Counting Three to Ten

Level 2

To count 3 to 10 in Arabic, you use a plural noun in the genitive case (ending in -in) and flip the gender of the number: use a feminine number for masculine nouns, and a masculine number for feminine nouns.

How It Works

Counting from three to ten in Modern Standard Arabic follows a unique logic compared to English:

  • Gender Polarity: You must look at the singular form of the noun to determine its gender. If the singular is masculine, the number must be feminine (ending in ة). If the singular is feminine, the number must be masculine (no ة). Note that the number 10 only follows this reverse agreement rule when it stands alone.
  • The Idafa Structure: The number and the noun form an Idafa (annexation). The number is the first part (muḍāf) and the noun is the second part (muḍāf ilayh).
  • Plural Genitive: The counted noun must be in its plural form (whether broken, sound feminine, or sound masculine) and take the genitive case. The noun is typically indefinite.
  • Case Endings: The noun usually ends in -in (for broken and sound feminine plurals), but sound masculine plurals take the -īna ending.
  • Case of the Number: The number itself changes its ending (u, a, or i) based on its position in the sentence.

For example, to say 'three books':
1. 'Book' (كتاب) is masculine.
2. Therefore, 'three' must be feminine (ثلاثة).
3. 'Books' must be plural genitive (كتبٍ).
Result: ثلاثةُ كتبٍ.

Examples (4)

  1. عندي ثلاثةُ كُتُبٍ.

    I have three books.

    Word by Word: At-me three books.

    Since 'book' (kitāb) is masculine, the number 'three' (thalāthah) takes the feminine form.

  2. رأيتُ خَمْسَ سَيّاراتٍ.

    I saw five cars.

    Word by Word: I-saw five cars.

    Since 'car' (sayyārah) is feminine, the number 'five' (khams) takes the masculine form.

  3. في الأسبوعِ سَبْعَةُ أَيّامٍ.

    In the week there are seven days.

    Word by Word: In the week seven days.

    The singular 'day' (yawm) is masculine, so 'seven' (sab'ah) is feminine.

  4. اشتريتُ أَرْبَعَ مَجَلّاتٍ.

    I bought four magazines.

    Word by Word: I-bought four magazines.

    The singular 'magazine' (majallah) is feminine, so 'four' (arba') is masculine.

Common Mistakes

  • Matching the gender of the number to the noun instead of reversing it.

    ثلاثة سيارات
    ثلاث سيارات

    Learners often think 'three' should be feminine because 'cars' is feminine, but the rule requires the opposite gender.

  • Using a singular noun instead of a plural noun.

    خمسة كتاب
    خمسة كتب

    For numbers 3-10, the counted noun must always be plural.

  • Using the masculine-looking number form for 'days'.

    Different Meaningخمس أيام
    خمسة أيام

    Always check the singular form. 'Ayyām' (days) might look feminine to some, but its singular 'Yawm' is masculine, so the number must be feminine.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Counting Three to TenLevel 2

Learn This First

To learn counting from 3 to 10, you need to know the basic number words, how to form plural nouns, and how to distinguish between masculine and feminine nouns to apply the correct gender-reversal rule.

Words in This Pattern

أربعةخمسةستةسبعةثمانيةتسعةعشرة