Numbers

1. واحد، تنين، تلاتة

   Wāḥad, tnēn, tlāte

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic counting. In speech "th" is pronounced t, so three is written "tlāte".

   Grammar Note

   "Wāḥad" is masculine, feminine is "waḥde". Before a noun three shortens to "tlāt".

2. أربعة، خمسة، ستة

   Arbaʿa, khamse, sitte

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Used for quantities in markets and transport.

   Grammar Note

   The final "-a/-e" ending (ة) is read -a or -e.

3. سبعة، تمانية، تسعة، عشرة

   Sabʿa, tmēne, tisʿa, ʿashra

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Needed for phone numbers, times and prices. Eight is written "tmēne" in speech.

   Grammar Note

   Numbers 3-10 take a plural noun.

4. عشرين، خمسين، ميّة

   ʿIshrīn, khamsīn, mayye

   Twenty, fifty, one hundred

   Usage

   Used for prices and quantities. "Mayye" (100) carries a shadda; water is "mayy".

   Grammar Note

   The tens end in "-īn".

5. بدي تلات قطع

   Biddi tlāt ʾiṭaʿ

   I would like three pieces

   Usage

   Used in markets or shops to state a quantity.

   Grammar Note

   Numbers 3-10 use a short form before a plural noun. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

6. ألف ونص

   Alf w-nuṣṣ

   One thousand five hundred

   Usage

   "A thousand and a half" is the way to say 1,500; used for bigger amounts.

   Grammar Note

   "Nuṣṣ" means half; "w-" (and) is attached to the next word. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

7. الأول، التاني، التالت

   El-awwal, et-tāni, et-tālet

   First, second, third

   Usage

   Used for order, queues and floors.

   Grammar Note

   Ordinals follow the noun like adjectives and take "el-".

8. عمري سبعة وعشرين سنة

   ʿUmri sabʿa w-ʿishrīn sane

   I'm 27 years old

   Usage

   Answer to "ʾaddēsh ʿumrak?".

   Grammar Note

   Units come first: "seven and twenty". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

9. هالسنة بصير عمري تمانية وعشرين

   Has-sane bṣīr ʿumri tmēne w-ʿishrīn

   I turn 28 this year

   Usage

   Used in the year your age changes.

   Grammar Note

   "Bṣīr" is the present of "become". "Ha-" + "es-sane" gives "hassane". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

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