The number takes the gender in reverse: salaasa kutub
In counting there is a reversal. From three to ten the numeral takes the noun in the plural — and in the opposite gender at that. "Salaasa kutub" — three books: "kura" — a ball — is masculine, "kurat" — balls — feminine, and "salaasa" itself is feminine. The counting seems to argue with the noun. For example: “عندي ثلاثة حسابات في المصرف” — I have three accounts at the bank. A rule from the Arabic course: worked out…
How it works
In counting there is a reversal. From three to ten the numeral takes the noun in the plural — and in the opposite gender at that. "Salaasa kutub" — three books: "kura" — a ball — is masculine, "kurat" — balls — feminine, and "salaasa" itself is feminine. The counting seems to argue with the noun.
One and two behave honestly: "kitaab waahid" — one book, "kitaabaan" — two books, the dual with the sound "-aan" at the end. And from eleven to a hundred all numbers are friends of the singular. "Khamsata ʿashar yuurou" — fifteen euros, and "yuuro" does not change at all.
The order is reversed too: the number stands AFTER the noun — "hisaaab waahid", not "waahid hisaaab". To the eye it looks strange for the first two days, and then our own order begins to look strange.
Table
| counting | arabic | reading | in English |
|---|---|---|---|
| an account, one | حساب واحد | hisaaab waahid | one account |
| books, two | كتابان | kitaabaan | two books |
| accounts, three | ثلاثة حسابات | salaasa hisaaabaat | three accounts |
| euros, five | خمس يورو | khams yuuro | five euros |
| euros, a hundred | مئة يورو | miʾa yuuro | a hundred euros |
| books, three | ثلاثة كتب | salaasa kutub | three books |
| houses, seven | سبع بيوت | sabʿ buyuut | seven houses |
By example
- عندي ثلاثة حسابات في المصرفʿиндий саляса хисаабат фи аль-масрифI have three accounts at the bank
- دفعة مقدمة ألف وخمس مئة يوروдафʿа маккадама альф ва-хамс миʾа йуроThe down payment is one thousand five hundred euros
- يورو واحد فقط في الجيبйуро вахид факат фи аль-джайбOnly one euro in the pocket
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Arabic numbers opposite gender?
In counting there is a reversal. From three to ten the numeral takes the noun in the plural — and in the opposite gender at that. "Salaasa kutub" — three books: "kura" — a ball — is masculine, "kurat" — balls — feminine, and "salaasa" itself is feminine. The counting seems to argue with the noun.
Numbers three to ten in Arabic?
In counting there is a reversal. From three to ten the numeral takes the noun in the plural — and in the opposite gender at that. "Salaasa kutub" — three books: "kura" — a ball — is masculine, "kurat" — balls — feminine, and "salaasa" itself is feminine. The counting seems to argue with the noun.
How to say five euros in Arabic?
In counting there is a reversal. From three to ten the numeral takes the noun in the plural — and in the opposite gender at that. "Salaasa kutub" — three books: "kura" — a ball — is masculine, "kurat" — balls — feminine, and "salaasa" itself is feminine. The counting seems to argue with the noun.
Arabic numbers with the singular?
One and two behave honestly: "kitaab waahid" — one book, "kitaabaan" — two books, the dual with the sound "-aan" at the end. And from eleven to a hundred all numbers are friends of the singular. "Khamsata ʿashar yuurou" — fifteen euros, and "yuuro" does not change at all.
What does it look like in a Arabic example sentence?
“عندي ثلاثة حسابات في المصرف” (ʿиндий саляса хисаабат фи аль-масриф) — I have three accounts at the bank. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.