The Two Words You Must Know
Every numeric phrase in Arabic involves two pieces:
عَدَدٌ
the number — the mumayyiz مُمَيِّز
مَعْدُودٌ
the counted noun — the tamyīz تَمْيِيز
The whole challenge of Arabic numerals comes down to three questions for each number bracket:
- What is the order — number first or noun first?
- What case (i‘rāb) does the noun take?
- Does the number agree with the noun in gender, or oppose it?
١-٢One and Two (1–2)
Order: Noun first, number second (acts like an adjective).
Agreement: The number agrees with the noun in everything — gender, case, definiteness.
وَلَدٌ وَاحِدٌ
one boy
بِنْتٌ وَاحِدَةٌ
one girl
وَلَدَانِ اثْنَانِ
two boys (emphatic)
بِنْتَانِ اثْنَتَانِ
two girls (emphatic)
كِتَابٌ وَاحِدٌ
one book
سَيَّارَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ
one car
رَجُلَانِ اثْنَانِ
two men (emphatic)
شَجَرَتَانِ اثْنَتَانِ
two trees (emphatic)
مُعَلِّمَتَانِ اثْنَتَانِ
two female teachers (emphatic)
طَالِبَانِ اثْنَانِ
two students (emphatic)
Tip: for "one boy" or "two girls" Arabs usually just say وَلَدٌ / بِنْتَانِ. The number is added only for emphasis.
٣-١٠Three through Ten (3–10)
Order: Number first, noun second.
Case of noun: Jamʿ majrūr — plural & genitive (مُضَافٌ إِلَيْه).
Gender: Number and noun are of opposite gender (the famous "polarity rule").
ثَلَاثَةُ أَقْلَامٍ
three pens (قلم masc → number fem)
خَمْسُ سَيَّارَاتٍ
five cars (سيّارة fem → number masc)
سَبْعُ لَيَالٍ
seven nights (ليلة fem → masc)
ثَمَانِيَةُ أَيَّامٍ
eight days (يوم masc → fem)
أَرْبَعَةُ طُلَّابٍ
four students (طالب masc → number fem)
سِتُّ بَنَاتٍ
six girls (بنت fem → number masc)
سَبْعَةُ كُتُبٍ
seven books (كتاب masc → number fem)
تِسْعُ شَجَرَاتٍ
nine trees (شجرة fem → number masc)
عَشَرَةُ مَسَاجِدَ
ten mosques (مسجد masc → number fem)
ثَلَاثُ طَائِرَاتٍ
three airplanes (طائرة fem → number masc)
Important: Gender is judged from the singular of the noun, not the plural form. لَيَالٍ looks masculine, but its singular لَيْلَةٌ is feminine, so the number is masculine.
The 3–10 number forms
| Numeral | With Masculine Noun | With Feminine Noun |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | ثَلَاثَةٌ | ثَلَاثٌ |
| 4 | أَرْبَعَةٌ | أَرْبَعٌ |
| 5 | خَمْسَةٌ | خَمْسٌ |
| 6 | سِتَّةٌ | سِتٌّ |
| 7 | سَبْعَةٌ | سَبْعٌ |
| 8 | ثَمَانِيَةٌ | ثَمَانٍ |
| 9 | تِسْعَةٌ | تِسْعٌ |
| 10 | عَشَرَةٌ | عَشْرٌ |
١١-١٢Eleven and Twelve (11–12)
Case of noun: Singular and manṣūb (accusative, tamyīz) — from 11 to 99.
Gender: Both parts of the number agree with the noun (no polarity here).
أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا
eleven stars
إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ بِنْتًا
eleven girls
اثْنَا عَشَرَ رَجُلًا
twelve men
اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ بِنْتًا
twelve girls
أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كِتَابًا
eleven books
إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ سَيَّارَةً
eleven cars
اثْنَا عَشَرَ طَالِبًا
twelve students
اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ مُعَلِّمَةً
twelve female teachers
أَحَدَ عَشَرَ مَسْجِدًا
eleven mosques
إِحْدَى عَشْرَةَ شَجَرَةً
eleven trees
اثْنَا عَشَرَ قَلَمًا
twelve pens
اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ طَائِرَةً
twelve airplanes
The شـ rule (11–19): the ش of عَشَرَ / عَشْرَةَ takes a fatḥah with masculine and a sukoon with feminine.
١٣-١٩Thirteen through Nineteen (13–19)
Case of noun: Singular, manṣūb.
Gender of the units digit: opposite the noun (polarity rule returns).
Gender of the "ten" (عشر / عشرة): agrees with the noun.
أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ رَجُلًا
fourteen men
تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ بِنْتًا
nineteen girls
ثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ طَالِبًا
thirteen students
خَمْسَةَ عَشَرَ كِتَابًا
fifteen books
سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ مَسْجِدًا
seventeen mosques
ثَمَانِيَةَ عَشَرَ قَلَمًا
eighteen pens
ثَلَاثَ عَشْرَةَ سَيَّارَةً
thirteen cars
خَمْسَ عَشْرَةَ مُعَلِّمَةً
fifteen female teachers
سَبْعَ عَشْرَةَ شَجَرَةً
seventeen trees
تِسْعَ عَشْرَةَ طَائِرَةً
nineteen airplanes
٢٠-٩٠Twenty through Ninety (20, 30, … 90)
Case of noun: Singular, manṣūb.
Gender: The "tens" (عِشْرُونَ … تِسْعُونَ) do not change — same form for masc and fem.
عِشْرُونَ رَجُلًا
twenty men
ثَلَاثُونَ بِنْتًا
thirty girls
أَرْبَعُونَ طَالِبًا
forty students
خَمْسُونَ كِتَابًا
fifty books
سِتُّونَ مَسْجِدًا
sixty mosques
سَبْعُونَ مُعَلِّمَةً
seventy female teachers
ثَمَانُونَ شَجَرَةً
eighty trees
تِسْعُونَ سَيَّارَةً
ninety cars
عِشْرُونَ قَلَمًا
twenty pens
ثَلَاثُونَ طَائِرَةً
thirty airplanes
٢١-٩٩Twenty-One … Ninety-Nine
21 & 22 (and 31–32, 41–42…)
Units digit (1 or 2) agrees with the noun.
وَاحِدٌ وَعِشْرُونَ رَجُلًا
twenty-one men
إِحْدَى وَعِشْرُونَ بِنْتًا
twenty-one girls
23–29 (and 33–39, 43–49 …)
Units digit (3–9) is opposite the noun in gender. The "tens" stay constant.
أَرْبَعَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ رَجُلًا
twenty-four men
سِتٌّ وَعِشْرُونَ بِنْتًا
twenty-six girls
اثْنَانِ وَعِشْرُونَ طَالِبًا
twenty-two students
اثْنَتَانِ وَعِشْرُونَ مُعَلِّمَةً
twenty-two female teachers
وَاحِدٌ وَثَلَاثُونَ كِتَابًا
thirty-one books
إِحْدَى وَأَرْبَعُونَ سَيَّارَةً
forty-one cars
ثَلَاثَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ مَسْجِدًا
twenty-three mosques
خَمْسٌ وَثَلَاثُونَ شَجَرَةً
thirty-five trees
سَبْعَةٌ وَأَرْبَعُونَ قَلَمًا
forty-seven pens
تِسْعٌ وَخَمْسُونَ طَائِرَةً
fifty-nine airplanes
أَرْبَعَةٌ وَسِتُّونَ رَجُلًا
sixty-four men
ثَمَانٍ وَسَبْعُونَ بِنْتًا
seventy-eight girls
١٠٠Hundred (100)
Case of noun: Singular, majrūr (مُضَافٌ إِلَيْه).
مِائَةٌ never changes gender — same with masc and fem.
مِائَةُ رَجُلٍ
a hundred men
مِائَةُ بِنْتٍ
a hundred girls
مِائَتَا بِنْتٍ
two hundred girls (nom.)
مِائَتَيْ بِنْتٍ
two hundred girls (acc./gen.)
Because مِائَةٌ itself is feminine, the number before it (3–9) is masculine:
أَرْبَعُمِائَةِ رَجُلٍ
four hundred men
أَرْبَعُمِائَةِ بِنْتٍ
four hundred women
مِائَةُ كِتَابٍ
one hundred books
مِائَةُ شَجَرَةٍ
one hundred trees
ثَلَاثُمِائَةِ طَالِبٍ
three hundred students
خَمْسُمِائَةِ سَيَّارَةٍ
five hundred cars
سَبْعُمِائَةِ مَسْجِدٍ
seven hundred mosques
تِسْعُمِائَةِ مُعَلِّمَةٍ
nine hundred female teachers
مِائَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ قَلَمًا
120 pens
مِائَةٌ وَثَلَاثَةَ عَشَرَ كِتَابًا
113 books
مِائَتَانِ وَخَمْسَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ طَالِبًا
225 students
ثَلَاثُمِائَةِ وَأَرْبَعُونَ رَجُلًا
340 men
When units and tens combine with hundreds, each piece keeps its own rule:
مِائَةٌ وَعَشَرَةُ كُتُبٍ
110 books
مِائَةٌ وَخَمْسٌ وَأَرْبَعُونَ كُرَّاسَةً
145 note-books
١٠٠٠Thousand (1,000)
Case of noun: Singular, majrūr.
أَلْفٌ never changes gender. It is itself masculine, so the number before it (3–9) becomes feminine.
