Counting Past a Hundred
Numbers like 100 (مئة) and 1,000 (ألف) use a singular noun with a genitive ending (-in). This is grammatically an Idafa (possession) structure.
How It Works
In Modern Standard Arabic, counting with large round numbers follows a specific set of rules:
- The Counted Noun: It must be singular and in the genitive case. For example, '100 books' is مئة كتابٍ, not كتبٍ.
- Spelling of 100: The word for 100 can be written as مئة or the traditional مائة. In the latter, the alif is silent.
- Gender and Multiples: The words for 100 (مئة) and 1,000 (ألف) have fixed genders. However, when counting multiples (300–9,000), gender polarity applies to the unit:
- 300–900: The unit (3–9) is masculine because مئة is feminine (e.g., ثلاث مئةٍ).
- 3,000–9,000: The unit (3–9) is feminine because ألف is masculine. Crucially, the word for thousand changes to the broken plural آلاف (e.g., ثلاثة آلافِ رجلٍ).
- The Idafa Rule: Because the number and the noun form an annexation (Idafa), the number cannot have tanwīn. You say مئة رجلٍ, never مئةٌ رجلٍ.
- Duals: For 200 (مئتان) and 2,000 (ألفان), the final nūn is dropped when followed by a noun: مئتا سنةٍ (200 years).
- Compound Numbers: If a number is complex (e.g., 5,125), the noun follows the rule of the last component of the number spoken.
Examples (4)
- حَضَرَ مِئَةُ ضَيْفٍ الحَفْلَ.
A hundred guests attended the party.
Word by Word: Attended hundred guest (gen.) the party.
Note that 'guest' (ضَيْف) is singular and genitive, even though there are a hundred of them.
- قَرَأْتُ أَلْفَ صَفْحَةٍ هَذَا الشَّهْرَ.
I read a thousand pages this month.
Word by Word: I read thousand page (gen.) this month.
The word 'page' is singular genitive. The number 'alf' is in the accusative case because it is the object of the verb.
- فِي المَكْتَبَةِ ثَلَاثُمِئَةِ كِتَابٍ.
In the library are three hundred books.
Word by Word: In the library three-hundred book (gen.).
In multiples like 300, the word 'book' still follows the rule of the final word 'hundred'.
- اشْتَرَيْتُ مِئَتَيْ سَيَّارَةٍ.
I bought two hundred cars.
Word by Word: I bought two-hundred (dual) car (gen.).
The 'nūn' of the dual 'mi'atayn' is dropped because of the Idafa construction.
Common Mistakes
Using a plural noun after 100 or 1,000.
مِئَةُ كُتُبٍمِئَةُ كِتَابٍLearners often use the plural because the quantity is large, but MSA requires the singular genitive for 100 and 1,000.
Keeping the tanwīn on the number.
أَلْفٌ رَجُلٍأَلْفُ رَجُلٍSince this is an Idafa construction, the first word (the number) cannot have tanwīn.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand how to count past a hundred, you need to be familiar with the Idafa construction, as the number and the noun are joined in a similar way. You also need to understand the genitive case (al-majrur) because the counted noun always takes a singular genitive ending (-i/in) after 100 and 1,000.
- The Ending After Prepositions and Joined Nouns
The counted noun after a hundred and a thousand takes the genitive case (al-majrur), which is a fundamental concept for understanding the -i ending used in this pattern.
Level 2 - Numbers One to Ten
Understanding basic number usage and the concept of a 'counted noun' (ma'dud) is essential before progressing to higher numbers like hundreds and thousands.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- Possession by Joining Two Nouns
The relationship between the number 100/1,000 and the noun is grammatically an Idafa.
Level 1 - Counting Three to Ten
Contrast this with numbers 3-10, which require a plural genitive noun.
Level 2 - Numbers Eleven to Nineteen
Contrast this with numbers 11-99, which require a singular accusative noun.
Level 2 - The Indefinite Ending
The number loses its tanwīn when followed by the counted noun.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Counting Past a Hundred in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Arabic lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
