The Number One: واحد and واحدة
In Arabic, the number one acts like an adjective. It comes directly after the noun it describes and agrees with it in gender. Use واحد for masculine nouns and واحدة for feminine nouns.
| This waiter has one bill. | هذا النادل له حساب واحد.hâdhâ n-nâdilu lahu hisâbun wâhid |
| The woman ordered one sandwich. | طلبت المرأة شطيرة واحدة.talabati al-mar'atu shatiiratan wâhidatan |
The Number Two: اثنان and اثنتان
Adding the dual suffix ـان to a noun already means "two." Adding the number two is optional and used for emphasis.
Like the number one, the number two acts as an adjective. It follows the dual noun and agrees in gender. Use اثنان for masculine dual nouns and اثنتان for feminine dual nouns.
| There are two plates and one sandwich. | هناك طبقان اثنان وشطيرة واحدة.hunâka tabaqâni ithnâni wa shatîratun wâhida |
| There are two cakes on this plate. | على هذا الطبق كعكتان اثنتان.alâ hâdhâ at-tabaqi kaakatâni ithnatâni. |
Being Specific: فقط and بدون
When specifying an exact order or amount, you will often use "only" (فقط) and "without" (بدون).
The word فقط typically sits at the end of the phrase it modifies, while بدون comes directly before the item being excluded.
| There is only milk and sugar in the cup. | في الكوب حليب وسكر فقط.fi al-kubi haleebun wa-sukkarun faqat |
| I have only one cake now. | عندي كعكة واحدة فقط الآن.indî kakatun wâhidatun faqat al-âna |
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