How do you use the numerals from three to ten in Arabic?
When learning Arabic numbers, one of the most confusing parts comes between three and ten. Unlike in English, where we simply add the number before the noun, Arabic numerals between three and ten follow special grammatical rules.
They have two main characteristics:
- They are always followed by a plural noun in the genitive case.
- They show gender polarity, meaning the numeral is in the opposite gender of the counted noun.
So if the noun is masculine, the numeral takes a feminine form (with the ending ـة
). If the noun is feminine, the numeral appears in its masculine form.
Let’s take a look at some examples based on different scenarios
First, if the counted noun is indefinite (like “three books” rather than “the three books”):
- The numeral comes before the noun.
- The numeral shows reverse gender agreement.
- The counted noun is plural, indefinite, and in the genitive case.
Second, if the counted noun is definite (like “the three books” rather than “three books”):
- The numeral follows the noun.
- It agrees with the noun in case and definiteness.
- It still shows reverse gender agreement.
Also keep in mind that when an adjective follows the counted noun, it agrees with the noun (not the numeral).
One particular thing to keep in mind for the أَرْبَعَةُ كُتُبٍ جَدِيدَةٍ example is that as we’ve seen before, in Arabic, non-human plural nouns (whether masculine or feminine in the singular) are treated grammatically as feminine singular when it comes to adjectives, verbs, and pronouns.
Here, أربعة shows reverse gender agreement with كُتُب (masculine noun → feminine numeral), but the adjective جديدة agrees with the broken plural and it’s treated as feminine singular.
In conclusion:
- Numbers 3–10 always take a plural genitive noun.
- They show reverse gender agreement: masculine noun → feminine numeral, feminine noun → masculine numeral.
- With indefinite nouns, the numeral comes first. With definite nouns, the numeral comes after.
- Adjectives agree with the noun, not the numeral.
