Numbers 11-100 in Arabic

Overview

Numbers 11 through 100 in Arabic follow different rules than 1-10 and present their own set of patterns. The numbers 11 and 12 have special forms, 13-19 are compound numbers combining a unit with a form of ten, and the tens (20, 30, 40, etc.) are separate words. A major difference from 3-10 is that the counted noun after 11-99 appears in the singular accusative, not the plural.

At the A1 level, these numbers are important for prices, ages, addresses, and quantities. While the agreement rules are complex, they follow clear patterns. The number 100 (مائة) marks a transition point where the counted noun switches to the genitive singular.

How It Works

Numbers 11-19

Number	Arabic	Note
11	أحد عشر (m) / إحدى عشرة (f)	Both parts agree with noun
12	اثنا عشر (m) / اثنتا عشرة (f)	Both parts agree with noun
13	ثلاثة عشر (m noun) / ثلاث عشرة (f noun)	Unit: reverse gender; ten: agrees
14	أربعة عشر / أربع عشرة	Same pattern as 13
15-19	Same pattern	Unit has reverse gender; عشر agrees with noun

Tens (20-90)

Number	Arabic
20	عشرون / عشرين
30	ثلاثون / ثلاثين
40	أربعون / أربعين
50	خمسون / خمسين
60	ستون / ستين
70	سبعون / سبعين
80	ثمانون / ثمانين
90	تسعون / تسعين

Compound Numbers (21-99)

Pattern: unit + و (and) + ten. Example: خمسة وعشرون (25).

The Counted Noun

Number Range	Counted Noun Form	Example
11-99	Singular accusative	عشرون طالبًا (20 students)
100	Genitive singular	مائة كتابٍ (100 books)

Examples in Context

Arabic	English	Note
أحد عشر كتابًا	eleven books	Special form for 11
عشرون طالبًا	twenty students	Singular accusative noun
خمسة وعشرون	twenty-five	Unit + و + ten
مائة	one hundred	Standalone or + genitive noun
اثنا عشر شهرًا	twelve months	Special form for 12
ثلاثون يومًا	thirty days	Noun in singular accusative
أربعون سنة	forty years	Common in expressions
تسعة وتسعون	ninety-nine	Largest compound number
خمسة عشر دقيقة	fifteen minutes	Compound teen number
ستون دينارًا	sixty dinars	Currency expression

Common Mistakes

Wrong	Right	Why
عشرون طلاب (plural noun)	عشرون طالبًا (singular accusative)	After 11-99, the noun is singular accusative
عشرون وخمسة (tens first)	خمسة وعشرون (unit first)	In Arabic, the unit comes before the ten
Ignoring gender for 11-12	Matching both parts to noun gender	11 and 12 have full gender agreement
مائة كتابًا (accusative)	مائة كتابٍ (genitive)	After 100, the noun is genitive singular

Practice Tips

• Practice numbers in everyday contexts: your age, phone numbers, prices at the market. Real usage makes them stick.
• Focus on the tens first (20-90), since these are the backbone of compound numbers.
• Remember the key rule: after 11-99, the counted noun is always singular accusative (with تنوين فتح or فتحة).

Related Concepts

• Numbers 1-10