Arabic Numbers 11-19: Mastering the Gender Flip
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
For numbers 13-19, the first part of the number flips gender against the noun, while 'ten' matches it.
- Number 11: Both parts match the noun gender (e.g., أحدَ عشرَ كوكباً).
- Number 12: Both parts match the noun gender (e.g., اثنتا عشرةَ سنةً).
- Numbers 13-19: The first part is opposite gender, the second part matches (e.g., ثلاثَ عشرةَ بنتًا).
Overview
Arabic numbers between 11 and 19 present a nuanced aspect of the language's grammatical system, particularly concerning gender agreement. These are known as الأعداد المركبة (al-aʿdād al-murakkabah), or compound numbers, as they combine a unit digit (أحد/إحدى for 1, اثنا/اثنتا for 2, and ثلاثة through تسعة for 3-9) with the number عشرة (ʿashara, ten). Mastering this range is crucial for achieving B1 proficiency, as it underpins accurate quantitative expression in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA).
Unlike English, where the number form remains static regardless of the noun it modifies, Arabic compound numbers exhibit intricate gender shifts and structural constancy. The primary challenge lies in the gender agreement between the two parts of the number (unit and ten) and the noun being counted, referred to as the تمييز (tamyīz) or specifier. This تمييز must always be singular, indefinite, and in the accusative case (منصوب, manṣūb).
A notable feature of numbers 11-19 (excluding the اثنا/اثنتا component of 12) is their indeclinability (مبني على فتح الجزأين, mabnī ʿalā fatḥ al-juzʾayn), meaning both parts of the number typically end in فتح (fatḥa) regardless of their grammatical function in a sentence. This characteristic simplifies case marking for the numbers themselves, shifting the grammatical complexity to their internal agreement and the subsequent تمييز.
For example, when counting masculine items, you might say أحد عشر كتابًا (aḥada ʿashara kitāban – eleven books), but for feminine items, إحدى عشرة مجلةً (iḥdā ʿashrata majallatan – eleven magazines). Notice the consistent fatḥa on the number components and the fatḥatayn (tanwīn fatḥ) on the singular counted noun كتابًا and مجلةً. This intricate system reflects a deep structural logic in Arabic numeration, which, once understood, reveals a coherent pattern rather than arbitrary rules.
How This Grammar Works
أحد عشر / إحدى عشرة) and 12 (اثنا عشر / اثنتا عشرة), both components of the compound number (the unit part and the 'ten' part) agree in gender with the noun being counted. This creates a harmonious, direct agreement.- For Masculine Nouns:
- 11:
أحد عشر(aḥada ʿashara) – Bothأحدandعشرare masculine. For instance,رأيتُ أحد عشر رجلاً(raʾaytu aḥada ʿashara rajulan – I saw eleven men). Here,أحد(one) is masculine,عشر(ten) is masculine, andرجلاً(man) is masculine. - 12:
اثنا عشر(ithnā ʿashara) in the nominative case, orاثني عشر(ithnay ʿashara) in the accusative/genitive. Bothاثنا/اثنيandعشرare masculine. For example,حضر اثنا عشر طالبًا(ḥaḍara ithnā ʿashara ṭāliban – Twelve students attended). If in accusative,قرأتُ اثني عشر كتابًا(qaraʾtu ithnay ʿashara kitāban – I read twelve books).
- For Feminine Nouns:
- 11:
إحدى عشرة(iḥdā ʿashrata) – Bothإحدىandعشرةare feminine. For instance,قضيتُ إحدى عشرة ليلةً(qaḍaytu iḥdā ʿashrata laylatan – I spent eleven nights).إحدى(one) is feminine,عشرة(ten) is feminine, andليلةً(night) is feminine. - 12:
اثنتا عشرة(ithnatā ʿashrata) in the nominative, orاثنتي عشرة(ithnatay ʿashrata) in the accusative/genitive. Bothاثنتا/اثنتيandعشرةare feminine. For example,اشترت اثنتا عشرة وردةً(ishtarat ithnatā ʿashrata wardatan – Twelve roses were bought). In accusative,شاهدتُ اثنتي عشرة نجمةً(shāhadtu ithnatay ʿashrata najmatan – I saw twelve stars).
