case Endings

Drill
2 – Nominative Case

Drill
1 – The Definite Article

Verb
Charts – Oddball Verbs

Verb
Charts – Quadriliteral Verbs

Verb
Charts – Hollow Verbs

Verb
Charts – Doubled Verbs

Verb
Charts – Defective Verbs

Verb
Charts – Assimilated Verbs

Verb
Charts – Sound Verbs

How
to be a good Arabic student

How
to us the “Hans Wehr” Dictionary

Table
of Contents: Part III

Table
of Contents: Part II – Verbally Speaking

The
Verb يَرى , رأى

Colors

How
to Tell Time

Arabic
Numbers

False
Idaafas

Doubly
Transitive Verbs

Indeclinable
Nouns and Adjectives

Diptotes

Defective
Nouns and Adjectives

The
Little Words No One Ever Learns But Which Are Very Important

The
Conditional

The
Future

Quadriliteral
Verbs

Forms
IX and X

The
Tamyiiz Construction

The
Haal Construction

Forms
VII and VIII

The
Cognate Accusative

Relative
Clauses

Form
V and Form VI Verbs

The
Impersonal Passive

The
Particles أَنَّ , إِنَّ and أَنْ

Form
IV Verbs

The
Comparative and Superlative

The
Passive Voice

Form
III Verbs

Active
and Passive Participles Forms I and II

Verbal
Nouns

The
Subjunctive with لِ

Commands
– Forms I and II

Form
II Verbs

كانَ

لَيْسَ

Doubled
Verbs

Assimilated
Verbs

Defective
Verbs, Form I

Hollow
Verbs, Form I

Sound
Verbs, Form I

The
Preposition لِ Meaning “belonging to”

Prepositions
with Pronoun Suffixes

Direct
Object Pronouns

The
Dual of Nouns, Adjectives, Pronouns, and Verbs

The
Rules of Agreement in Arabic

The
Words كلٌّ and بَعْضٌ

Plural
Demonstrative Pronouns

Broken
Plurals

Masculine
Sound Plurals in Idaafas and with Pronoun Suffixes

Verb-Subject
Agreement

Sound
Plurals

The
Pausal Form Revisited

Verbs
– Past Tense and the Accusative Case

Possessive
Pronouns

The
Nisba Adjective

The
Pronoun of Separation

The
Noun-Adjective Phrase

The
Idaafa

Prepositions

The
Genitive Case

Final
Note

Pausal
Form

Gender

Demonstrative
Pronouns

Helping
Vowels and the Elidable Hamza

Question
Words

The
Nominative Case

Case

The
Definite Article

The
Equational Sentence

Table
of Contents: Part 1 – Back to the Basics

Is
this book for you?

Chapter
One Table of Contents

Authors
Preface

Welcome
to Los Vaqueros!

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