Difference between revisions of "Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Ordinal-numbers"

Latest revision as of 22:49, 14 June 2023

◀️ Cardinal numbers 1-100 — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Greetings and farewells ▶️

Standard Arabic → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and counting in Arabic → Ordinal numbers

In the previous lesson, we learned about cardinal numbers in Arabic, which are used to indicate quantity or the order of things. Now, let's take our understanding of numbers in Arabic to the next level by exploring ordinal numbers. Ordinal numbers are used to represent the position or order of objects, people, or events. They are an essential part of everyday communication, so let's dive in and learn how to form and use them in Arabic!

What are ordinal numbers?[edit | edit source]

Ordinal numbers are words or numerals that indicate the position or order of something in a series. For example, "first," "second," "third," and so on. In English, we usually form ordinal numbers by adding the suffix "-th" to cardinal numbers, such as "fourth" or "fifth." Similarly, in Arabic, we have specific rules and patterns to form ordinal numbers.

Forming ordinal numbers in Arabic[edit | edit source]

To form ordinal numbers in Arabic, we use a combination of cardinal numbers and specific patterns. The patterns for forming ordinal numbers in Arabic depend on the gender of the noun being counted and the formality of the context. Let's explore the different patterns for forming ordinal numbers in Arabic.

Pattern 1: Masculine nouns[edit | edit source]

When forming ordinal numbers for masculine nouns, we generally add the suffix "-أَوُّل" ("-awwal") to the cardinal number. Here are a few examples:

وَاحِد (waahid) - one

 * الْأَوَّل (al-awwal) - first

اثْنَان (ithnaan) - two

 * الثَّانِي (ath-thaani) - second

ثَلَاثَة (thalatha) - three

 * الثَّالِث (ath-thaalis) - third

أَرْبَعَة (arbaata) - four

 * الرَّابِع (ar-raabi) - fourth

خَمْسَة (khamsa) - five

 * الْخَامِس (al-khaamis) - fifth

In some cases, you may need to make slight changes to the cardinal number before adding the suffix. For example:

سَتَّة (sittah) - six

 * السَّادِس (as-saadis) - sixth

سَبْعَة (sabaa) - seven

 * السَّابِع (as-saabi) - seventh

تِسْعَة (tisaa) - nine

 * التَّاسِع (at-taasi) - ninth

Pattern 2: Feminine nouns[edit | edit source]

When forming ordinal numbers for feminine nouns, we generally add the suffix "-أَوْلَى" ("-awla") to the cardinal number. Here are a few examples:

وَاحِدَة (waahida) - one

 * الْأُولَى (al-oola) - first

اثْنَتَانِ (ithnataan) - two

 * الثَّانِيَة (ath-thaaniyah) - second

ثَلَاثَة (thalatha) - three

 * الثَّالِثَة (ath-thaalisah) - third

أَرْبَعَة (arbaata) - four

 * الرَّابِعَة (ar-raabiah) - fourth

خَمْسَة (khamsa) - five

 * الْخَامِسَة (al-khaamisah) - fifth

Similarly to the masculine pattern, you may need to make slight changes to the cardinal number before adding the suffix for some numbers.

Pattern 3: Dual nouns[edit | edit source]

In Arabic, we have a separate pattern for forming ordinal numbers with dual nouns. The dual form refers to two objects or people. To form ordinal numbers for dual nouns, we add the suffix "-أَوَّيْن" ("-awwayn") to the cardinal number. Here are a few examples:

وَاحِدَيْنِ (waahidayn) - two

 * الْأَوَّلَيْنِ (al-awwalayn) - first

ثَنْتَيْنِ (thnatain) - two

 * الثَّانِيَيْنِ (ath-thaaniyayn) - second

أَرْبَعَتَيْنِ (arbaatayn) - four

 * الرَّابِعَيْنِ (ar-raabiayn) - fourth

Pattern 4: Informal usage[edit | edit source]

In informal contexts, especially in spoken Arabic, we often use the cardinal number itself as an ordinal number. This means that we don't add any specific suffixes or patterns. For example:

وَاحِد (waahid) - one
اثْنَان (ithnaan) - two
ثَلَاثَة (thalatha) - three
أَرْبَعَة (arbaata) - four
خَمْسَة (khamsa) - five

It's important to note that this informal usage is more common in certain dialects and may vary from region to region.