ثلاثة through تسعة) takes the opposite gender of the noun being counted. Conversely, the second part (the 'ten' component, عشرة / عشر) agrees in gender with the noun.- For Masculine Nouns:
- The unit part (3-9) is feminine, and the 'ten' part is masculine. For example,
ثلاثة عشر رجلاً(thalāthata ʿashara rajulan – thirteen men). Here,ثلاثة(three) is feminine (withتَاء مربوطة, tāʾ marbūṭa),عشر(ten) is masculine, andرجلاً(man) is masculine. - Another example:
قرأتُ خمسة عشر كتابًا(qaraʾtu khamsata ʿashara kitāban – I read fifteen books).خمسة(five) is feminine,عشر(ten) is masculine,كتابًا(book) is masculine.
- For Feminine Nouns:
- The unit part (3-9) is masculine, and the 'ten' part is feminine. For example,
ثلاث عشرة امرأةً(thalāth ʿashrata imraʾatan – thirteen women). Here,ثلاث(three) is masculine (without tāʾ marbūṭa),عشرة(ten) is feminine, andامرأةً(woman) is feminine. - Another example:
اشتريتُ أربع عشرة مجلةً(ishtaraytu arbaʿ ʿashrata majallatan – I bought fourteen magazines).أربع(four) is masculine,عشرة(ten) is feminine,مجلةً(magazine) is feminine.
التمييز, al-tamyīz)تمييز) must always be:- Singular: Never plural.
أحد عشر كتابًا, notأحد عشر كتبًا. - Indefinite: It does not take the definite article
ال(al-). - Accusative Case (
منصوب): Marked with afatḥatayn(tanwīn fatḥ) ending (e.g.,كتابًا,مجلةً). This grammatical function is known asتمييز العدد(tamyīz al-ʿadad – specifier of number).
تمييز simplifies one aspect of counting, as you only need to recall the singular, accusative form of the noun. The complexity thus remains concentrated on the internal gender agreement within the compound number itself.Formation Pattern
تمييز is correctly structured. The consistency of the fatḥa ending on both parts of the number (except for 12's اثنا/اثني and اثنتا/اثنتي) simplifies their vocalization irrespective of their grammatical role (e.g., subject, object).
قلم (qalam – pen), يوم (yawm – day), طبيب (ṭabīb – doctor).
سيارة (sayyārah – car), ساعة (sāʿah – hour), غرفة (ghurfah – room). Remember that nouns ending in ة (tāʾ marbūṭa) are almost always feminine.
اثنا/اثنتا) is declinable.
تمييز singular accusative) |
أحد (aḥad) | عشر (ʿashar) | أحد عشر (aḥada ʿashara) | رأيتُ أحد عشرَ طالبًا (I saw eleven students) |
إحدى (iḥdā) | عشرة (ʿashrata) | إحدى عشرة (iḥdā ʿashrata) | اشتريتُ إحدى عشرةَ وردةً (I bought eleven roses) |
اثنا/اثني for masculine, اثنتا/اثنتي for feminine) behaves like a dual noun, declining based on its grammatical case (nominative, accusative, or genitive). The 'ten' part, عشر/عشرة, remains fixed with a fatḥa.
تمييز) |
اثنا (ithnā) | عشر (ʿashar) | اثنا عشر (ithnā ʿashara) | حضر اثنا عشرَ مدرسًا (Twelve male teachers attended) |
اثني (ithnay) | عشر (ʿashar) | اثني عشر (ithnay ʿashara) | قرأتُ اثني عشرَ كتابًا (I read twelve books) |
اثنتا (ithnatā) | عشرة (ʿashrata) | اثنتا عشرة (ithnatā ʿashrata) | حضرت اثنتا عشرةَ معلمةً (Twelve female teachers attended) |
اثنتي (ithnatay) | عشرة (ʿashrata) | اثنتي عشرة (ithnatay ʿashrata) | شاهدتُ اثنتي عشرةَ نجمةً (I saw twelve stars) |
عشر/عشرة) agrees in gender with the noun. Both parts typically end in fatḥa as they are indeclinable.
ثلاثة (thalāthata) (Feminine form) | ثلاث (thalāth) (Masculine form) |
أربعة (arbaʿata) (Feminine form) | أربع (arbaʿ) (Masculine form) |
خمسة (khamsata) (Feminine form) | خمس (khams) (Masculine form) |
ستة (sittata) (Feminine form) | ست (sitt) (Masculine form) |
سبعة (sabʿata) (Feminine form) | سبع (sabʿ) (Masculine form) |
ثمانية (thamāniyata) (Feminine form) | ثماني (thamāni) / ثمانٍ (thamānin) (Masculine form) |
تسعة (tisʿata) (Feminine form) | تسع (tisʿ) (Masculine form) |
ثمانية/ثماني): The form ثمانٍ is used when it's masculine and the counted noun follows immediately without ال. If definite or with a preposition, it may be الثماني or ثماني.
