In this lesson, we will study the use of cardinal numbers in Palestinian-Jordanian Levantine Arabic in details along with the relevant rules. Cardinal numbers in Modern Standards Arabic (MSA) have complex grammatical rules that many speakers often overlook. In Palestinian-Jordanian Arabic, as in other regional dialects, these rules are rarely followed, which simplifies the use of cardinal numbers.
Table of Contents
- Arabic Numerals vs. Indic Numerals
- Cardinal Numbers 0 – 10: The Basics
- Numbers 0 – 10: In More Depth
- Level I – Beginner I (A1)
Arabic Numerals vs. Indic Numerals
There are two numeral systems used in Arabic. Arabic numerals, widely used in European languages, are more common in the western part of the Arab world. In the eastern part, Indic numerals—also known as Eastern Arabic numerals—were traditionally used, though Arabic numerals have lately gained wider adoption there as well.
Cardinal Numbers 0 – 10: The Basics
Below are the cardinal numbers 0 – 10 in Arabic:
| 0 | ٠ | صِـفْـر | ṣif(i)r |
| 1 | ١ | وَاحَـــد | wāḥad |
| 2 | ٢ | اِثْــنِــيــن | ithneyn |
| 3 | ٣ | ثَــلَاثِــة | thalātheh |
| 4 | ٤ | أَرْبَـعَـة | ’arba‘ah |
| 5 | ٥ | خَــمْــسِــة | khamseh |
| 6 | ٦ | سِــتِّــة | sitteh |
| 7 | ٧ | سَـبْـعَـة | sab‘ah |
| 8 | ٨ | ثَــمَـانْــيِــة | thamānyeh |
| 9 | ٩ | تِـسْـعَـة | tis‘ah |
| 10 | ١٠ | عَـشَـرَة | ‘asharah |
In Gaza and many West Bank villages, صِــفْــر (ṣifr) ‘zero’ is pronounced as سِــفْــر (sifr) by some Palestinians.
In addition, many people in urban areas and parts of Gaza pronounce the ث (th) in اِثْــنِــيــن (ithneyn) ‘two,’ ثَــلَاثِــة (thalātheh) ‘three,’ and ثَــمَـانْــيِــة (thamānyeh) ‘eight’ as ت (t).
| 2 | ٢ | اِثْــنِــيــن ← اِتْــنِــيــن itneyn ← ithneyn |
| 3 | ٣ | ثَــلَاثِــة ← تَــلَاتِــة talāteh ← thalātheh |
| 8 | ٨ | ثَــمَـانْــيِــة ← تَــمَـانْــيِــة tamānyeh ← thamānyeh |
Numbers 0 – 10: In More Depth
Let us now examine more complex grammatical rules regarding the cardinal numbers 0 – 10.
The cardinal numbers 1 and 2 can function as adjectives to emphasize quantity. Each has two forms based on gender.
| Number | Masculine | Feminine |
| 1 | وَاحَـــد wāḥad | وَحْـــدِة wāḥdeh |
| 2 | اِثْــنِــيــن ithneyn | ثِــنْــتِــيـن thinteyn |
Here are some examples:
| كْـتَـابْ واحَــد ktāb wāḥad one book | سَـيَّـارَة وَحْــدِة sayyārahwāḥdeh one car |
| كْـتَـابِـيــنْ اِثْــنِــيــن ktābeyn ithneyn two books | سَــيَّـارْتِـيــنْ ثِــنْــتِــيــن sayyārteyn thinteyn two cars |
Note that because Arabic has a dual form, the use of the number 2 after the noun is solely for emphasis. We will learn more about dual and plural forms in Level II, Lesson 4.
The cardinal number 1 can also be used as a noun. For example:
| وَاحَــد مِــن اِلــنَّــاس wāḥad min in-nās one of the people | وَحْــدِة مِــن اِلــسَّــيَــارَات waḥdeh min is-sayyārāt one of the cars |
When followed by a noun to indicate a quantity, the numbers 3 – 10 are shortened by dropping the final ة (tā’ marbūṭah) and the preceding vowel.
| 3 | ٣ | ثَــلَاثِــة ← ثَــلَاث/ثَــلَـث thalāth/thalath ← thalātheh |
| 4 | ٤ | أَرْبَــعَــة ← أَرْبَــع ’arba‘ ← ’arba‘ah |
| 5 | ٥ | خَــمْــسِــة ← خَــمْــس khams ← khamseh |
| 6 | ٦ | سِــتِّــة ← سِــتّ sitt ← sitteh |
| 7 | ٧ | سَــبْــعَــة ← سَــبْــع sab‘ ← sab‘ah |
| 8 | ٨ | ثَــمَـانْــيِــة ← ثَــمَـان/ثَــمَـن thamān/thaman ← thamānyeh |
| 9 | ٩ | تِــسْــعَــة ← تِــسْــع tis‘ ← tis‘ah |
| 10 | ١٠ | عَــشَــرَة ← عَــشَــر ‘ashar ← ‘asharah |
Here are some examples:
| ثَــلَاث كُــتُــب thalāth kutub three books | أَرْبَــع نِــسْــوَان ’arba‘ niswān four women |
| سِــتِّ بْــيُــوْت † sitt (i) byūt six houses | عَــشَــر مُـــدُن ‘ashar mudun ten cities |
† Note that a كَـسْـرَة (kasrah) ‘short i’ vowel is added at the end of سِــتّ (sitt) to avoid a consonant cluster, i.e., sitt (i) byūt.
Notice that in the examples above, the noun following the number is in plural form. We will learn more about forming the plural in Level II, Lesson 4.
If the noun that follows the number starts with a vowel, it is common to hear a euphonic ت (t) inserted before the first vowel of the following noun. For example:
| خَــمْــس (ت) اِيَّــام khams (t) iyyām five days | سَــبْــع (ت) اِشْــهُــر sab‘ (t) ish hur seven months |
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Other lessons in Level I: