Ordinal Numbers as Adjectives
Unlike cardinal numbers, ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) are much simpler. In Arabic, they act exactly like regular adjectives.
Because they are adjectives, ordinal numbers follow these rules:
- They come after the noun they describe.
- They match the noun's gender.
- They match the noun's definiteness. To say "the first lesson", both the noun and the number take the definite article (ال).
| This is the first lesson. | هذا هو الدرس الأول.hâdhâ huwa ad-darsu al-awwalu |
| The first question is easy. | السؤال الأول سهل.as-su'âlu al-awwalu sahlun |
The Pattern for 2nd to 10th
From second to tenth, ordinal numbers are built using the predictable pattern فاعل.
| I called the second doctor. | اتصلت بالطبيب الثاني.ittasaltu bittabîbi aththâni. |
| The third street is wide. | الشارع الثالث واسع.ash-shâri'u ath-thâlithu wâsi'un |
| The fourth month is hot. | الشهر الرابع حار.ash-shahru r-râbi'u hârr. |
Gender Agreement
Ordinal numbers match the noun's gender. For the second through tenth, simply add the feminine marker (ة) to the masculine form to make it feminine.
Compare the masculine "fifth" (الخامس) with the feminine "fifth" (الخامسة):
| I saw the fifth child. | رأيت الطفل الخامس.ra'aytu ttifla lkhâmisa |
| This is the fifth time. | هذه هي المرة الخامسة.hâdhihi hiya al-marratu al-khâmisah |
Notice how the ordinal mirrors the gender of the noun it modifies:
| I sent a message to the seventh office. | أرسلت رسالة للمكتب السابع.arsaltu risâlatan lilmaktabi ssâbi'i |
| The seventh story is interesting. | القصة السابعة ممتعة.al-qissatu s-sâbi'atu mumti'ah |
Completing the Sequence
The sequence continues consistently through the ninth (التاسع) and tenth (العاشر).
| This exercise is for the ninth lesson. | هذا التمرين للدرس التاسع.hâdhâ at-tamrînu lil-darsi at-tâsi'i |
| The tenth question is hard. | السؤال العاشر صعب.as-su'âlu l-'âshiru sa'bun |
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io