عشر/عشرة): Gender Agreement
عشر (ʿashara) |
عشرة (ʿashrata) |
خمسة عشرَ طالبًا (khamsata ʿashara ṭāliban). (خمسة is feminine, عشر is masculine, طالبًا is masculine).
سبع عشرةَ طالبةً (sabʿa ʿashrata ṭālibatan). (سبع is masculine, عشرة is feminine, طالبةً is feminine).
تسعة عشرَ كتابًا (tisʿata ʿashara kitāban). (تسعة is feminine, عشر is masculine, كتابًا is masculine).
تمييز (Specifier)
تمييز is the final element in the number phrase, specifying what is being counted. E.g., دقيقةً (daqīqatan – a minute), شهرًا (shahran – a month).
fatḥa) simplifies memorization, as اثنا/اثني and اثنتا/اثنتي are the primary exceptions requiring case consideration.
Gender & Agreement
- Numbers 1 and 2 (as standalone adjectives): Always agree in gender with the noun.
كتاب واحد(kitāb wāḥid – one book, masc-masc),سيارة واحدة(sayyārah wāḥidah – one car, fem-fem). In compound form (11, 12), this direct agreement is maintained and extended to both parts of the number. - Numbers 3 to 10: Always disagree (gender opposition) with the noun.
ثلاثة كتب(thalāthata kutub – three books, fem-masc plural),ثلاث سيارات(thalāth sayyārāt – three cars, masc-fem plural). Theتَاء مربوطة(tāʾ marbūṭa, ة) is added to the masculine form of the number to make it feminine when counting masculine nouns, and removed from the feminine form to make it masculine when counting feminine nouns. This rule of opposition is critical, as it forms the basis for the unit digit in numbers 13-19. - The Number 10 (
عشرة): When used alone,عشرةfollows the rule of 3-10, meaning it opposes the gender of the noun. E.g.,عشرة رجال(ʿashara rijāl – ten men, fem-masc plural),عشر نساء(ʿashr nisāʾ – ten women, masc-fem plural).
عشرة combines with the unit digits (1-9) to form compound numbers 11-19, its behavior changes. It transitions from an opposing force (when alone) to a concordant force when part of a compound. This shift is crucial for understanding the logic:- Numbers 11 & 12: The unit digits (1 and 2) intrinsically agree with the noun's gender. When combined with the 'ten' part, the 'ten' part also agrees. Thus, both components align with the noun's gender. This is seen in
أحد عشر رجلاً(aḥada ʿashara rajulan) – masc unit, masc ten, masc noun. Andإحدى عشرة امرأةً(iḥdā ʿashrata imraʾatan) – fem unit, fem ten, fem noun. The number acts as a single, fully gender-aligned entity.
- Numbers 13-19: The unit digits (3-9) intrinsically oppose the noun's gender. When they join
عشرة,عشرةretains its concordant role with the noun. Therefore, the first part (3-9) opposes the noun's gender, while the second part (عشر/عشرة) agrees with the noun's gender. This creates the
Gender Agreement for 13-19
| Number | Masculine Noun (e.g., Book) | Feminine Noun (e.g., Pen/Story) |
|---|---|---|
|
13
|
ثلاثَ عشرةَ كتابًا
|
ثلاثةَ عشرَ قصةً
|
|
14
|
أربعَ عشرةَ كتابًا
|
أربعةَ عشرَ قصةً
|
|
15
|
خمسَ عشرةَ كتابًا
|
خمسةَ عشرَ قصةً
|
|
16
|
ستَّ عشرةَ كتابًا
|
ستةَ عشرَ قصةً
|
|
17
|
سبعَ عشرةَ كتابًا
|
سبعةَ عشرَ قصةً
|
|
18
|
ثماني عشرةَ كتابًا
|
ثمانيةَ عشرَ قصةً
|
|
19
|
تسعَ عشرةَ كتابًا
|
تسعةَ عشرَ قصةً
|
Meanings
This rule governs the gender agreement between compound numerals (11-19) and the nouns they quantify.
Counting Objects
Used when specifying a quantity of items between 11 and 19.
“اشتريتُ أحدَ عشرَ كتابًا”
“في الفصلِ أربعَ عشرةَ طاولةً”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Number + Noun
|
ثلاثَ عشرةَ طالبةً
|
|
Negative
|
ما + Verb + Number + Noun
|
ما رأيتُ ثلاثَ عشرةَ طالبةً
|
|
Question
|
كم + Noun + Verb?
|
كم طالبةً رأيتَ؟
|
|
Short Answer
|
Number only
|
ثلاثَ عشرةَ
|
|
Masculine
|
Opposite + Same
|
ثلاثةَ عشرَ كتابًا
|
|
Feminine
|
Opposite + Same
|
ثلاثَ عشرةَ قصةً
|
Formality Spectrum
لديَّ ثلاثةَ عشرَ كتابًا. (Possession)
عندي ثلاثةَ عشرَ كتابًا. (Possession)
معي ثلاثةَ عشرَ كتاب. (Possession)
عندي تلاتاشر كتاب. (Possession)
The Gender Flip Logic
Masculine Noun
- ثلاثَ عشرةَ 13 (Fem-Masc)
Feminine Noun
- ثلاثةَ عشرَ 13 (Masc-Fem)
Examples by Level
عندي أحدَ عشرَ كتابًا
I have eleven books.
في الفصلِ اثنتا عشرةَ طالبةً
There are twelve female students in the class.
اشتريتُ ثلاثَ عشرةَ تفاحةً
I bought thirteen apples.
رأيتُ أربعَ عشرةَ سيارةً
I saw fourteen cars.
سافرتُ قبلَ خمسَ عشرةَ سنةً
I traveled fifteen years ago.
قرأتُ ستَّ عشرةَ قصةً
I read sixteen stories.
في الغرفةِ سبعَ عشرةَ طاولةً
There are seventeen tables in the room.
عندي ثماني عشرةَ دقيقةً
I have eighteen minutes.
وصلَ تسعَ عشرةَ طائرةً
Nineteen planes arrived.
رأيتُ أحدَ عشرَ رجلاً
I saw eleven men.
اشتريتُ اثني عشرَ قلمًا
I bought twelve pens.
أكلتُ ثلاثَ عشرةَ قطعةً
I ate thirteen pieces.
تتكونُ اللجنةُ من أربعَ عشرةَ عضوةً
The committee consists of fourteen members (female).
استغرقت الرحلةُ خمسَ عشرةَ ساعةً
The trip took fifteen hours.
هناك ستَّ عشرةَ مدينةً
There are sixteen cities.
سجلتُ سبعَ عشرةَ ملاحظةً
I recorded seventeen notes.
تضمُّ المكتبةُ ثماني عشرةَ مخطوطةً
The library houses eighteen manuscripts.
نحتاجُ تسعَ عشرةَ ورقةً
We need nineteen sheets of paper.
شاهدتُ أحدَ عشرَ فيلمًا
I watched eleven movies.
استقبلنا اثنتي عشرةَ ضيفةً
We received twelve guests (female).
تتطلبُ المهمةُ ثلاثَ عشرةَ خطوةً
The task requires thirteen steps.
تتضمنُ القائمةُ أربعَ عشرةَ مادةً
The list includes fourteen items.
قضيتُ خمسَ عشرةَ ليلةً
I spent fifteen nights.
تجاوزنا ستَّ عشرةَ عقبةً
We overcame sixteen obstacles.
Easily Confused
Learners confuse the simple flip of 3-10 with the compound flip of 13-19.
Learners try to apply the flip to 20-99.
Learners try to flip 11 and 12 like 13-19.
Common Mistakes
ثلاثة عشر طالبة
ثلاثَ عشرةَ طالبةً
ثلاث عشر طلاب
ثلاثةَ عشرَ طالباً
أحد عشرة كتاب
أحدَ عشرَ كتاباً
اثنان عشرة بنت
اثنتا عشرةَ بنتاً
خمسة عشرة دقيقة
خمسَ عشرةَ دقيقةً
ستة عشرة قصة
ستَّ عشرةَ قصةً
سبعة عشرة طاولة
سبعَ عشرةَ طاولةً
ثمانية عشرة دقيقة
ثماني عشرةَ دقيقةً
تسعة عشرة طائرة
تسعَ عشرةَ طائرةً
أربعة عشرة غرفة
أربعَ عشرةَ غرفةً
ثلاثة عشرة مخطوطة
ثلاثَ عشرةَ مخطوطةً
أربعة عشرة ورقة
أربعَ عشرةَ ورقةً
خمسة عشرة ليلة
خمسَ عشرةَ ليلةً
Sentence Patterns
عندي ___ ___.
