Arabic Numbers

One might be interested to know that, although you will have to learn a new set of Arabic numerals, you actually already know a set of Arabic numerals. The most wide spread numbering system in the world, the (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) that was adapted by Europe and the Western world in the 12th century AD, is actually an Arabic numbering system.

It comes from the Hindu-Arabic numeral system, which has three families of numerals. The first family consists of the Hindu numerals, which are used in India. The second family, the West Arabic numerals, were adapted by the western world and are now used for most international commerce. Lastly, there are the Eastern Arabic Numerals, which are used predominantly in the Arabic speaking world and what you will learn below.

1 – ١ wahid واحد

2 – ٢ ithnan إثنان

3 – ٣ thalatha ثلاثة

4 – ٤ arba’a أربع

5 – ٥ khamsa خمسة

6 – ٦ sitta ستة

7 – ٧ sab’a سبعة

8 – ٨ thamaniya ثمانية

9 – ٩ tis’a تسعة

10 – ١٠ ‘ ashra عشرة

11 – ١١ ahada ‘ashar احد عشر

12 – ١٢ ithna ‘ashar اثنا عشر

13 – ١٣ thalatha ‘ashar ثلاثة عشر

14 – ١٤ arba’a ‘ashar اربعة عشر

15 – ١٥ khamsa ‘ashar خمسة عشر

16 – ١٦ sitta ‘ashar ستة عشر