Numbers

C 51 C 52 C 53 C 54 C 55
0 1 2 3 4
MSA ‫ِﺻ ْﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ ‫اِﺛ ْﻨﺎن‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ َﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
MOROCCAN ‫ِﺻ ْﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ ‫ﺟﻮج‬ ‫ﺗْﻼﺛ َﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
ALGERIAN ‫زﻳْﺮ ْو‬ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ ‫ زوج‬/ l‫ﺛ ْﻨ‬ ‫ﺗْﻼﺛ َﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
TUNISIAN ‫ﺻ ِﻔﺮ‬ْ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ ‫ زوز‬/ l‫ﺛ ْﻨ‬ ‫ﺗْﻼﺛ َﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑْ َﻌﺔ‬
SUDANESE ‫ِﺻ ْﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫اِﺗْﻨ‬ ‫ﺗَﻼﺗَﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
EGYPTIAN ‫ِﺻ ْﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫اِﺗْﻨ‬ ‫ﺗَﻼﺗَﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
PALESTINIAN ‫ِﺻ ِﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا َﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ﺗْﻨ‬ ‫ﺗَﻼﺗَﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑْ َﻌﺔ‬
JORDANIAN ‫ِﺻ ِﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا َﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ﺛ ْﻨ‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼث‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑْ َﻌﺔ‬
LEBANESE ‫ِﺻ ِﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا َﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ﺗْﻨ‬ ‫ﺗْﻼﺗِﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑْ َﻌﺔ‬
SYRIAN ‫ِﺻ ِﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا َﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ﺗْﻨ‬ ‫ﺗْﻼﺗِﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑْ َﻌﺔ‬
IRAQI ‫ﺻ ُﻔﺮ‬ُ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ l‫ﺛ ْﻨ‬ ‫ِإﺗْﻼﺛ َﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
QATARI ‫ِﺻ ْﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫اِﺛ ْﻨ‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ َﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
BAHRAINI ‫ﺻ ُﻔﺮ‬ُ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ l‫اِﺛ ْﻨ‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ َﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
SAUDI ‫ِﺻ ْﻔﺮ‬ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫اِﺗْﻨ‬ ‫ﺗَﻼﺗَﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
YEMENI ‫ﺻ ْﻔﺮ‬ ُ ‫وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫اِﺛ ْ َﻨ‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ َﺔ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ‬
The following questions are designed to help you develop an eye for comparing forms in the tables.
Answers can be found on p. 25.

1. Which dialect has borrowed the French word for zero?

2. Which three dialects have unique words for two?
3. Which vowel is found in the second syllable of the word for one in the Levantine dialects?
4. Look at the numbers for three and four in Lebanese and Syrian. What do you notice about
the final vowel in these words?
5. Notice that the MSA words for two and three contain ‫ث‬. Among the dialects, is ‫ ث‬retained
or does it become ‫?ت‬
Ask yourself similar questions when studying the tables throughout this book.

22 | Arabic vs. Arabic: A Dialect Sampler © Lingualism.com

 ‫‪C 56‬‬ ‫‪C 57‬‬ ‫‪C 58‬‬ ‫‪C 59‬‬ ‫‪C 60‬‬
‫‪5‬‬ ‫‪6‬‬ ‫‪7‬‬ ‫‪8‬‬ ‫‪9‬‬
‫‪MSA‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫َ≥ﺎﻧِ َﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪MOROCCAN‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫ْﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫ْ≥ِ ِﻨ َﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ ْﻮد‬
‫‪ALGERIAN‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫ْ≥ِ ْﻨ َﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪TUNISIAN‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫َْ≥ ْﻨ َﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪SUDANESE‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫َ‪¥‬ﺎﻧِ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪EGYPTIAN‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫َ‪¥‬ﺎﻧْ َﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪PALESTINIAN‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫‪ْ َ¥‬ﻨ َﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪JORDANIAN‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ ِﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱢﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫َ≥ﺎﻧِ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪LEBANESE‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ ِﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱢﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫ْ‪¥‬ﺎﻧِﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪SYRIAN‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ ِﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱢﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫ْ‪¥‬ﺎﻧِﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪IRAQI‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫ْ≥ﺎﻧِ ِﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪QATARI‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫ّْ≥ﺎﻧِ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪BAHRAINI‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫ِ≥ ّﺎﻧِ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪SAUDI‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫َ‪ِ ¥‬ﻨ َﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬
‫‪YEMENI‬‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ‬ ‫َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ‬ ‫َ≥ﺎﻧِ َﻴﺔ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ‬