رأيتُ ___ ___ في الشارع.
استغرقت الرحلةُ ___ ___.
في المكتبةِ ___ ___.
Real World Usage
أريدُ أربعَ عشرةَ غرفةً.
أريدُ ثلاثَ عشرةَ قطعةً.
شاهدتُ أحدَ عشرَ فيلمًا.
لديَّ خمسةَ عشرَ عامًا من الخبرة.
انتظرتُ ستَّ عشرةَ دقيقةً.
تتكونُ الدراسةُ من سبعةَ عشرَ فصلاً.
Check the Noun First
Don't Forget the Tanween
The 'Ten' is Your Friend
Dialect vs MSA
Smart Tips
Identify the noun gender first, then pick the opposite gender for the first digit.
Always use the singular accusative form for the noun.
Pause slightly before the noun to ensure you have the correct gender.
Remember: 11-12 match, 13-19 flip.
Pronunciation
Tanween
The noun after 11-19 always ends in a tanween fath (an sound).
Stress
The stress usually falls on the first part of the compound number.
Declarative
عندي ثلاثةَ عشرَ كتابًا ↘
Falling intonation for statements.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
The first digit is a rebel; it always goes against the noun. The 'ten' is a loyal friend; it always matches the noun.
Visual Association
Imagine a seesaw. If the noun is on the left (heavy/masculine), the first number digit sits on the right (light/feminine) to balance it out.
Rhyme
Thirteen to nineteen, the first part must flip, the second part matches, don't let it slip!
Story
Imagine a classroom with 13 boys. The boys are masculine, so the 'three' must be feminine (ثلاثَ). The 'ten' stays masculine (عشر). You see them walking in a line: 'ثلاثَ عشرَ ولداً'.
Word Web
Challenge
Look around your room and count 13-19 of any object you see, ensuring you flip the gender of the first digit.
Cultural Notes
In spoken Levantine, the gender flip is often ignored, and a simplified form is used.
Egyptian dialect often uses 'خمستاشر' instead of 'خمسة عشر'.
Formal MSA rules are strictly followed in media and official documents.
These compound numbers evolved from ancient Semitic counting systems where gender concord was strictly enforced.
Conversation Starters
كم كتاباً قرأتَ هذا الشهر؟
كم دقيقةً تحتاجُ للوصول؟
كم طالباً في صفِّك؟
كم سنةً تعيشُ هنا؟
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
عندي ___ عشرَ كتابًا.
رأيتُ ___ عشرةَ قصةً.
Find and fix the mistake:
عندي خمسة عشرة دقيقة.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I have 16 pens.
Answer starts with: عند...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
17 + Book (masc)
Numbers 11-12 flip gender.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesعندي ___ عشرَ كتابًا.
رأيتُ ___ عشرةَ قصةً.
Find and fix the mistake:
عندي خمسة عشرة دقيقة.
كتابًا / عشرَ / ثلاثة / عندي
I have 16 pens.
Match 13-19 with correct gender.
17 + Book (masc)
Numbers 11-12 flip gender.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesعملت لمدة ___ ساعة.
جاء ___ رجل.
عندي تسع عشر متابعاً.
رسالةً / عندي / ست / عشرة
Fifteen books
Match the pairs:
Select the correct one:
درجة الحرارة هي ___ درجة.
خمس عشرة سيارات.
Eleven players
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
They are considered 'fixed' compound numbers where both parts agree with the noun.
Yes, after 11-19, the noun is always singular and accusative.
It is grammatically incorrect in MSA.
Yes, but often in a simplified form.
No, the rule is consistent for all numbers 13-19.
Usually by the ta-marbuta ending.
Yes, it is required.
No, it is intuitive for them.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
trece libros
Arabic uses a compound structure and gender flip, Spanish does not.
treize livres
Arabic's gender flip is unique to Semitic languages.
dreizehn Bücher
Arabic's complex agreement is absent in German.
juusan satsu
Arabic is gender-based, Japanese is counter-based.
shisan ben
Arabic's gender flip is entirely absent.
shlosha asar
The underlying logic is identical.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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