While English only has plural and singular forms of nouns, Arabic also has the dual form to denote two of something. Adjectives that describe a dual noun will also be in dual form.

Forming dual nouns

To form a dual noun, a suffix is added:

انِ (-ani) or ينِ (ayni)

The انِ (-ani) suffix is used for nouns (and adjectives) in the nominative case, that is when the noun is the subject of the sentence.

For example:

• كنابانِ (kitabani) - two books
• طلفانِ (tilfani) - two kids

Note that in casual speech (colloquial), the final kasra is usually not pronounced.

A different suffix (ينِ or “-ayni”) is used for words that are in the accusative (object of the sentence) or genitive (object of a preposition) case.

For example:

• أكلتُ تفاحينِ (akaltu tufaahayni) - I ate two apples.
• في كتابينِ (fi kitabayni) - in two books

When a word ends in a ta marbuta, the ta marbuta is becomes a ت (”ta”).

Learning numbers in Arabic and how to use them is one of the more challenging aspects of learning the language. One reason they are difficult is that Arabic uses alternative digits (Hindi numerals), though sometimes the same digits used in English are used in Arabic.

- 0 (zero) - صِفْر (sifr)

- 1 (one) - واحد (wahid)

- 2 (two) - اثنان (ithnan)

- 3 (three) - ثَلاثة (thalatha)

- 4 (four) - أربَعة (arba’)

- 5 (five) - خَمْسة (khamsa)

- 6 (six) - ستًة (sitta)

- 7 (seven) - سَبْعة (saba’a)

- 8 (eight) - ثمانية (thamania)

- 9 (nine) - تسْعة (tisa’a')

- 10 (ten) - عَشَرة (ashara)

These numerals are used on money, sometimes on gas station signs to show the price, and other places. Here is a 100 Egyptian pound bill:

Now, listen to the Arabic numbers from one to ten:

In Arabic, there are both masculine and feminine forms of the numbers, with grammar rules about when to use which gender. Further discussion of this will come later.