أَلْفُ رَجُلٍ
a thousand men
أَلْفُ بِنْتٍ
a thousand girls
أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافِ رَجُلٍ
four thousand men
أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافِ بِنْتٍ
four thousand women
أَلْفُ كِتَابٍ
one thousand books
أَلْفُ شَجَرَةٍ
one thousand trees
أَلْفَا طَالِبٍ
two thousand students
أَلْفَا مُعَلِّمَةٍ
two thousand female teachers
ثَلَاثَةُ آلَافِ مَسْجِدٍ
three thousand mosques
خَمْسَةُ آلَافِ سَيَّارَةٍ
five thousand cars
سَبْعَةُ آلَافِ قَلَمٍ
seven thousand pens
تِسْعَةُ آلَافِ طَائِرَةٍ
nine thousand airplanes
أَلْفٌ وَمِائَةُ رَجُلٍ
1,100 men
ثَلَاثَةُ آلَافِ وَخَمْسُمِائَةِ كِتَابٍ
3,500 books
أَلْفٌ وَخَمْسَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ طَالِبًا
1,025 students
أَرْبَعَةُ آلَافِ وَثَلَاثُمِائَةِ مُعَلِّمَةٍ
4,300 female teachers
Plural: أَلْفٌ → آلَافٌ.
١٠⁶Million (1,000,000)
Case of noun: Singular, majrūr.
مِلْيُونٌ doesn’t change with gender. It is masculine, so the preceding number (3–9) is feminine.
مِلْيُونُ رَجُلٍ
a million men
مِلْيُونُ بِنْتٍ
a million girls
أَرْبَعَةُ مَلَايِينَ رَجُلٍ
four million men
أَرْبَعَةُ مَلَايِينَ امْرَأَةٍ
four million women
مِلْيُونُ كِتَابٍ
one million books
مِلْيُونُ شَجَرَةٍ
one million trees
مِلْيُونَا طَالِبٍ
two million students
مِلْيُونَا مُعَلِّمَةٍ
two million female teachers
ثَلَاثَةُ مَلَايِينِ مَسْجِدٍ
three million mosques
خَمْسَةُ مَلَايِينِ سَيَّارَةٍ
five million cars
سَبْعَةُ مَلَايِينِ قَلَمٍ
seven million pens
تِسْعَةُ مَلَايِينِ طَائِرَةٍ
nine million airplanes
مِلْيُونٌ وَمِائَةُ أَلْفِ رَجُلٍ
1,100,000 men
ثَلَاثَةُ مَلَايِينِ وَخَمْسُمِائَةِ أَلْفِ كِتَابٍ
3,500,000 books
مِلْيُونٌ وَخَمْسَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ أَلْفَ طَالِبٍ
1,025,000 students
أَرْبَعَةُ مَلَايِينِ وَثَلَاثُمِائَةُ أَلْفِ مُعَلِّمَةٍ
4,300,000 female teachers
Plural: مِلْيُونٌ → مَلَايِينُ.
One Page That Covers Everything
| Range | Order | Case of Noun | Number / Noun Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–2 | Noun → Number | Like adjective | Agree |
| 3–10 | Number → Noun | Plural · genitive | Opposite |
| 11–12 | Number → Noun | Singular · accusative | Agree (both parts) |
| 13–19 | Number → Noun | Singular · accusative | Units: Opposite · "Ten": Agree |
| 20, 30 … 90 | Number → Noun | Singular · accusative | Tens: Invariable |
| 21–22 (etc.) | Number → Noun | Singular · accusative | Units 1/2: Agree |
| 23–29 (etc.) | Number → Noun | Singular · accusative | Units 3–9: Opposite |
| 100 (مائة) | Number → Noun | Singular · genitive | Invariable (fem → preceding number masc) |
| 1,000 (ألف) | Number → Noun | Singular · genitive | Invariable (masc → preceding number fem) |
| 1,000,000 (مليون) | Number → Noun | Singular · genitive | Invariable (masc → preceding number fem) |
Self-Test: Pick the Correct Form
Score yourself. Aim for 10/12 before moving on to the exercises.
Score: 0 / 12
Translate & Verify (Written Drill)
Write each phrase in full Arabic with vowels on paper, then reveal the answer.
