chapter 3
This source offers an introductory guide to Arabic numbering, beginning with the foundational cardinal numbers from 0 to 100 and explaining their formation, contrasting them with English numbering systems. It then covers ordinal numbers, presenting their masculine and feminine forms. The text provides practical information on telling time in Arabic, including how to ask the time, state the hour using feminine ordinals, specify minutes using fractions or cardinal numbers, and indicate the time of day. It also lists days of the week and introduces both the Gregorian and Islamic calendars, explaining how to refer to dates. Finally, the document includes essential vocabulary and phrases related to money and banking, detailing terms for currency types, opening bank accounts, using ATMs, and exchanging currency.
Arabic Numbers ('arqaam [أرقام]): While Western numerals are sometimes called "Arabic numerals," actual Arabic 'arqaam [أرقام] are written differently. Interestingly, you read and write Arabic numbers from left to right, even though Arabic text is read and written from right to left.
The sources list cardinal numbers from 0 to 10, in increments of 10 from 20 to 100, and briefly mention numbers 11-19. Numbers from 13 through 19 are formed by combining a part of 'ashra [عشرة] (10) – specifically 'ashar [عشر] – with part of the singular number, often by adding the suffix -ta [ـة] to the regular number. For numbers 20, 30, 40, etc., the suffix -iin [ـين] is added, similar to adding "-ty" in English. Ordinal Numbers are used for ordering (first, second, third). In Arabic, ordinal numbers are gender-defined, meaning they have masculine and feminine forms.
Telling Time: To ask "What time is it?", you say kam as-saa’a? [كم الساعة؟]. When answering, you use as-saa’a [الساعة] followed by the ordinal of the hour. Since as-saa’a [الساعة] ('hour') is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine form of the ordinal numbers. You need to use the definite prefix al- [الـ] with the ordinals when telling time because you're referring to a specific hour. Arabic typically does not use a.m./p.m. or the 24-hour clock. Instead, you specify the time of day by saying what part of the day it is. This is done using the structure: as-saa’a [الساعة] + ordinal number + fii [في] ('in') + part of the day. Examples of parts of the day include aS-SabaaH [الصباح] (morning), ba’da aDH-DHuhr [بعد الظهر] (afternoon), al-‘asr [العصر] (late afternoon), al-masaa’ [المساء] (evening), and al-layl [الليل] (night).
You can specify minutes in two ways: using fractions of the hour (like half or quarter) or spelling out the minutes. Using fractions involves the structure: as-saa’a [الساعة] + ordinal number + wa [و] ('and') + fraction. To say "It's quarter of" or "It's twenty of," you use the preposition ‘ilaa [إلى], which means "of" or "to" and acts like a subtraction. When using ‘ilaa [إلى], you must add one hour to the hour you are referring to (e.g., "quarter of six" for 5:45). To include the time of day with fractions, you add fii [في] and the time of day at the end. Spelling out minutes uses the format: as-saa’a [الساعة] + ordinal/hours + wa [و] + cardinal/minutes + daqiiqa [دقيقة] ('minute').
Referring to Days and Months: The days of the ‘usbuu’ [أسبوع] ('week') are derived from Arabic numbers. Examples include al-‘aHad [الأحد] (Sunday, derived from one), al-‘ithnayn [الإثنين] (Monday, derived from two), and ath-thulathaa’ [الثلاثاء] (Tuesday, derived from three). al-jumu’a [الجمعة] (Friday) is named after the word for "to gather," as it's the day Muslims gather for prayer. as-sabt [السبت] (Saturday) is a day of rest, similar to the Jewish Sabbath.
Arabs use different calendars, including the Gregorian calendar (similar to the Western calendar) and the Islamic calendar. The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, used for religious holidays like Ramadan, and its months have different names from the Gregorian months. Because it's lunar, the months don't align perfectly with the Gregorian calendar. To specify a date (like December fifth), you use an ordinal number. Since month names are masculine, you use the masculine ordinal form. You also include the definite prefix al- [الـ] because the ordinal functions as a possessive adjective.
