Language/Moroccan-arabic/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-Counting
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Introduction
In this lesson, we will focus on learning how to count and use numbers in Moroccan Arabic. Numbers are an essential part of any language, and they play a crucial role in everyday communication. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently count and use numbers in various contexts in Moroccan Arabic.
Why is it important to learn numbers and counting in Moroccan Arabic?
Numbers are used in various situations in everyday life, such as telling time, expressing quantities, and discussing prices. Whether you are traveling to Morocco, communicating with Moroccan friends or colleagues, or simply interested in the language and culture, learning numbers in Moroccan Arabic will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively.
Understanding and using numbers correctly is also essential for basic transactions, such as shopping, ordering food, and asking for directions. By mastering numbers and counting in Moroccan Arabic, you will be able to navigate daily interactions with confidence and ease.
Lesson Structure
This lesson is divided into several sections to ensure a comprehensive understanding of numbers and counting in Moroccan Arabic. We will start by exploring the basic numbers from 0 to 10, gradually progressing to larger numbers and more complex counting patterns. Each section will include clear explanations, examples, and practice exercises to reinforce your learning.
Basic Numbers
Let's begin by learning the basic numbers from 0 to 10 in Moroccan Arabic. These numbers are the building blocks for counting in Moroccan Arabic, and they will serve as a foundation for the more advanced numbers we will cover later in the lesson.
Moroccan Arabic | Pronunciation | English Translation |
---|---|---|
صفر (sifr) | seefr | Zero |
واحد (wāḥid) | wahid | One |
اتنين (itnīn) | itneen | Two |
تلاتة (tlāta) | tlata | Three |
أربعة (arbaʿa) | arbaa | Four |
خمسة (khamsa) | khamsa | Five |
ستة (sitta) | sita | Six |
سبعة (sabʿa) | sabaa | Seven |
تمنية (tmanya) | tmanya | Eight |
تسعة (tsʿa) | tisaa | Nine |
عشرة (ʿshra) | ashra | Ten |
Now, let's practice using these numbers in context.
Examples:
- I have 3 apples.
- عندي تلاتة تفاحات. - ʿndi tlata tfahat.
- She bought 6 books.
- اشريت ستة كتب. - shrit sita kutb.
- We need 9 chairs for the meeting.
- غدينا نحتاجو تسعة كراسي للإجتماع. - ghadina nhtajw tsaa krasī llijtmāʿ.
Counting from 11 to 20
Now that we are familiar with the basic numbers, let's move on to the numbers from 11 to 20 in Moroccan Arabic. In this range, the numbers are formed by combining the words for "ten" (عشرة) and the basic numbers we have already learned.
To form the numbers from 11 to 19, we start with the word for "ten" (عشرة) and add the corresponding basic number. For example, to say "eleven," we combine "ten" (عشرة) and "one" (واحد) to get "عشرة واحد" (ʿshra wahid).
Moroccan Arabic | Pronunciation | English Translation |
---|---|---|
عشرة واحد (ʿshra wahid) | ʿshra wahid | Eleven |
عشرة اتنين (ʿshra itneen) | ʿshra itneen | Twelve |
عشرة تلاتة (ʿshra tlāta) | ʿshra tlata | Thirteen |
عشرة أربعة (ʿshra arbaʿa) | ʿshra arbaa | Fourteen |
عشرة خمسة (ʿshra khamsa) | ʿshra khamsa | Fifteen |
عشرة ستة (ʿshra sitta) | ʿshra sita | Sixteen |
عشرة سبعة (ʿshra sabʿa) | ʿshra sabaa | Seventeen |
عشرة تمنية (ʿshra tmanya) | ʿshra tmanya | Eighteen |
عشرة تسعة (ʿshra tsʿa) | ʿshra tisaa | Nineteen |
عشرين (ʿshrīn) | ʿshreen | Twenty |
Examples:
- She has fifteen cats.
- عندها خمسة عشر قطة. - ʿndha khamsa ʿshr qta.
- We are meeting at eighteen o'clock.