1. Write the following in Arabic
i. 2 schools
مَدْرَسَتَانِ (اثْنَتَانِ)
1–2 acts as adjective; noun first; both feminine.
ii. 12 women
اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ امْرَأَةً
11–12: both parts agree; noun singular & manṣūb.
iii. 17 doors
سَبْعَةَ عَشَرَ بَابًا
باب masc → units fem (سَبْعَةَ); "ten" masc (عَشَرَ).
iv. 21 cars
وَاحِدَةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ سَيَّارَةً
سيّارة fem → "one" agrees (وَاحِدَة). Tens invariable.
v. 150 houses
مِائَةٌ وَخَمْسُونَ بَيْتًا
100 + 50; 50 takes singular manṣūb noun.
vi. 444 miles
أَرْبَعُمِائَةٍ وَأَرْبَعَةٌ وَأَرْبَعُونَ مِيلًا
ميل masc; units 4 opposite → fem (أَرْبَعَة).
vii. 11 books
أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كِتَابًا
Both parts agree with masc noun.
viii. 14 chairs
أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ كُرْسِيًّا
كرسي masc → units fem, "ten" masc.
ix. 26 boys
سِتَّةٌ وَعِشْرُونَ وَلَدًا
ولد masc → units (6) fem (سِتَّة).
x. 111 elephants
مِائَةٌ وَأَحَدَ عَشَرَ فِيلًا
100 + 11; both parts of 11 agree with masc فيل.
xi. 195 keys
مِائَةٌ وَخَمْسَةٌ وَتِسْعُونَ مِفْتَاحًا
مفتاح masc → units 5 fem (خَمْسَة).
xii. 3,333 roses
ثَلَاثَةُ آلَافٍ وَثَلَاثُمِائَةٍ وَثَلَاثَةٌ وَثَلَاثُونَ وَرْدَةً
وردة fem. Before آلاف (masc) → fem (ثَلَاثَة)? No—ألف masc, so number fem. Wait: rule says ألف is masculine, preceding number is feminine. Correct: ثَلَاثَةُ آلَافٍ is actually the standard pedagogical form (some texts apply the polarity strictly to → ثَلَاثُ آلَافٍ). For وردة (fem): units 3 opposite → masc (ثَلَاثَة).
2. Translate the following sentences (with i‘rāb)
i. In the orchard there are 99 palm trees.
فِي الْبُسْتَانِ تِسْعٌ وَتِسْعُونَ نَخْلَةً.
نخلة fem → units 9 masc (تِسْع). Noun singular manṣūb (tamyīz).
ii. The area of the house is one thousand cubits.
مِسَاحَةُ الدَّارِ أَلْفُ ذِرَاعٍ.
ألف + singular majrūr noun.
iii. The room has three windows.
لِلْحُجْرَةِ ثَلَاثَةُ شَبَابِيكَ.
شبّاك masc → number fem (ثَلَاثَة). Plural genitive (شَبَابِيكَ — diptote).
iv. The merchant sold fourteen quintals of cotton.
بَاعَ التَّاجِرُ أَرْبَعَةَ عَشَرَ قِنْطَارًا قُطْنًا.
قنطار masc; units fem, "ten" masc; noun singular manṣūb.
v. In the book there are twenty-four pages.
فِي الْكِتَابِ أَرْبَعٌ وَعِشْرُونَ صَفْحَةً.
صفحة fem → units 4 masc (أَرْبَع).
vi. There are twelve months in the year.
فِي السَّنَةِ اثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا.
شهر masc; both parts agree.
vii. Your brother is now thirty-five years old.
عُمْرُ أَخِيكَ الْآنَ خَمْسٌ وَثَلَاثُونَ سَنَةً.
سنة fem → units 5 masc (خَمْس).
viii. The hen laid three eggs.
بَاضَتِ الدَّجَاجَةُ ثَلَاثَ بَيْضَاتٍ.
بيضة fem → number masc (ثَلَاث). Plural genitive.
ix. The library contains forty-two books.
فِي الْمَكْتَبَةِ اثْنَانِ وَأَرْبَعُونَ كِتَابًا.
كتاب masc → unit 2 agrees; noun singular manṣūb (tamyīz).
x. The farmer planted seven trees.
زَرَعَ الْفَلَّاحُ سَبْعَ شَجَرَاتٍ.
شجرة fem → number masc (سَبْع); noun plural majrūr.
xi. In the city there are eleven mosques.
فِي الْمَدِينَةِ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ مَسْجِدًا.
مسجد masc; both parts of 11 agree; noun singular manṣūb.
xii. The teacher corrected twenty-six notebooks.
صَحَّحَ الْمُعَلِّمُ سِتَّةً وَعِشْرِينَ كُرَّاسَةً.
كراسة fem → units take masculine form (سِتَّة); noun singular manṣūb.
xiii. The company employs one hundred workers.
تُوَظِّفُ الشَّرِكَةُ مِائَةَ عَامِلٍ.
After مائة the noun is singular majrūr.
xiv. The village has three thousand houses.
فِي الْقَرْيَةِ ثَلَاثَةُ آلَافِ بَيْتٍ.
آلاف is the plural of ألف; the counted noun is singular majrūr.
xv. The school has ninety-five students.
فِي الْمَدْرَسَةِ خَمْسَةٌ وَتِسْعُونَ طَالِبًا.
طالب masc → unit 5 takes feminine form (خَمْسَة); noun singular manṣūb.