Using ordinal numbers in Arabic[edit | edit source]

Now that we know how to form ordinal numbers in Arabic, let's explore some common ways to use them in sentences.

Indicating order[edit | edit source]

Ordinal numbers are often used to indicate the order of things or events. For example:

أَنَا الثَّانِي فِي الصَّفِ. (Ana ath-thaani fi as-saffi.) - I am the second in line.
الْيَوْمُ هُوَ الْعَاشِرُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ. (Al-yawmu huwa al-aashiru min shahri Ramadan.) - Today is the tenth day of Ramadan.

Describing dates[edit | edit source]

Ordinal numbers are commonly used to describe dates in Arabic. For example:

الثَّانِي عَشَرُ مِنْ مَايُو (Ath-thaani 'ashar min Mayu) - The twelfth of May
الْعَاشِرَةُ صَبَاحًا (Al-'aashiratu sabahan) - Ten o'clock in the morning

Expressing fractions[edit | edit source]

Ordinal numbers can also be used to express fractions in Arabic. For example:

ثُلُثُ الْكِتَابِ (Thuluthu al-kitabi) - One-third of the book
نِصْفُ الْكَوْبِ (Nisfu al-kaubi) - Half of the cup

Addressing royalty[edit | edit source]

In Arabic, ordinal numbers are used when addressing royalty or high-ranking individuals. For example:

صَاحِبُ السَّمَوَاتِ الثَّالِثِ (Saahibu as-samaati ath-thaaliithi) - His Majesty the Third

Practice makes perfect[edit | edit source]

Now it's time to practice forming and using ordinal numbers in Arabic. Here are a few exercises to help you reinforce your learning:

1. Write the ordinal numbers for the following cardinal numbers:

وَاحِد (waahid) - ____________
ثَلَاثَة (thalatha) - ____________
خَمْسَة (khamsa) - ____________
سَبْعَة (sabaa) - ____________

2. Use ordinal numbers to complete the following sentences:

أَنَا الْـ____________ في العائلة. (Ana al-__________ fi al-'aailah) - I am the ______ in the family.
الْـ__________ عَشَرُ مِنْ شَهْرِ يَنَايِر. (Al-__________ 'ashar min shahri Yanayir) - The _______ of January.

3. Describe the following fractions using ordinal numbers:

وَاحِدُ ____________ (waahidu ____________) - One ___________
ثُلُثُ ____________ (thuluthu ____________) - One ___________

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You have now learned how to form and use ordinal numbers in Arabic. You can use ordinal numbers to indicate order, describe dates, express fractions, and even address royalty. Keep practicing and using ordinal numbers in your Arabic conversations to become more fluent and confident in your language skills.

In the next lesson, we will continue our exploration of numbers and counting in Arabic by learning about ordinal numbers. See you there!

Table of Contents - Standard Arabic Course - 0 to A1[edit source]

Course Presentation

Introduction to Arabic script

Nouns and gender in Arabic

Verbs and conjugation in Arabic

Numbers and counting in Arabic

Everyday Arabic vocabulary

Food and drink vocabulary

Arabic customs and traditions

Arabic music and entertainment

Adjectives in Arabic

Pronouns in Arabic

Prepositions in Arabic

Interrogatives in Arabic

Adverbs in Arabic

Transportation vocabulary

Shopping and money vocabulary

Arabic literature and poetry

Arabic calligraphy and art

Weather vocabulary

Conditional sentences in Arabic

Passive voice in Arabic

Relative clauses in Arabic

Arabic adjectives and nouns

Arabic cinema and TV

Arabic fashion and beauty

Sports and leisure vocabulary

Sources[edit | edit source]

Standard-arabic Vocabulary - Days of the week

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

◀️ Cardinal numbers 1-100 — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Greetings and farewells ▶️