‫‪23 | Arabic vs. Arabic: A Dialect Sampler © Lingualism.com‬‬

 C 61 C 62 C 63 C 64 C 65
10 11 12 13 14
MSA ‫ﴩة‬
َ َ ‫َﻋ‬ َ ‫أَ َﺣﺪ َﻋ‬
‫ﴩ‬ ‫ﴩ‬َ ‫اِﺛ ْﻨﺎ َﻋ‬ َ ‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ َﺔ َﻋ‬
‫ﴩ‬ ‫ﴩ‬َ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ َﻌﺔ َﻋ‬
MOROCCAN ‫ﴩة‬َ ْ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ْﺣﺪاش‬ ‫ﺛ ْ َﻨﺎش‬ ‫ﻠْﻄّﺎش‬µُ ‫ﺛ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﻄﺎش‬
ALGERIAN ‫ﴩة‬ َ ْ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ْﺣﺪاش‬ ‫ﺛ ْ َﻨﺎش‬ ‫ﻠْﻄﺎش‬µُ ‫ﺛ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﻄﺎش‬
TUNISIAN ‫ﴩة‬ َ ْ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ْﺣﺪاش‬ ‫أَﺛ ْﻨﺎش‬ ‫ﺗْﻠُﻄّﺎش‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﻄﺎش‬
SUDANESE ‫ﴩة‬ َ َ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ِﺣﺪا َﴍ‬ ‫اِﻃْﻨﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫ﺗَﻠَﻄّﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﻄﺎ َﴍ‬
EGYPTIAN ‫ﴩة‬ َ َ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ِﺣﺪا َﴍ‬ ‫ِإﺗْﻨﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫ﺗَﻠَﺘّﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﺘﺎ َﴍ‬
PALESTINIAN ‫ﴩة‬ َ َ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ْﺣ َﺪ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫اِﻃْﻨﺎﻋﺶ‬ ‫ﺗَﻠَﻄّﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﻄَ ْﻌﺶ‬
JORDANIAN ‫ﴩة‬ َ َ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ْﺣ َﺪ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫اِﻃْﻨﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫ﻠَﻄّﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬µَ ‫ﺛ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﻄﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬
LEBANESE ‫ﴩة‬ َ ْ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ْﺣﺪا ِﻋﺶ‬ ‫ﺗْﻨﺎ ِﻋﺶ‬ ‫ﺗْﻠَﻄّﺎ ِﻋﺶ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﻄﺎ ِﻋﺶ‬
SYRIAN ‫ﴩة‬ َ ْ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ْﺣ َﺪ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫ﺗْ َﻨ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﺗْﻠَﺘﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬
IRAQI ‫ﴩة‬ َ ْ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ِإ ْﺣ َﺪ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫أَﺛ ْ َﻨ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﺗْﻠَﺘﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬
QATARI ‫ﴩة‬ َ ْ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ِإ ْﺣ َﺪ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫ِإﺛ ْ َﻨ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﻠَﺜﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬µَ ‫ﺛ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬
‫ْﻫ َﺪ ْﻋﺶ‬
BAHRAINI ‫ﴩة‬
َ ْ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ِإﺛ َﻨ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﻠَﺘﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬µَ ‫ﺛ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬
‫ِإ ْﺣ َﺪ ْﻋﺶ‬
SAUDI ‫ﴩة‬َ َ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫ا ْﺣﺪا ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫اِﺗْ َﻨ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﺗَﻠَﻄﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﻄﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬
YEMENI ‫ﴩة‬
َ َ ‫َﻋ‬ ‫َﺣ َﺪ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫ِإﺛ ْ َﻨ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﻠَﺘﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬µَ ‫ﺛ‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَ ْﻌﺘَﺶ‬
Notice that ‫ ط‬appears in many forms of 11, 12, and 13 in the table above (and numbers in the
table on the next page). The dialects do not have truly velarized consonant sounds (also known
as emphatic or dark consonants: ‫ص‬, ‫ض‬, ‫ط‬, ‫ )ظ‬as MSA does. Instead, these letters indicate that
the adjacent vowel is pronounced further back in the mouth. For example, fatha is commonly
pronounced forward in the mouth, something close to [æ] (as in cat) in English, but it is
pronounced [ɑ] (as in hot) when adjacent to an “emphatic consonant” or others pronounced
toward the back of the mouth (‫ح‬, ‫ع‬, ‫)غ‬. The rules for how such consonants affect vowels vary
from dialect to dialect.

