Arabic Numbers 1-1000: Complete Guide for Beginners

Last updated: April 2026

Introduction: Why Learning Arabic Numbers Matters

Numbers are everywhere — telling time, counting money, understanding prices, reading dates, and navigating daily life in any Arabic-speaking country. Whether you’re a complete beginner learning Arabic for travel, business, or religious purposes, mastering Arabic numbers 1-1000 is essential.

The good news? Arabic numerals are actually the numbers you already know (1, 2, 3, 4, 5…). What you need to learn is how to say and write them in the Arabic language — and the system is surprisingly logical once you understand the patterns.

This complete guide will take you step by step from 1 to 5 in Arabic, through 10 to 100, all the way up to 1000 in Arabic, with clear tables, pronunciation guides, and practical examples.

Part 1: Arabic Numbers 1-10 (The Foundation)

These are the building blocks. Memorize these first — they appear in almost every number you’ll ever use.

Note on pronunciation: The “h” at the end of numbers 3-10 is pronounced softly. In many dialects, especially Egyptian, numbers 3-10 are shortened (e.g., “talata” instead of “thalathah”).

Quick practice: Say the numbers aloud while tracing the Arabic numerals with your finger. This builds muscle memory.

Part 2: Arabic Numbers 11-19 (The Teens)

Teen numbers follow a simple pattern: number + “teen” (عشر – ʿashar). But there are two important rules:

• For numbers 11 and 12, both parts agree in gender with the noun they modify.
• For numbers 13-19, the first part (3-9) opposite gender rule applies (explained later), but the second part “teen” is always masculine singular.

Here’s your 1 to 10 Arabic to English table for teens:

Pay special attention to 13, 14, and 15 in Arabic — they are commonly used and often confused by beginners. Notice the pattern: thalathata, arbaʿata, khamsata.

Part 3: Arabic Numbers 20-90 (The Tens)

Tens are straightforward. They end with the suffix “ūn” (ون) or “īn” (ين) depending on grammatical case. For basic counting, use the nominative form (ūn).

Notice the pattern: Take the singular form (3 = thalatha, 4 = arba’a, 5 = khamsa) and add “ūn” (with slight modifications). This makes learning 10 to 100 in Arabic much easier.

Part 4: Arabic Numbers 21-99 (Combining Tens and Ones)

This is where the magic happens. To form numbers between 20 and 99, you say the tens first, then the word “wa” (و = and), then the ones.

Example: 25 = 20 (ʿishrūn) + wa + 5 (khamsah) = ʿishrūn wa khamsah

Important rule: The ones digit (1-9) comes after “wa” and follows the gender rules of the noun being counted. For masculine nouns, use the masculine form of the ones digit (which is actually the feminine form of the number word — don’t worry, this is advanced).

Quick reference table for common combinations:

The same pattern applies for 30s, 40s, etc. For example, 2 in Arabic language is ithnān, so 42 = ithnān wa arbaʿūn.

Part 5: Arabic Numbers 100-1000 (Hundreds and Thousands)

100 (One Hundred)

200-900 (Two Hundred to Nine Hundred)

To form hundreds, use the number 2-9 + “miʾah” (with some phonetic changes).

1000 (One Thousand)

What about 1000 in Arabic? It’s “alf” — simple and memorable.

Part 6: Complete Table: Arabic Numbers 1-100

Here’s a full reference table for numbers 1 through 100. Use this to practice and spot patterns.

Part 7: Understanding 12345 in Arabic

Let’s put it all together. The number 12345 in Arabic is formed by combining thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones.

12345 = 12,345 (twelve thousand three hundred forty-five)

Step by step:

• 12,000 = اثنا عشر ألف (ithnā ʿashar alf) — note that “thousand” becomes singular after 1, dual after 2, and plural after 3-10
• 300 = ثلاثمائة (thalāthumiʾah)
• 45 = خمسة وأربعون (khamsah wa arbaʿūn)

Full number: اثنا عشر ألفاً وثلاثمائة وخمسة وأربعون
Transliteration: ithnā ʿashara alfan wa thalāthumiʾah wa khamsah wa arbaʿūn

This demonstrates how the system scales logically.

Part 8: Gender Rules for Arabic Numbers (Simplified)

This is the most challenging part for beginners. Here’s the essential rule:

• Number 1 follows the noun in gender (masculine noun takes masculine form of 1 = واحد; feminine noun takes feminine form = واحدة).
• Numbers 2 also follows gender (اثنان for masculine, اثنتان for feminine).
• Numbers 3-10 have opposite gender of the noun. That means if the noun is masculine, use the feminine form of the number (which ends with ة), and vice versa.
• Numbers 11-19: The first part follows the opposite gender rule (for 13-19), but the second part “teen” is always masculine singular.
• Numbers 20-99 and 100+ are considered singular nouns and are followed by a singular noun in the accusative case (simplified: they don’t change the noun’s plural form).