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+<span pgnav>
+{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
+|[[Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Cardinal-numbers-1-100|◀️ Cardinal numbers 1-100 — Previous Lesson]]
+|[[Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-farewells|Next Lesson — Greetings and farewells ▶️]]
+|}
+</span>
 {{Standard-arabic-Page-Top}}
+<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Standard-arabic|Standard Arabic]]  → [[Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary|Vocabulary]] → [[Language/Standard-arabic/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Numbers and counting in Arabic → Ordinal numbers</div>
-<div class="pg_page_title">Standard Arabic Vocabulary → Numbers and counting in Arabic → Ordinal numbers</div>
+In the previous lesson, we learned about cardinal numbers in Arabic, which are used to indicate quantity or the order of things. Now, let's take our understanding of numbers in Arabic to the next level by exploring ordinal numbers. Ordinal numbers are used to represent the position or order of objects, people, or events. They are an essential part of everyday communication, so let's dive in and learn how to form and use them in Arabic!
 __TOC__
-As a Standard Arabic teacher with 20 years of experience, I am thrilled to introduce you to the world of ordinal numbers in Arabic. This lesson is part of the "Complete 0 to A1 Standard Arabic Course", aimed at complete beginners who wish to acquire this beautiful language's fundamentals.
+== What are ordinal numbers? ==
+Ordinal numbers are words or numerals that indicate the position or order of something in a series. For example, "first," "second," "third," and so on. In English, we usually form ordinal numbers by adding the suffix "-th" to cardinal numbers, such as "fourth" or "fifth." Similarly, in Arabic, we have specific rules and patterns to form ordinal numbers.
+== Forming ordinal numbers in Arabic ==
+To form ordinal numbers in Arabic, we use a combination of cardinal numbers and specific patterns. The patterns for forming ordinal numbers in Arabic depend on the gender of the noun being counted and the formality of the context. Let's explore the different patterns for forming ordinal numbers in Arabic.
+=== Pattern 1: Masculine nouns ===
+When forming ordinal numbers for masculine nouns, we generally add the suffix "-أَوُّل" ("-awwal") to the cardinal number. Here are a few examples:
+* وَاحِد (waahid) - one
+  * الْأَوَّل (al-awwal) - first
+* اثْنَان (ithnaan) - two
+  * الثَّانِي (ath-thaani) - second
+* ثَلَاثَة (thalatha) - three
+  * الثَّالِث (ath-thaalis) - third
+* أَرْبَعَة (arbaata) - four
+  * الرَّابِع (ar-raabi) - fourth
+* خَمْسَة (khamsa) - five
+  * الْخَامِس (al-khaamis) - fifth
+In some cases, you may need to make slight changes to the cardinal number before adding the suffix. For example:
-In this lesson, we will move on from cardinal numbers and learn how to form and use ordinal numbers in Arabic. Ordinal numbers are used to indicate position, order, or ranking, like "first", "second", "third", etc.
+* سَتَّة (sittah) - six
+  * السَّادِس (as-saadis) - sixth
+* سَبْعَة (sabaa) - seven
+  * السَّابِع (as-saabi) - seventh
+* تِسْعَة (tisaa) - nine
+  * التَّاسِع (at-taasi) - ninth
-== Formation of Ordinal Numbers ==
+=== Pattern 2: Feminine nouns ===
+When forming ordinal numbers for feminine nouns, we generally add the suffix "-أَوْلَى" ("-awla") to the cardinal number. Here are a few examples:
-Forming ordinal numbers in Arabic is quite simple. Most often, you add the suffix "ّ" (-th) to the end of the cardinal number. Below is a table with the first ten ordinal numbers in Arabic:
+* وَاحِدَة (waahida) - one
+  * الْأُولَى (al-oola) - first
+* اثْنَتَانِ (ithnataan) - two
+  * الثَّانِيَة (ath-thaaniyah) - second
+* ثَلَاثَة (thalatha) - three
