Numbers 20–99

Put the units before the tens to form numbers such as twenty-one and forty-two.

Reading the Latin spelling

This is a simplified learning transcription adapted from the source, not a phonetic alphabet. sh = ش, kh = خ, gh = غ, 3 = ع, and 7 = ح. The numbers represent sounds. Dotted ṣ, ṭ and ḍ mark emphatic consonants; doubled letters indicate a longer consonant. Regional pronunciation and spelling can vary.

Multiples of ten

• Twenty

  عشرين

  3shrin

• Thirty

  تلاتين

  tlatin

• Forty

  ربعين

  rb3in

• Fifty

  خمسين

  khmsin

• Sixty

  ستين

  sttin

• Seventy

  سبعين

  sb3in

• Eighty

  تمانين

  tmanin

• Ninety

  تسعين

  ts3in

Units + u + tens

The order is “one and twenty,” rather than “twenty-one.” The linking word u means “and.” For a number ending in two, use tnayn in this construction, rather than the stand-alone juj.

• Twenty-one

  واحد و عشرين

  wa7d u 3shrin

• Twenty-two

  تنين و عشرين

  tnayn u 3shrin

• Twenty-three

  تلاتة و عشرين

  tlata u 3shrin

• Twenty-four

  ربعة و عشرين

  rb3a u 3shrin

• Thirty-one

  واحد و تلاتين

  wa7d u tlatin

• Thirty-two

  تنين و تلاتين

  tnayn u tlatin

• Thirty-three

  تلاتة و تلاتين

  tlata u tlatin

• Forty-one

  واحد و ربعين

  wa7d u rb3in

• Forty-two

  تنين و ربعين

  tnayn u rb3in

• Ninety-nine

  تسعود و تسعين

  ts3ud u ts3in

Try it

Point to a number ending in two and say its units first. Then find the word u and finish with the tens.

Source and audio

Adapted for LearnLahja from Peace Corps/Morocco, Basic Introduction to Arabic, lesson 21 (PDF page 16). English learning notes, layout and simplified Latin spelling are editorial adaptations. LearnLahja is independent and is not endorsed by Peace Corps.

Audio unavailable. The source names a recording covering lessons 19–21, but no playable recording has been verified for this lesson.