Editor’s Note & Disclaimer: The core content and linguistic structure of this lesson were originally authored by Chris Hitchcock for the Team Maha website. This post is part of an effort to preserve, organize, and share these invaluable resources for Arabic learners worldwide.

In Modern Standard Arabic (FuSHa), numbers are notoriously complex due to strict gender polarity rules and case endings. In Levantine Arabic (Shami), the number system is significantly simplified and much more practical for everyday communication.

In this lesson, we will cover counting from 1 to 1,000,000+, cardinal vs. ordinal numbers, and how numbers pair with singular and plural nouns in Levantine speech.

1. One and Two (١ - ٢)

Number One (واحد / واحدة)

The number ‘one’ has two forms: واحد (waa7ed) for masculine and واحدة (waa7de / wa7de) for feminine (in Jordanian/Palestinian: waa7ad).

• As an Adjective (for emphasis): Follows a singular noun (fii shéghle waa7de bass → ’there is just one thing’).
• Before Collective Nouns: Can precede foodstuffs, drinks, or currencies as a counter (waa7de biitza → ‘one pizza’).
• As ‘Someone’ or ‘a guy/woman’: waa7de taanye → ‘someone else / another woman’.
• Ordinal (‘First’): أول (awwal) before a noun (awwal waa7ed → ’the first one’) or أولى (uula) as a feminine form following a noun.

Number Two (اتنين / تنتين)

The number ’two’ has masculine اتنين (tneen) and feminine تنتين (ténteen / tinteen).

• Emphasizing a Dual: Follows a dual noun (shégh@lteen ténteen → ’two things’).
• Before Plural Nouns: Unlike FuSHa, tneen can directly precede a plural noun (tneen ashkhaaS → ’two people’).
• Ordinal (‘Second’): تاني (taani), fem. تانية (taanye), which also doubles as the standard word for ‘other’ (taani waa7ed → ’the second one’).

2. Numbers 3 to 10 (٣ - ١٠)

In Shami, numbers 3 to 10 have two forms: an independent form (used when counting on its own) and a shortened counting form (used directly before a noun).

Important Rule: In Levantine Arabic, gender polarity does NOT apply to 3–10. The shortened counting form is used for both masculine and feminine plural nouns.

Noun Agreement with 3–10

Counting forms are followed by plural nouns:

• تمن اشخاص (tmén ashkhaaS → ’eight people’)

A few common nouns take special counted plural forms with 3–10:

• ايام (téyyaam) → اربع تيام (arba3 téyyaam → ‘four days’)
• اشهر (téshor) → تلت تشهر (tlétt téshor → ’three months’)
• آلاف (taalaaf) → سبع تالاف (sab@3 taalaaf → ‘seven thousand’)

Ordinals 3 to 10

Formed on the faa3el pattern and placed before the noun without a definite article:

• تالت, رابع, خامس, سادس, سابع, تامن, تاسع, عاشر (taalet, raabe3, khaames, saades, saabe3, taamen, taase3, 3aasher)
• Example: تامن واحد (taamen waa7ed → ’the eighth one’)

3. Numbers 11 to 19 (١١ - ١٩)

Numbers 11 to 19 also feature independent and counting forms. In counting forms, they take the suffix ـر (-ar) and are followed by singular nouns:

• Example: تمنتعش واحد (tménTa3sh waa7ed → ’eighteen guys’)
• Ordinals 11–19: Created by placing the number after a definite noun: الدرس الخمستعش (éddars élkham@sTa3sh → ’the fifteenth lesson’).

4. Tens and Compound Numbers (٢٠ - ٩٩)

The tens (20, 30, 40…) have a single form used both independently and before nouns, and are always followed by a singular noun:

• 20: عشرين (3éshriin)
• 30: تلاتين (tlaatiin)
• 40: اربعين (arba3iin)
• 50: خمسين (khamsiin)
• 60: ستين (séttiin)
• 70: سبعين (sab3iin)
• 80: تمانين (tmaaniin)
• 90: تسعين (tés3iin)

Compound Numbers (Units + Tens)

In compound numbers, the unit comes first followed by و (w-) and the tens. Units keep their full independent forms:

• 21: واحدة وعشرين (wa7daa w3éshriin)
• 22: تنين وعشرين (tneen w3éshriin)
• 25: خمسة وعشرين (khamsaa w3éshriin)

5. Hundreds, Thousands, and Millions (١٠٠+)

What’s Next?

In Part #7, we will cover Past Tense Verbs in Levantine Arabic.