+  * الثَّالِثَة (ath-thaalisah) - third
+* أَرْبَعَة (arbaata) - four
+  * الرَّابِعَة (ar-raabiah) - fourth
+* خَمْسَة (khamsa) - five
+  * الْخَامِسَة (al-khaamisah) - fifth
-{| class="wikitable"
+Similarly to the masculine pattern, you may need to make slight changes to the cardinal number before adding the suffix for some numbers.
-! Cardinal Number !! Ordinal Number
-|-
+=== Pattern 3: Dual nouns ===
-| 1 || الأوّل (al-'awwal)
+In Arabic, we have a separate pattern for forming ordinal numbers with dual nouns. The dual form refers to two objects or people. To form ordinal numbers for dual nouns, we add the suffix "-أَوَّيْن" ("-awwayn") to the cardinal number. Here are a few examples:
-|-
-| 2 || الثاني (ath-thaani)
+* وَاحِدَيْنِ (waahidayn) - two
-|-
+  * الْأَوَّلَيْنِ (al-awwalayn) - first
-| 3 || الثالث (ath-thaalith)
+* ثَنْتَيْنِ (thnatain) - two
-|-
+  * الثَّانِيَيْنِ (ath-thaaniyayn) - second
-| 4 || الرابع (ar-raabi')
+* أَرْبَعَتَيْنِ (arbaatayn) - four
-|-
+  * الرَّابِعَيْنِ (ar-raabiayn) - fourth
-| 5 || الخامس (al-khaamis)
-|-
+=== Pattern 4: Informal usage ===
-| 6 || السادس (as-saadis)
+In informal contexts, especially in spoken Arabic, we often use the cardinal number itself as an ordinal number. This means that we don't add any specific suffixes or patterns. For example:
-|-
-| 7 || السابع (as-saabi')
+* وَاحِد (waahid) - one
-|-
+* اثْنَان (ithnaan) - two
-| 8 || الثامن (ath-thaamin)
+* ثَلَاثَة (thalatha) - three
-|-
+* أَرْبَعَة (arbaata) - four
-| 9 || التاسع (at-taasi')
+* خَمْسَة (khamsa) - five
-|-
-| 10 || العاشر (al-'aashir)
+It's important to note that this informal usage is more common in certain dialects and may vary from region to region.
-|}
+== Using ordinal numbers in Arabic ==
+Now that we know how to form ordinal numbers in Arabic, let's explore some common ways to use them in sentences.
+=== Indicating order ===
+Ordinal numbers are often used to indicate the order of things or events. For example:
+* أَنَا الثَّانِي فِي الصَّفِ. (Ana ath-thaani fi as-saffi.) - I am the second in line.
+* الْيَوْمُ هُوَ الْعَاشِرُ مِنْ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ. (Al-yawmu huwa al-aashiru min shahri Ramadan.) - Today is the tenth day of Ramadan.
+=== Describing dates ===
+Ordinal numbers are commonly used to describe dates in Arabic. For example:
-As you can see, the cardinal numbers one through three have their own unique ordinal form. The others follow the pattern of adding the suffix "-th" to the end of the cardinal number. The ordinal numbers agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, unlike the English language where only the article changes from "a" to "an".
+* الثَّانِي عَشَرُ مِنْ مَايُو (Ath-thaani 'ashar min Mayu) - The twelfth of May
+* الْعَاشِرَةُ صَبَاحًا (Al-'aashiratu sabahan) - Ten o'clock in the morning
-== Usage of Ordinal Numbers ==
+=== Expressing fractions ===
+Ordinal numbers can also be used to express fractions in Arabic. For example:
-Ordinal numbers have various uses in Arabic. Here are a few examples:
+* ثُلُثُ الْكِتَابِ (Thuluthu al-kitabi) - One-third of the book
+* نِصْفُ الْكَوْبِ (Nisfu al-kaubi) - Half of the cup
-* To indicate order:  الأوّل من الشهر‎‎ (al-'awwal min ash-shahr) - "the first of the month"
+=== Addressing royalty ===
-* To indicate rank: الطالب الأول في الصف (at-taalib al-'awwal fi as-saff) - "the first student in the row"
+In Arabic, ordinal numbers are used when addressing royalty or high-ranking individuals. For example:
-* To indicate sequence: الصف الثاني على اليسار (as-saff ath-thaanii 'ala al-yaasar) - "the second row on the left"
-== Exceptions ==
+* صَاحِبُ السَّمَوَاتِ الثَّالِثِ (Saahibu as-samaati ath-thaaliithi) - His Majesty the Third
-As with all rules, there are exceptions to the formation of ordinal numbers. The exceptions occur with the numbers 11 through 19, which are formed by adding the suffix "-th" to the end of the feminine form of the cardinal number, followed by the masculine form of the number. Examples:
