Master Arabic Numbers
Arabic uses its own set of Eastern Arabic numerals (٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩), which are the ancestors of the Western digits used worldwide today. Numbers are written left-to-right even though Arabic text reads right-to-left. The numerals originated in ancient India and spread through the Islamic Golden Age, eventually reaching Europe where they evolved into the familiar 0–9 we use now.
Watch the videos below, then download the Foreign Numbers app and practice what you've learned!
Arabic Phone Numbers
How phone numbers work in Egypt & how locals say them
| Numeral | Arabic Numeral | Cardinal |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ٠ | صفر (ṣifr) |
| 1 | ١ | واحد (wāḥid) |
| 2 | ٢ | اثنان (ithnān) |
| 3 | ٣ | ثلاثة (thalātha) |
| 4 | ٤ | أربعة (arbaʿa) |
| 5 | ٥ | خمسة (khamsa) |
| 6 | ٦ | ستة (sitta) |
| 7 | ٧ | سبعة (sabʿa) |
| 8 | ٨ | ثمانية (thamāniya) |
| 9 | ٩ | تسعة (tisʿa) |
| 10 | ١٠ | عشرة (ʿashara) |
| 11 | ١١ | أحد عشر (aḥada ʿashar) |
| 12 | ١٢ | اثنا عشر (ithnā ʿashar) |
| 13 | ١٣ | ثلاثة عشر (thalāthata ʿashar) |
| 14 | ١٤ | أربعة عشر (arbaʿata ʿashar) |
| 15 | ١٥ | خمسة عشر (khamsata ʿashar) |
| 16 | ١٦ | ستة عشر (sittata ʿashar) |
| 17 | ١٧ | سبعة عشر (sabʿata ʿashar) |
| 18 | ١٨ | ثمانية عشر (thamāniyata ʿashar) |
| 19 | ١٩ | تسعة عشر (tisʿata ʿashar) |
| 20 | ٢٠ | عشرون (ʿishrūn) |
| 30 | ٣٠ | ثلاثون (thalāthūn) |
| 40 | ٤٠ | أربعون (arbaʿūn) |
| 50 | ٥٠ | خمسون (khamsūn) |
| 60 | ٦٠ | ستون (sittūn) |
| 70 | ٧٠ | سبعون (sabʿūn) |
| 80 | ٨٠ | ثمانون (thamānūn) |
| 90 | ٩٠ | تسعون (tisʿūn) |
| 100 | ١٠٠ | مئة (miʾa) |
| 1000 | ١٠٠٠ | ألف (alf) |
| 1000000 | ١٠٠٠٠٠٠ | مليون (milyūn) |
Number data and information courtesy of Omniglot.
What Makes Arabic Numbers Challenging
Arabic numbers present a unique visual challenge: while Arabic text reads right-to-left, numbers are written and read left-to-right — creating a constant mental direction switch. The Eastern Arabic numeral glyphs (٠١٢٣٤٥٦٧٨٩) look unfamiliar to Western eyes, even though they share common ancestry. Arabic also has dual forms for quantities of two, distinct from singular and plural, which affects counting. Pronunciation varies significantly between dialects — Egyptian, Gulf, and Levantine Arabic all say numbers somewhat differently.
Tips for Learning Arabic Numbers
Start by memorizing the Eastern Arabic numeral shapes — many are recognizable once you see the connection to Western digits (١ resembles 1, ٩ resembles 9). Practice reading numbers in both directions, as they appear left-to-right within right-to-left text. Focus on one dialect first (Egyptian Arabic is the most widely understood). Use price tags and phone numbers as real-world practice, since these combine visual recognition with spoken comprehension.
Practice Arabic Numbers
Reading about numbers is one thing — understanding them spoken at natural speed is another. Test your Arabic number skills with our free listening game.
Play the Number Game