24 | Arabic vs. Arabic: A Dialect Sampler © Lingualism.com

 C 66 C 67 C 68 C 69 C 70
15 16 17 18 19
MSA ‫ﴩ‬َ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ َﻋ‬ ‫ﴩ‬َ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠﺔ َﻋ‬ ‫ﴩ‬ َ ‫ﴩ َ≥ﺎﻧِ َﻴﺔ َﻋ‬
َ ‫ﴩ َﺳ ْﺒ َﻌﺔ َﻋ‬ َ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺔ َﻋ‬
MOROCCAN ‫ْﺧ ِﻤ ْﺴﻄﺎش‬ ‫ْﺳﻄّﺎش‬ ‫ْﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﻄﺎش‬ ‫ُْ≥ ْﻨﻄﺎش‬ ‫ﺗْ َﺴ ْﻌﻄﺎش‬
ALGERIAN ‫ُﺧ ْﻤ ْﺴﻄﺎش‬ ‫ُﺳﻄّﺎش‬ ‫ْﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﻄﺎش‬ ‫َْ≥ ْﻨﻄﺎش‬ ‫ﺗْ َﺴ ْﻌﻄﺎش‬
TUNISIAN ‫ْﺧ ُﻤ ْﺴﻄﺎش‬ ‫ُﺳﻄّﺎش‬ ‫ْﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﻄﺎش‬ ‫ُْ≥ ْﻨﻄﺎش‬ ‫ﺗْ َﺴ ْﻌﻄﺎش‬
SUDANESE ‫َﺧ َﻤ ْﺴﻄﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘّْﻄﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫َﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﻄﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫ ْﻨﻄﺎ َﴍ‬¥ََ ‫ﺗِ ِﺴ ْﻌﻄﺎ َﴍ‬
EGYPTIAN ‫َﺧ َﻤ ْﺴﺘﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘّﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫َﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﺘﺎ َﴍ‬ ‫ﺎﻧْﺘﺎ َﴍ‬¥َ ‫ﺗِ َﺴ ْﻌﺘﺎ َﴍ‬
PALESTINIAN ‫َﺧ ْﻤ ْﺴﻄﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫ِﺳﻄّﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫َﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﻄﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫ ْﻨﻄﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬¥ََ ‫ﺗِ َﺴ ْﻌﻄﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬
JORDANIAN ‫َﺧ ْﻤ ْﺴﻄﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫ِﺳﻄّﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫َﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﻄﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫ََ≥ ْﻨﻄﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬ ‫ﺗِ َﺴ ْﻌﻄﺎ ْﻋﺶ‬
LEBANESE ‫َﺧ ْﻤ ْﺴﻄﺎ ِﻋﺶ‬ ‫ِﺳﻄّﺎ ِﻋﺶ‬ ‫َﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﻄﺎ ِﻋﺶ‬ ‫ ْﻨﻄﺎ ِﻋﺶ‬¥َْ ‫ﺗِ َﺴ ْﻌﻄﺎ ِﻋﺶ‬
SYRIAN ‫َﺧ ْﻤ ْﺴﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫َﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ ْﻨﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬¥َْ ‫ﺗِ َﺴ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬
IRAQI ‫ْﺧ ُﻤ ْﺴﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ُﺳﺘﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ْﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ُْ≥ ْﻨﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﺗْ َﺴ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬
QATARI ‫َﺧ َﻤ ْﺴﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ُﺳﺘﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫َﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ُْ≥ ْﻨﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﺗْ َﺴ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬
BAHRAINI ‫َﺧ ِﻤ ْﺴﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫َﺳ ِﺒ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫َ≥ِ ْﻨﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﺗِ َﺴ ْﻌﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬
SAUDI ‫َﺧ َﻤ ْﺴﻄﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ِﺳﻄﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫َﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﻄَﺶ‬ ‫ ْﻨﻄَ ْﻌﺶ‬¥ََ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﻄَ ْﻌﺶ‬
YEMENI ‫َﺧ ِﻤ ْﺴﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱠ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫َﺳ َﺒ ْﻌﺘَﺶ‬ ‫ََ≥ ْﻨﺘَ ْﻌﺶ‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴ َﻌﺘَﺶ‬