+== Practice makes perfect ==
+Now it's time to practice forming and using ordinal numbers in Arabic. Here are a few exercises to help you reinforce your learning:
-* الحادي عشر (al-haadii 'ashar) - "eleventh"
+. Write the ordinal numbers for the following cardinal numbers:
-* الثانية عشرة (ath-thaaniiyah 'ashrah) - "twelfth"
+* وَاحِد (waahid) - ____________
-* الثالث عشر (ath-thaalith 'ashr) - "thirteenth"
+* ثَلَاثَة (thalatha) - ____________
-* الرابع عشر (ar-raabi' 'ashr) - "fourteenth"
+* خَمْسَة (khamsa) - ____________
+* سَبْعَة (sabaa) - ____________
-== Conclusion ==
+. Use ordinal numbers to complete the following sentences:
+* أَنَا الْـ____________ في العائلة. (Ana al-__________ fi al-'aailah) - I am the ______ in the family.
+* الْـ__________ عَشَرُ مِنْ شَهْرِ يَنَايِر. (Al-__________ 'ashar min shahri Yanayir) - The _______ of January.
-Congratulations! You have learned how to form and use ordinal numbers in Arabic. Practice using them in sentences or when discussing examples with your teacher or language partner. Understanding ordinal numbers is an important step in gaining a deeper proficiency in Arabic.
+. Describe the following fractions using ordinal numbers:
+* وَاحِدُ ____________ (waahidu ____________) - One ___________
+* ثُلُثُ ____________ (thuluthu ____________) - One ___________
-== Sources ==
+== Conclusion ==
-* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_numerals Arabic Numerals]
+Congratulations! You have now learned how to form and use ordinal numbers in Arabic. You can use ordinal numbers to indicate order, describe dates, express fractions, and even address royalty. Keep practicing and using ordinal numbers in your Arabic conversations to become more fluent and confident in your language skills.
-* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordinal_number_(linguistics) Ordinal Number]
+In the next lesson, we will continue our exploration of numbers and counting in Arabic by learning about ordinal numbers. See you there!
 {{#seo:
 |title=Standard Arabic Vocabulary → Numbers and counting in Arabic → Ordinal numbers
-|keywords=Standard Arabic, Vocabulary, Numbers, Counting, Ordinal numbers, Arabic language
+|keywords=Arabic ordinal numbers, Arabic numbers, Arabic counting, Arabic grammar, Arabic language
-|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to form and use ordinal numbers in Arabic. Ordinal numbers are used to indicate position, order, or ranking, like "first", "second", "third", etc.
+|description=Learn how to form and use ordinal numbers in Arabic. Practice forming ordinal numbers and using them in sentences. Enhance your Arabic language skills with this comprehensive lesson.
 }}
@@ Line 78: / Line 141: @@
 [[Category:0-to-A1-Course]]
 [[Category:Standard-arabic-0-to-A1-Course]]
+<span gpt></span> <span model=gpt-3.5-turbo-16k></span> <span temperature=0.7></span>
+==Sources==
+* [https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Days-of-the-week Standard-arabic Vocabulary - Days of the week]
-==Related Lessons==
+==Other Lessons==
 * [[Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Express-Surprise|Express Surprise]]
 * [[Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Means-of-Transport|Means of Transport]]
@@ Line 91: / Line 162: @@
 * [[Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Cooking|Cooking]]
 * [[Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Animal|Animal]]
 {{Standard-arabic-Page-Bottom}}
+<span pgnav>
+{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
+|[[Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Cardinal-numbers-1-100|◀️ Cardinal numbers 1-100 — Previous Lesson]]
+|[[Language/Standard-arabic/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-farewells|Next Lesson — Greetings and farewells ▶️]]
+|}
+</span>