For beginners, focus on memorizing the numbers first. The gender rules become natural with practice.

Part 9: Writing Arabic Numerals vs. Western Numerals

Important distinction: The numbers you type on your keyboard (1, 2, 3, 4, 5…) are called Western Arabic numerals or European digits. The traditional Eastern Arabic numerals (١، ٢، ٣، ٤، ٥…) are used in most Arab countries, especially in print and handwriting.

In many Arabic textbooks and online resources, you’ll see both. Learn to recognize both systems.

Part 10: Practical Examples and Common Usage

Telling Time

• 1:00 = الساعة الواحدة (al-sāʿah al-wāḥidah)
• 2:30 = الثانية والنصف (al-thāniyah wa al-niṣf)

Prices and Money

• 10 Egyptian pounds = عشرة جنيهات (ʿasharah junayhāt)
• 50 Saudi riyals = خمسون ريالاً (khamsūn riyālan)

Phone Numbers

• 0123456789 = صفر واحد اثنان ثلاثة أربعة خمسة ستة سبعة ثمانية تسعة (sifr wāḥid ithnān thalāthah arbaʿah khamsah sittah sabʿah thamāniyah tisʿah)

Age

• I am 25 years old = عمري خمسة وعشرون سنة (ʿumrī khamsah wa ʿishrūn sanah)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is 1 2 3 4 5 in Arabic?
1 = واحد (wāḥid), 2 = اثنان (ithnān), 3 = ثلاثة (thalāthah), 4 = أربعة (arbaʿah), 5 = خمسة (khamsah).

Q: What is 1 to 10 in Arabic with English?
See the table in Part 1: 1 wāḥid, 2 ithnān, 3 thalāthah, 4 arbaʿah, 5 khamsah, 6 sittah, 7 sabʿah, 8 thamāniyah, 9 tisʿah, 10 ʿasharah.

Q: How do you write 13, 14, 15 in Arabic?
13 = ثلاثة عشر (thalāthata ʿashar), 14 = أربعة عشر (arbaʿata ʿashar), 15 = خمسة عشر (khamsata ʿashar).

Q: What is 2 in Arabic language?
2 is “ithnān” (اثنان). For feminine nouns, it becomes “ithnatān” (اثنتان).

Q: What is 3 in Arabic?
3 is “thalāthah” (ثلاثة).

Q: What is 4 in Arabic?
4 is “arbaʿah” (أربعة).

Q: What is 1000 in Arabic?
1000 is “alf” (ألف).

Q: How do you count from 10 to 100 in Arabic?
10 = ʿasharah, 20 = ʿishrūn, 30 = thalāthūn, 40 = arbaʿūn, 50 = khamsūn, 60 = sittūn, 70 = sabʿūn, 80 = thamānūn, 90 = tisʿūn, 100 = miʾah.

Q: How do you write 12345 in Arabic?
اثنا عشر ألفاً وثلاثمائة وخمسة وأربعون (ithnā ʿashara alfan wa thalāthumiʾah wa khamsah wa arbaʿūn).

Q: Do Arabic numbers read left to right or right to left?
The numerals themselves are written left to right (like English), but the number words are written right to left in Arabic script.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Write the following numbers in Arabic words:

• 7
• 12
• 23
• 48
• 76
• 99

Exercise 2: Convert these Arabic number words to digits:

• خمسة وعشرون
• أربعة وسبعون
• مائتان
• تسعمائة

Exercise 3: Say your age in Arabic. Then write it.

Exercise 4: Write the price of an imaginary item (e.g., 125 Egyptian pounds) in Arabic words.

(Answers are at the bottom of this guide)

Conclusion: You’ve Mastered Arabic Numbers 1-1000

Congratulations! You now have a complete understanding of Arabic numbers from 1 to 1000. You’ve learned:

• The foundational numbers 1-10
• The teen numbers 11-19
• The tens 20-90
• How to combine tens and ones for 21-99
• The hundreds and thousands (including 1000 in Arabic)
• Gender rules (simplified for beginners)
• Practical examples for real-life use

The key to mastery is daily practice. Write out numbers, say them aloud, and use them in context. Try counting objects around your house, reading prices, or telling time in Arabic.

At Alphabet Arabic Academy, our native-speaking teachers can help you practice numbers in real conversation, correct your pronunciation, and build your confidence. Programs start at $40/month with free trial lessons.

Ready to practice numbers with a native teacher? Book your free trial lesson →

Answers to exercises:

Exercise 1: 7 = سبعة, 12 = اثنا عشر, 23 = ثلاثة وعشرون, 48 = ثمانية وأربعون, 76 = ستة وسبعون, 99 = تسعة وتسعون

Exercise 2: خمسة وعشرون = 25, أربعة وسبعون = 74, مائتان = 200, تسعمائة = 900