Answers to the questions on p. 22:

Algerian: ‫ﺮ ْو‬Ω‫ْز‬
The Maghrebi dialects: Moroccan (‫)ﺟ–ج‬, Algerian (‫)زوج‬, Tunisian (‫)زوز‬. These words are derived
َ
from the MSA word ‫‘( ز ْوج‬pair’).
َ
fatha (◌), whereas in other dialects it is kasra (◌ِ ).
It is kasra (◌ِ ). The ‫ ـﺔ‬ending is commonly pronounced /-i/ in northern Levantine (that is, Lebanese
and Syrian), except after certain consonants.
Some dialects have ‫ث‬, while it has become ‫ ت‬in others. In the Maghrebi dialects, we can see that,
in this particular word, the first ‫ ث‬has become ‫ ت‬while the second is retained.

25 | Arabic vs. Arabic: A Dialect Sampler © Lingualism.com

 C 71 C 72 C 73 C 74 C 75
20 30 40 50 60
MSA ‫ﴩو َن‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼﺛﻮ َن‬ ‫أَ ْرﺑَﻌﻮ َن‬ ‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴﻮ َن‬ ‫ِﺳﺘﱡﻮ َن‬
MOROCCAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺗْﻼﺛ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑَﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
ALGERIAN ‫ﴩﻳْﻦ‬ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ lْ ‫ﺗْﻼﺛ‬ lْ ‫أَ ْرﺑْﻌ‬ lْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lْ ّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
TUNISIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺗْﻼﺛ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑْﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
SUDANESE ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺗَﻼﺗ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑَﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
EGYPTIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺗَﻼﺗ‬ l‫أ ْرﺑَﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
PALESTINIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺗَﻼﺗ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑْﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
JORDANIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑْﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
LEBANESE ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺗْﻼﺗ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑْﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
SYRIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺗْﻼﺗ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑْﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
IRAQI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺛ ْﻼﺛ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑَﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
QATARI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑْﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
BAHRAINI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ‬ l‫أَ ْر ِﺑﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
SAUDI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺗَﻼﺗ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑْﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
YEMENI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ِﻋ‬ l‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ‬ l‫أَ ْرﺑْﻌ‬ l‫َﺧ ْﻤﺴ‬ lّ‫ِﺳﺘ‬
The numbers 20-90 vary little between the dialects. Notice that, while MSA has two forms for
∫ ¥ ‫)ـ‬, the dialects do
each (nominative forms ending in ‫ ـﻮن‬and accusative/genitive forms ending in »
∫
not have case declensions, and therefore only have forms ending in »¥ ‫ـ‬.

26 | Arabic vs. Arabic: A Dialect Sampler © Lingualism.com

 C 76 C 77 C 78 C 79 C 80
70 80 90 100 1,000
MSA ‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌﻮ َن‬ ‫َ≥ﺎﻧﻮ َن‬ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌﻮ َن‬ ‫ِﻣﺎﺋَﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
MOROCCAN l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ْ≥ﺎﻧ‬ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ْﻣﻴﺎ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
ALGERIAN lْ ‫ِﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ lْ ‫ْ≥ﺎﻧ‬ lْ ‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ْﻣﻴﺎ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
TUNISIAN l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ْ≥ﺎﻧ‬ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ْﻣﻴﺎ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
SUDANESE l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ﺎﻧ‬¥َ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِﻣ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
EGYPTIAN l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ﺎﻧ‬¥ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِﻣ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
PALESTINIAN l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ﺎﻧ‬¥َ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِﻣ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
JORDANIAN l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫َ≥ﺎﻧ‬ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِﻣ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
LEBANESE l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ﺎﻧ‬¥ْ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِﻣ ﱢﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟِﻒ‬
SYRIAN l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ﺎﻧ‬¥ْ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِﻣ ﱢﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
IRAQI l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ْ≥ﺎﻧ‬ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِﻣ ﱢﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟِﻒ‬
QATARI l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ْ≥ﺎﻧ‬ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِإ ْﻣ َﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
BAHRAINI l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ُّ≥ﺎﻧ‬ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ْﻣ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
SAUDI l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫ﺎﻧ‬¥ََ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِﻣ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
YEMENI l‫َﺳ ْﺒﻌ‬ l‫َ≥ﺎﻧ‬ l‫ﺗِ ْﺴﻌ‬ ‫ِﻣ ﱠﻴﺔ‬ ‫أَﻟْﻒ‬
C 81
25
MSA ‫ﴩو َن‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ َو ِﻋ‬ LEBANESE ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬
‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬
Compound numbers are
MOROCCAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬ SYRIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ ْو ِﻋ‬ formed in the same way
in all varieties of Arabic:
ALGERIAN ‫ﴩﻳْﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬ IRAQI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬
Twenty-five, for
TUNISIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫ﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬ QATARI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬ example, is expressed
literally as five-and-
SUDANESE ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬ BAHRAINI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬ twenty.
EGYPTIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ ِو ِﻋ‬ SAUDI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬
PALESTINIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ ْو ِﻋ‬ YEMENI ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ و ِﻋ‬
JORDANIAN ‫ﴩﻳﻦ‬ ْ ‫َﺧ ْﻤ َﺴﺔ ْو ِﻋ‬

