Hundreds, Thousands, and Millions
Large numbers in Arabic function as nouns. When using exactly one hundred, one thousand, or one million, simply place the number before the counted noun. Note that the noun following these large numbers always remains singular.
| hundred | مئةmi'a |
| I bought a hundred lottery tickets. | اشتريت مئة تذكرة يانصيب.ishtaraytu mi'ata tadhkirati yânasîbin |
| thousand | ألفalf |
| There are a thousand participants in the draw. | هناك ألف مشارك في السحب.hunâka alfu mushârikin fis-sahbi |
| million | مليونmilyôn |
| Will you win a million dollars? | هل ستربح مليون دولار؟hal satarbahu milyuna dularin? |
Dreams of Winning
When discussing lotteries and grand prizes, you will frequently use the verb "to win" (ربح) alongside words for dreams and wealth.
| These men will never win the lottery. | هؤلاء الرجال لن يربحوا اليانصيب أبدا.hâ'ulâ'i ar-rijâli lan yarbahuu al-yaanasiiba abadan |
| My big dream is a million dollars. | حلمي الكبير مليون دولار.hulmî al-kabîru milyônu dûlârin |
Multiples of Large Numbers
To form multiples of one hundred (such as 300 or 900), place the digit from 3 to 9 before the word مئة.
| Three hundred people are participating in the draw today. | ثلاث مئة شخص يشاركون في السحب اليوم.thalâthu mi'ati shakhsin yushârikûna fî as-sahbi al-yawma. |
When talking about multiples of a thousand between 3,000 and 10,000, you must use the plural form of thousand (آلاف). Place the number from 3 to 10 before this plural noun.
| The grand prize is five thousand dollars. | الجائزة الكبيرة خمسة آلاف دولار.al-jâ'izatu al-kabîratu khamsatu âlâfi dûlâr. |
For higher combinations like 100,000, simply chain the numbers together.
| We will win a hundred thousand dollars tomorrow. | سوف نربح مئة ألف دولار غدا.sawfa narbahu mi'ata alfi dûlârin ghadan |
A Little Bit of Luck
Of course, winning any lottery draw requires plenty of luck.
| I wish you good luck in the lottery draw. | أتمنى لك حظا سعيدا في سحب اليانصيب.atamannâ laka hazzan sa'îdan fî sahbi l-yânasîb |
| This dream requires a lot of luck. | هذا الحلم يحتاج إلى حظ كثير.hâdhâ al-hulmu yahtâju ilâ hazzin kathîr |