Numbers Flip Their Gender

Level 2

In Modern Standard Arabic, numbers 3 through 10 use 'Gender Polarity.' If the noun is masculine, the number looks feminine (ends in ة). If the noun is feminine, the number looks masculine (no ة).

How It Works

This rule, known as mukhalafat al-adad lil-ma'dud, is a unique feature of formal Arabic. While it may seem counterintuitive, it follows a strict logic:

  • Masculine Nouns: Use the number form with the Taa Marbuta (ة). Example: thalathatu kutub (three books). Even though kutub is plural, the singular kitab is masculine.
  • Feminine Nouns: Use the number form without the ة. Example: thalathu sayyarat (three cars). The singular sayyara is feminine.

The Singular Rule: Always check the singular form of the noun. For example, the word 'pounds' (جنيهات) looks feminine because of the -at ending, but since the singular jinih is masculine, you must use a feminine number: khamsatu jinihat.

Syntactic Structure: The number acts as the first part of an Idafa. The counted noun must be plural and genitive (usually ending in -in or -i).

The Number Ten: The number 10 (عشر) has a pronunciation shift. When counting masculine nouns (using 'ashara), the shin has a fatha. When counting feminine nouns (using 'ashr), the shin has a sukun.

Examples (4)

  1. عندي ثلاثةُ كتبٍ.

    I have three books.

    Word by Word: At-me three (fem. form) books (masc. plural).

    The singular 'kitab' is masculine, so the number 'three' takes the feminine ending (ة).

  2. في الغرفةِ خمسُ بناتٍ.

    In the room are five girls.

    Word by Word: In the room five (masc. form) girls (fem. plural).

    The singular 'bint' is feminine, so the number 'five' takes the masculine form (no ة).

  3. اشتريتُ سبعَ مجلاتٍ وثمانيةَ أقلامٍ.

    I bought seven magazines and eight pens.

    Word by Word: I bought seven (masc. form) magazines (fem. plural) and eight (fem. form) pens (masc. plural).

    Magazines (singular 'majalla') are feminine, so 'seven' is masculine. Pens (singular 'qalam') are masculine, so 'eight' is feminine.

  4. سكنتُ هناكَ عشرَ سنواتٍ.

    I lived there for ten years.

    Word by Word: I lived there ten (masc. form) years (fem. plural).

    Since 'sana' (year) is feminine, the number ten uses the masculine form 'ashr' with a sukun on the shin.

Common Mistakes

  • Matching the gender of the number to the plural noun's appearance.

    ثلاث جنيهات
    ثلاثة جنيهات

    Learners often see the feminine plural ending '-at' in 'jinihat' and use a masculine number. However, the singular 'jinih' is masculine, so the number must be feminine.

  • Applying gender polarity to the numbers 1 and 2.

    بنت واحد
    بنت واحدة

    The 'flip' rule only starts at 3. Numbers 1 and 2 always agree with the noun's gender like a normal adjective.

How It Connects

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

Numbers Flip Their GenderLevel 2

Learn This First

To understand why numbers 'flip' their gender, you first need to know the basic numbers 1-10 and how to identify whether a noun is masculine or feminine. You also need to know that for these numbers, the noun being counted must be in its plural form, as the gender of the number is determined by the singular form of that noun.

Words in This Pattern

أربعةخمسةستةسبعةثمانيةتسعةعشرة