27 | Arabic vs. Arabic: A Dialect Sampler © Lingualism.com

 Numbers with Nouns
C 82 C 83 C 84
one book two books three books
MSA ‫ِﻛﺘﺎ ٌب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ ‫ِﻛﺘﺎﺑﺎ ِن‬ ‫ﺐ‬ٍ ُ‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ َ ُﺔ ُﻛﺘ‬
MOROCCAN ‫ْﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ ‫ﺟﻮج ْﻛﺘﻮﺑﺎ‬ ‫ﺗْﻼﺛ َﺔ ْد ﻟِ ْﻜﺘﻮﺑﺎ‬
ALGERIAN ‫ْﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ ‫زوج ْﻛﺘ ْﻮب‬ ‫ِﺛﻠْﺚ ْﻛﺘ ْﻮب‬
TUNISIAN ‫ْﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ ‫ﺐ‬ْ ُ‫زوز ْﻛﺘ‬ ْ ُ‫ﺗْﻼﺛ َﺔ ْﻛﺘ‬
‫ﺐ‬
SUDANESE ‫ِﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ِﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺗَﻼﺗَﺔ ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
EGYPTIAN ‫ِﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ِﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺗَﻼت ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
PALESTINIAN ‫ْﻛﺘﺎب وا َﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ْﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺗْﻠَﺖ ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
JORDANIAN ‫ْﻛﺘﺎب وا َﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ْﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼث ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
LEBANESE ‫ْﻛﺘﺎب وا َﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ْﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺗْﻠَﺖ ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
SYRIAN ‫ْﻛﺘﺎب وا َﺣﺪ‬ lْ َ‫ْﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺗْﻠَﺖ ِﻛﺘُﺐ‬
IRAQI ‫ِﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ l‫ِﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ِإﺗْﻠَﺚ ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
QATARI ‫ْﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ْﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼث ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
BAHRAINI ‫ْﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ْﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼ ِﺛﺔ ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
SAUDI ‫ِﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ ‫ِﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺗَﻠَﺖ ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
YEMENI ‫ِﻛﺘﺎب وا ِﺣﺪ‬ lْ َ‫ِﻛﺘﺎﺑ‬ ‫ﺛ َﻼﺛ َﺔ ُﻛﺘُﺐ‬
The numbers 3-10 are followed by a plural noun in all varieties of Arabic.
ُa ْa o
Tunisian: also ‫ﺔ‬úَ ‫ ﻛﺘ‬and ‫ﺔ‬úَ ‫( أ ‚ﺘ‬books)
Instead of using the dual suffix » ∫ ¥ْ ‫ـ‬, the Maghrebi dialects use a number followed by a plural noun.
ْ
Moroccan has a unique feature: ‫ د ِﻟـ‬/d li-/ is inserted between the number and noun.
The system for using numbers is complex in MSA, with rules for case and gender. Each number
(between 2 and 19) has two forms—one used before masculine nouns and one before feminine
nouns. In the dialects, the rules are simplified. In many dialects, there is one form for counting
(that is, when not followed by a noun) the numbers 3-10 and one form used before nouns,
whether masculine or feminine. Compare the forms of the numbers for three in the table above
(with the masculine word for book) and the next three tables.

28 | Arabic vs. Arabic: A Dialect Sampler © Lingualism.com