- غادي نلتقيو على الثمانية. - ghadi nltqiw ʿla tmanya.
- There are nineteen students in the class.
- فيه تسعة عشر طالب في الصف. - fih tisaa ʿshr ṭalb fī ṣṣf.
Counting from 20 to 100
Now that we have learned the numbers from 0 to 19, let's move on to counting from 20 to 100 in Moroccan Arabic.
To form the numbers from 20 to 99, we follow a similar pattern to the one we used for the numbers from 11 to 19. We start with the word for the tens place (عشرين for 20, ثلاثين for 30, and so on) and add the corresponding basic number for the ones place.
Moroccan Arabic | Pronunciation | English Translation |
---|---|---|
عشرين واحد (ʿshrīn wahid) | ʿshreen wahid | Twenty-one |
عشرين اتنين (ʿshrīn itneen) | ʿshreen itneen | Twenty-two |
عشرين تلاتة (ʿshrīn tlāta) | ʿshreen tlata | Twenty-three |
عشرين أربعة (ʿshrīn arbaʿa) | ʿshreen arbaa | Twenty-four |
عشرين خمسة (ʿshrīn khamsa) | ʿshreen khamsa | Twenty-five |
عشرين ستة (ʿshrīn sitta) | ʿshreen sita | Twenty-six |
عشرين سبعة (ʿshrīn sabʿa) | ʿshreen sabaa | Twenty-seven |
عشرين تمنية (ʿshrīn tmanya) | ʿshreen tmanya | Twenty-eight |
عشرين تسعة (ʿshrīn tsʿa) | ʿshreen tisaa | Twenty-nine |
ثلاثين (thalathīn) | thalathīn | Thirty |
أربعين (arbaʿīn) | arbaʿīn | Forty |
خمسين (khamsīn) | khamsīn | Fifty |
ستين (sittīn) | sittīn | Sixty |
سبعين (sabʿīn) | sabʿīn | Seventy |
تمانين (tmanīn) | tmanīn | Eighty |
تسعين (tsʿīn) | tsʿīn | Ninety |
مية (miya) | miya | One hundred |
Examples:
- I have forty-two cousins.
- عندي أربعين اتنين ابن عم. - ʿndi arbaʿīn itneen ibn ʿam.
- The temperature today is sixty-five degrees.
- درجة الحرارة اليوم ستة وخمسين درجة. - darja lḥarara lywm sita wkhamsin darja.
- We need eighty chairs for the conference.
- غدينا نحتاجو تمانين كرسي للمؤتمر. - ghadina nhtajw tmanīn krasī lilmūtamar.
Counting Beyond 100
Now that we have covered counting from 0 to 100, let's move on to larger numbers in Moroccan Arabic. The pattern for counting beyond 100 is quite straightforward. We use the word for "hundred" (مية) and combine it with the basic numbers we have already learned.
To form numbers beyond 100, we start with the word for "hundred" (مية) and add the corresponding number for the hundreds place. For example, to say "two hundred," we combine "hundred" (مية) and "two" (اتنين) to get "مية اتنين" (miya itneen).
Moroccan Arabic | Pronunciation | English Translation |
---|---|---|
مية واحد (miya wahid) | miya wahid | One hundred one |
مية اتنين (miya itneen) | miya itneen | Two hundred |
مية تلاتة (miya tlāta) | miya tlata | Three hundred |
مية أربعة (miya arbaʿa) | miya arbaa | Four hundred |
مية خمسة (miya khamsa) | miya khamsa | Five hundred |
مية ستة (miya sitta) | miya sita | Six hundred |
مية سبعة (miya sabʿa) | miya sabaa | Seven hundred |
مية تمنية (miya tmanya) | miya tmanya | Eight hundred |
مية تسعة (miya tsʿa) | miya tisaa | Nine hundred |
ألف (alf) | alf | One thousand |
Examples:
- The population of the city is seven hundred fifty thousand.
- عدد سكان المدينة سبعة مية خمسين ألف. - ʿdd skān lmdīna sbʿa miya khamsīn alf.