Money ('al-maal [المال]): The chapter covers essential terms related to money and banking. Key terms include fuluus [فلوس] (cash), nuquud [نقود] (money/coins), ‘awraaq [أوراق] (paper currency), biTaaqa al-‘i’timaad [بطاقة الائتمان] (credit card), biTaaqa al-‘istilaaf [بطاقة الاستلاف] (debit card), and maSraf [مصرف] (bank). Common bank accounts are Hisaab maSrafii ‘aadii [حساب مصرفي عادي] (checking account) and Hisaab maSrafii li at-tawfiir [حساب مصرفي للتوفير] (savings account). You speak to an ‘amiin al-maSraf [أمين المصرف] (bank teller) to open an account. Basic transactions are wadii’a [وديعة] (deposit) and ‘insiHaab [انسحاب] (withdrawal). Using an ATM involves commands like ‘udkhul al-biTaaqa [أدخل البطاقة] (Insert the card) and ‘udkhul ar-raqm as-siriiy [أدخل الرقم السري] (Enter the PIN). ATMs may charge a ‘ujra [أجرة] (fee). Exchanging currency ('umla [عملة]) can be done at a maSraf [مصرف] or a maktab as-sarf [مكتب الصرف] (exchange desk). You might ask about the mu’addal as-sarf al-yawm [معدل الصرف اليوم] (today's exchange rate) or if there is a ‘ujra [أجرة] (fee) for the exchange.
Important Words and Phrases
Here is a selection of important Arabic words and phrases from the sources, with their pronunciations and translations:
Numbers ('arqaam [أرقام]):
sifr [صفر] (seh-fer) 0
waaHid [واحد] (wah-eed) 1
‘ithnayn [اثنان] (eeth-nah-yen) 2
thalaatha [ثلاثة] (thah-lah-thah) 3
‘arba’a [أربعة] (ah-reh-bah-ah) 4
khamsa [خمسة] (khah-meh-sah) 5
sitta [ستة] (see-tah) 6
sab’a [سبعة] (sah-beh-ah) 7
thamaaniya [ثمانية] (thah-mah-nee-yah) 8
tis’a [تسعة] (tee-seh-ah) 9
‘ashra [عشرة] (ah-she-rah) 10
‘ishriin [عشرين] (ee-sheh-reen) 20
thalaathiin [ثلاثين] (thah-lah-theen) 30
‘arba’iin [أربعين] (ah-reh-bah-een) 40
khamsiin [خمسين] (khah-meh-seen) 50
Mi’a [مئة] (mee-ah) 100
Ordinal Numbers (Examples):
‘awwal [أول] (ah-wal) / ‘uulaa [أولى] (oo-laa) first (M/F)
thaanii [ثاني] (thah-nee) / thaaniya [ثانية] (thah-nee-yah) second (M/F)
thaalith [ثالث] (thah-leeth) / thaalitha [ثالثة] (thah-lee-thah) third (M/F)
Time:
kam as-saa’a? [كم الساعة؟] (kam ah-sah-ah) What time is it?
as-saa’a [الساعة] (ah-sah-ah) It’s the hour... / The hour...
saa’a [ساعة] (sah-ah) hour
daqiiqa [دقيقة] (da-kee-qah) minute
thaaniya [ثانية] (thah-nee-yah) second
aS-SabaaH [الصباح] (ah-sah-bah) morning
aDH-DHuhr [الظهر] (ah-zoo-her) noon
ba’da aDH-DHuhr [بعد الظهر] (bah-dah ah-zoo-her) afternoon
al-‘asr [العصر] (al-ah-ser) late afternoon
al-masaa’ [المساء] (al-mah-sah) evening
al-layl [الليل] (ah-lah-yel) night
wa [و] (wah) and
an-niSf [النصف] (ah-nee-sef) half
ar-rubu’ [الربع] (ah-roo-booh) quarter
‘ilaa [إلى] (ee-lah) of/to
fii [في] (fee) in
Days and Calendars:
‘usbuu’ [أسبوع] (ooh-seh-booh) week
al-‘aHad [الأحد] (al-ah-had) Sunday
al-‘ithnayn [الإثنين] (al-eeth-nah-yen) Monday
ath-thulathaa’ [الثلاثاء] (ah-thoo-lah-thah) Tuesday
al-‘arbi’aa’ [الأربعاء] (al-ah-reh-bee-ah) Wednesday
al-khamiis [الخميس] (al-khah-mees) Thursday
al-jumu’a [الجمعة] (al-joo-moo-ah) Friday
as-sabt [السبت] (ass-sah-bet) Saturday
ash-hur [الشهور] (ah-shuh-hur) months
Yanaayir [يناير] (yah-nah-yeer) January
Disambar [ديسمبر] (dee-sahm-bar) December
Money, Banking, Currency Exchange:
‘al-maal [المال] (al-mal) money
fuluus [فلوس] (foo-loos) cash/physical currency
nuquud [نقود] (noo-kood) money/coins
‘awraaq [أوراق] (aw-raaq) paper currency
biTaaqa al-‘i’timaad [بطاقة الائتمان] (bee-tah-qah al-eeh-tee-mad) credit card
biTaaqa al-‘istilaaf [بطاقة الاستلاف] (bee-tah-qah al-ees-tee-laf) debit card
maSraf [مصرف] (mas-raf) bank
Hisaab maSrafii [حساب مصرفي] (hee-sab mas-rah-fee) bank account
‘amiin al-maSraf [أمين المصرف] (ah-meen al-mas-raf) bank teller (M)
wadii’a [وديعة] (wah-dee-ah) deposit
‘insiHaab [انسحاب] (een-see-hab) withdrawal
‘ujra [أجرة] (ooj-rah) fee
‘umla [عملة] (oom-lah) currency
maktab as-sarf [مكتب الصرف] (mak-tab ah-sah-ref) exchange desk
mu’addal as-sarf [معدل الصرف] (moo-ah-dal ah-sah-ref) exchange rate
Arabic Alphabets and Language
The sources mention that Arabic text is written from right to left, while numbers are written from left to right. They also highlight grammatical features relevant to the specific topics covered, such as:
The use of the definite prefix al- [الـ].
