Learn Arabic: Numbers 1–20

Learning to count is one of the most practical steps you can take when starting your Arabic journey. This lesson covers the essential numbers from zero to twenty, which are foundational for tasks like telling time, discussing prices, and identifying dates. By mastering this range, you gain the ability to handle basic transactions and share personal information in everyday conversations.

A key pattern to notice in this list is how the numbers eleven through nineteen are constructed. These are compound words that combine the basic units with a modified version of the word for ten, which appears here as 'ashar. For example, while the number three is Thalaathah, thirteen becomes Thalaathata 'ashar. This logical structure continues throughout the teens, such as with Arba'ata 'ashar for fourteen and Khamsata 'ashar for fifteen. Once you have memorized the primary digits like Waahid (one) and Ithnaan (two), the teen sequence becomes much more intuitive to learn.

Starting with Sifr (zero), you will work your way up to the milestone of Ishroon (twenty). Pay close attention to how the unit numbers from three to nine provide the root for their corresponding teen forms. Understanding this relationship not only helps with memorization but also prepares you for the way larger numbers are formed in the future. Mastering these first twenty numbers provides a vital stepping stone for understanding the logic of the entire Arabic numerical system.