Arabic Numbers 1-100: The Cheat Sheet Every Learner Needs (With Pronunciation)

If you are learning Arabic, you will quickly encounter a surprising riddle: the numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 that we use in the West are called "Arabic numerals." Yet, when you look at a newspaper in Cairo or a receipt in Dubai, you will see completely different symbols: ١، ٢، ٣، ٤.

In this guide, we will unravel this mystery. We will cover the difference between Eastern and Western numerals, list all numbers from 1 to 100 with clear transliterations and pronunciation tips, look at the grammar rules for using numbers in sentences, and show you how to type them on standard devices.

Western vs Eastern Arabic Numerals — The Surprising Truth

The digits used throughout Europe and the Americas (0, 1, 2, 3...) are historically known as Western Arabic numerals. They were developed in North Africa (specifically Algeria and Morocco) by Islamic mathematicians and introduced to Europe in the 10th century via Spain.

Meanwhile, the Middle East retained the older, Indian-derived symbols known as Eastern Arabic numerals (or Mashriqi numerals). Today, both systems are officially part of the Arabic language. In Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, Western numerals dominate. In Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the Levant, and the Gulf, Eastern numerals are more common in print.

Value	Western Numeral	Eastern Arabic Numeral	Standard Name
0	0	٠	Sifr
1	1	١	Wāḥid
2	2	٢	Ithnān
3	3	٣	Thalāthah
4	4	٤	Arba‘ah
5	5	٥	Khamsah
6	6	٦	Sittah
7	7	٧	Sab‘ah
8	8	٨	Thamāniyah
9	9	٩	Tis‘ah

Arabic Numbers 1-10

The numbers from 1 to 10 form the foundation of the entire numerical system. Memorize these first, as they will reappear in compound numbers (11-19) and tens (21-99).

Number	Eastern Symbol	Arabic Word	Transliteration	Pronunciation Hint
1	١	واحد	Wāḥid	Wah-heed
2	٢	إثنان	Ithnān	Ith-naan (soft 'th')
3	٣	ثلاثة	Thalāthah	Tha-laa-thah (soft 'th')
4	٤	أربعة	Arba‘ah	Ar-bah-ah (guttural stop)
5	٥	خمسة	Khamsah	Kham-sah (raspy throat 'kh')
6	٦	ستة	Sittah	Sit-tah
7	٧	سبعة	Sab‘ah	Sab-ah
8	٨	ثمانية	Thamāniyah	Tha-mah-nee-yah
9	٩	تسعة	Tis‘ah	Tis-ah
10	١٠	عشرة	‘Asharah	Ah-shah-rah (tight throat 'Ayn)

Arabic Numbers 11-20

The teens in Arabic follow a logical pattern similar to English "teen" suffixes. They combine the base digit (with minor spelling changes) and the word for ten (‘ashar).

Number	Eastern Symbol	Arabic Word	Transliteration	Literal Translation
11	١١	أحد عشر	Aḥada ‘ashar	One ten
12	١٢	إثنا عشر	Ithnā ‘ashar	Two ten
13	١٣	ثلاثة عشر	Thalāthata ‘ashar	Three ten
14	١٤	أربعة عشر	Arba‘ata ‘ashar	Four ten
15	١٥	خمسة عشر	Khamsata ‘ashar	Five ten
16	١٦	ستة عشر	Sittata ‘ashar	Six ten
17	١٧	سبعة عشر	Sab‘ata ‘ashar	Seven ten
18	١٨	ثمانية عشر	Thamāniyata ‘ashar	Eight ten
19	١٩	تسعة عشر	Tis‘ata ‘ashar	Nine ten
20	٢٠	عشرون	‘Ishrūn	Tens plural

Arabic Numbers 21-100: The Flow Pattern

Once you reach 21, the counting system follows a highly regular formula. Unlike English where you state the tens first (e.g., "twenty-one"), Arabic puts the units first, connects them with the word "and" (wa / و), and then states the tens.

