Counting in Arabic: Numbers 1 to 10

Arabic Numbers: 1 to 10 (الأَعْدَاد)

Mastering the Basics of Counting

While the Western world uses "Arabic numerals" (1, 2, 3), the Arab world often uses the Indo-Arabic numeral system. Interestingly, while Arabic text is read from right to left, numbers are read from left to right—just like in English!

The Numbers 1–10

English	Numeral	Arabic Word	Transliteration
1	١	وَاحِد	Wāhid
2	٢	اِثْنَان	Ithnān
3	٣	ثَلَاثَة	Thalāthah
4	٤	أَرْبَعَة	Arba’ah
5	٥	خَمْسَة	Khamsah
6	٦	سِتَّة	Sittah
7	٧	سَبْعَة	Sab’ah
8	٨	ثَمَانِيَة	Thamāniyah
9	٩	تِسْعَة	Tis’ah
10	١٠	عَشَرَة	‘Asharah

Quick Tip: Number & Gender

In Arabic, numbers 3 through 10 use Reverse Agreement. This means if you are counting a masculine noun, the number will usually take the feminine form (ending in Ta Marbuta ة). For example:

ثَلَاثَةُ كُتُبٍ

Thalāthatu kutubin (Three books)

Did you know? Zero is called Sifr (صِفْر) in Arabic and is written as a simple dot (٠). This is where the English word "Cipher" comes from!