- She has one thousand two hundred dollars.
- عندها ألف ومية اتنين دولار. - ʿndha alf wmiya itneen dular.
- We need three hundred fifty chairs for the event.
- غدينا نحتاجو تلاتة مية خمسين كرسي للحدث. - ghadina nhtajw tlata miya khamsīn krasī llhadaṯ.
Cultural Insights
Counting and numbers play a significant role in Moroccan culture. Here are some interesting cultural insights related to numbers in Morocco:
- Superstitions: Like many other cultures, Moroccans have their fair share of superstitions related to numbers. For example, the number 7 is considered lucky, while the number 13 is often associated with bad luck. It's not uncommon to find buildings without a 13th floor or hotel rooms without the number 13.
- Bargaining and haggling: When shopping in markets or souks in Morocco, bargaining is a common practice. Knowing numbers and counting in Moroccan Arabic will greatly enhance your ability to negotiate prices and make successful purchases. Remember to use your newfound language skills to your advantage and engage in friendly haggling.
- Time perception: Moroccans have a more relaxed perception of time compared to some Western cultures. It's not uncommon for appointments and meetings to start a bit later than scheduled. Understanding numbers and telling time in Moroccan Arabic will help you navigate these cultural differences and adjust your expectations accordingly.
- Time-based greetings: In Moroccan Arabic, there are specific greetings used during different times of the day. Knowing numbers and how to tell time will allow you to use these greetings appropriately. For example, "صباح الخير" (sabah al-khair) is used in the morning, "مساء الخير" (masa al-khair) in the evening, and "ليلة سعيدة" (layla sa'ida) at night.
Exercises
Now it's time to practice what you have learned. Complete the following exercises to reinforce your understanding of numbers and counting in Moroccan Arabic.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the correct numbers in Moroccan Arabic.
1. أنا عندي _____ أصدقاء. 2. هو اشترى _____ كتاب. 3. نحتاج _____ كراسي للحفلة. 4. هناك _____ تلميذ في الفصل. 5. عندهم _____ تفاحة في السلة.
Solution:
1. أنا عندي ثلاثة أصدقاء. 2. هو اشترى ستة كتاب. 3. نحتاج عشرين كرسي للحفلة. 4. هناك تسعة تلميذ في الفصل. 5. عندهم خمسة تفاحة في السلة.
Exercise 2: Translate the Numbers
Translate the following numbers from English to Moroccan Arabic.
1. Seventeen 2. Forty-five 3. Eighty-three 4. One hundred and ten 5. Two hundred and fifty
Solution:
1. سبعة عشر (sabʿa ʿshr) 2. خمسة وأربعين (khamsa w'arbaʿīn) 3. ثلاثة وثمانين (thalathah wtmanīn) 4. مية وعشرة (miya wʿshr) 5. مية وخمسين (miya wkhamsīn)
Exercise 3: Counting Practice
Count from 1 to 10 in Moroccan Arabic.
Solution:
1. واحد (wāḥid) 2. اتنين (itnīn) 3. تلاتة (tlāta) 4. أربعة (arbaʿa) 5. خمسة (khamsa) 6. ستة (sitta) 7. سبعة (sabʿa) 8. تمنية (tmanya) 9. تسعة (tsʿa) 10. عشرة (ʿshra)
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have now learned how to count and use numbers in Moroccan Arabic. This essential skill will greatly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in various situations, from shopping and bargaining to telling time and expressing quantities.
Continue practicing and reinforcing your knowledge of numbers, and soon you will be able to confidently navigate daily interactions in Moroccan Arabic. Remember to embrace the cultural insights and use your language skills to connect with the people and culture of Morocco.
Keep up the great work, and in the next lesson, we will explore more vocabulary and phrases related to greetings and basic phrases in Moroccan Arabic.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Adjectives in Moroccan Arabic
- Describing Food
- Beverages and Ordering Drinks
- Thanking expressions
- Taking a Taxi
- Beach
- Quantity in Moroccan Arabic
- Seasons and Climate
- Shopping for Clothes
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