To count up to 100, you only need to memorize the core tens plurals:

Value	Eastern Symbol	Arabic Tens Word	Transliteration
30	٣٠	ثلاثون	Thalāthūn
40	٤٠	أربعون	Arba‘ūn
50	٥٠	خمسون	Khamsūn
60	٦٠	ستون	Sittūn
70	٧٠	سبعون	Sab‘ūn
80	٨٠	ثمانون	Thamānūn
90	٩٠	تسعون	Tis‘ūn
100	١٠٠	مائة	Mi’ah

Sample Compound Numbers:

• 32 (٢٣): Ithnān wa Thalāthūn (إثنان وثلاثون) — "Two and thirty"
• 47 (٧٤): Sab‘ah wa Arba‘ūn (سبعة وأربعون) — "Seven and forty"
• 99 (٩٩): Tis‘ah wa Tis‘ūn (تسعة وتسعون) — "Nine and ninety"

Arabic Numbers Beyond 100

Larger values build logically upon the 1-100 structures. They are spelled out using the hundreds place first, then the units, then the tens:

• 100: Mi'ah (مائة)
• 200: Mi'atān (مائتان - dual form)
• 300: Thalāthu Mi'ah (ثلاثمائة)
• 1,000: Alf (ألف)
• 2,000: Alfān (ألفان - dual form)
• 10,000: ‘Asharatu Ālāf (عشرة آلاف)
• 1,000,000: Malyūn (مليون)

How to Use Numbers in Arabic Sentences

Counting items in Arabic requires understanding three fundamental grammatical rules. These quirks represent the biggest difference between English and Semitic noun agreement:

1. The Dual Noun Rule (Value of 2): If you want to say "two books", you do not write the number 2 and the plural word for books. Instead, you modify the noun itself to its "dual" suffix. Kitāb (book) becomes Kitābān (كتابان - two books). The number 2 is completely omitted in daily speech!
2. The 3-10 Reverse Agreement Rule: When counting between 3 and 10 items, the gender of the number must be the opposite of the singular gender of the noun. If the noun is masculine (e.g., Kitāb), you must use the feminine form of the number (e.g., Thalāthah instead of Thalāth). Additionally, the noun must be plural. E.g., "three books" = Thalāthah kutub (ثلاثة كتب).
3. The 11-99 Singular Rule: For quantities between 11 and 99, the noun that follows must remain in the singular accusative form, even though the value is plural. E.g., "twenty books" = ‘Ishruna kitāban (عشرون كتاباً).

Arabic Numbers in Everyday Life

• Reading prices: In Arab countries, prices on labels might be printed in Eastern characters. E.g., ٥٠ ر.س means 50 Saudi Riyals.
• Phone numbers: When writing telephone numbers, digits are aligned from left to right, exactly matching Western systems. E.g., ٠٥٠-١٢٣٤٥٦٧ is read 050-1234567.
• Dates: Dates are read with the day first, then the month, then the year. E.g., ٢١ يونيو ٢٠٢٦ is 21 June 2026.

The Ordinal Numbers: First, Second, Third in Arabic

Ordinal numbers describe placement in a sequence. In Arabic, they are adjectives and must match the gender of the noun they describe.

Ordinal	Masculine Arabic	Feminine Arabic	Masculine Translit.
1st	الأول	الأولى	Al-Awwal
2nd	الثاني	الثانية	Al-Thānī
3rd	الثالث	الثالثة	Al-Thālith
4th	الرابع	الرابعة	Al-Rābi‘
5th	الخامس	الخامسة	Al-Khāmis
6th	السادس	السادسة	Al-Sādis
7th	السابع	السابعة	Al-Sābi‘
8th	الثامن	الثامنة	Al-Thāmin
9th	التاسع	التاسعة	Al-Tāsi‘
10th	العاشر	العاشرة	Al- ‘Āshir

How to Write Numbers in Arabic Script Faster

If you are typing in Arabic on a computer or phone, you do not need to install a separate numbers app. Once the Arabic layout is activated on your keyboard, the top row keys (which usually print 1, 2, 3...) will automatically output Eastern digits (١, ٢, ٣...) in software that supports Arabic regional rendering.

To build complete fluency in Arabic typing—including both script and numbers—try our free touch-typing sessions. Practice drills will train your fingers to switch between letters and numerals fluidly.

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