Suffixes used in number formation like -ta [ـة] and -iin [ـين].
Gender in ordinal numbers.
Prepositions like wa [و] ('and') and ‘ilaa [إلى] ('to' or 'of').
| # | English | Arabic | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Book | كِتَاب | Kitāb |
| 2. | Sun | شَمْس | Shams |
| 3. | Water | مَاء | Mā’ |
| 4. | House | بَيْت | Bayt |
| 5. | Dog | كَلْب | Kalb |
| 6. | Tree | شَجَرَة | Shajara |
| 7. | Love | حُبّ | Hubb |
| 8. | Friend | صَدِيق | Sadīq |
| 9. | Food | طَعَام | Ta‘ām |
| 10. | Night | لَيْل | Layl |
| 11. | City | مَدِينَة | Madīna |
| 12. | Car | سَيَّارَة | Sayyāra |
| 13. | Moon | قَمَر | Qamar |
| 14. | Hand | يَد | Yad |
| 15. | Eye | عَيْن | ‘Ayn |
| 16. | School | مَدْرَسَة | Madrasa |
| 17. | Road | طَرِيق | Tarīq |
| 18. | Time | وَقْت | Waqt |
| 19. | Peace | سَلَام | Salām |
| 20. | Fire | نَار | Nār |
| 21. | Mirror | مِرْآة | Mirʾāh |
| 22. | Window | نَافِذَة | Nāfidha |
| 23. | Door | بَاب | Bāb |
| 24. | Cloud | سَحَابَة | Saḥāba |
| 25. | Teacher | مُعَلِّم | Muʿallim |
| 26. | Student | طَالِب | Ṭālib |
| 27. | Key | مِفْتَاح | Miftāḥ |
| 28. | Phone | هَاتِف | Hātif |
| 29. | Garden | حَدِيقَة | Ḥadīqa |
| 30. | Summer | صَيْف | Ṣayf |
English: I like coffee.
Arabic: أحب القهوة.
Transliteration: Uhibbu al-qahwa.
Word-by-word: Uhibbu [I like/love] al-qahwa [the coffee].
English: She drinks tea.
Arabic: هي تشرب الشاي.
Transliteration: Hiya tashrabu ash-shai.
Word-by-word: Hiya [she] tashrabu [she drinks] ash-shai [the tea].
English: He eats bread.
Arabic: هو يأكل الخبز.
Transliteration: Huwa ya'kulu al-khubz.
Word-by-word: Huwa [he] ya'kulu [he eats] al-khubz [the bread].
English: The weather in Cape Town is nice today.
Arabic: الطقس في كيب تاون لطيف اليوم.
Transliteration: At-taqsu fi kib taun lateef al-yawm.
Word-by-word: At-taqsu [the weather] fi [in] kib [Cape] taun [Town] lateef [nice (masculine)] al-yawm [the day/today].
English: My favorite color is blue.
Arabic: لوني المفضل هو الأزرق.
Transliteration: Lawni al-mufaddalu huwa al-azraq.
Word-by-word: Lawni [my color] al-mufaddalu [the preferred/favorite (masculine)] huwa [it is] al-azraq [the blue (masculine)].
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