في المرتبة العشرين
fi al-martaba al-'ishrin
In the twentieth place
Literally: In the rank the twentieth
In 15 Seconds
- Indicates the 20th position in any ranked list or hierarchy.
- Used in sports, economics, and personal preference lists.
- Grammatically simple as 'العشرين' remains the same for all genders.
Meaning
It describes something or someone holding the 20th position in a list, hierarchy, or competition. It's how you say something is 'ranked twentieth' in a sequence.
Key Examples
3 of 6Discussing a company's performance
شركتنا الآن في المرتبة العشرين عالمياً.
Our company is now in the twentieth place globally.
Talking about a marathon result
وصل العداء في المرتبة العشرين بعد سباق طويل.
The runner arrived in twentieth place after a long race.
Texting a friend about a long queue
أنا في المرتبة العشرين في طابور الخبز!
I am in the twentieth place in the bread line!
Cultural Background
In Egypt, the 'Top 20' students in the national high school exams (Thanaweya Amma) are celebrities for a day, with their names published in newspapers and their homes visited by the Minister of Education. Business rankings and 'Top 20' lists of influential leaders are very popular in Gulf business magazines like Forbes Middle East, reflecting a culture that values global competitiveness. In Lebanon and Jordan, academic ranking is highly emphasized in private schools, where being 'in the 20th rank' in a large class is seen as a solid, respectable achievement. In Morocco and Tunisia, formal rankings often follow the French administrative style, making 'في المرتبة العشرين' a common sight in official government gazettes.
The 'Ya' Rule
Always use 'العشرين' (with a Ya) after prepositions like 'في' or 'من'. Never use 'العشرون' in these cases.
Don't forget the 'Al'
Without the 'Al', you are just saying 'in rank twenty', which sounds like a room number rather than a competitive position.
In 15 Seconds
- Indicates the 20th position in any ranked list or hierarchy.
- Used in sports, economics, and personal preference lists.
- Grammatically simple as 'العشرين' remains the same for all genders.
What It Means
This phrase is all about order and hierarchy. It tells you exactly where something sits in a line. Imagine a long list of 100 items. This phrase points directly to number twenty. It is used for formal statistics. It is also used for personal opinions. It implies that there is a system of measurement. You are not just counting. You are assigning a specific status.
How To Use It
You usually place this phrase after a noun. You can also use it after a verb like جاء (came) or حلّ (occupied). For example, جاء أخي في المرتبة العشرين means 'My brother came in 20th place.' It is grammatically stable. The word العشرين doesn't change for gender. This makes it very easy to plug into sentences. It sounds sophisticated but remains very clear.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing global rankings. It is perfect for talking about the economy. Use it during sports events. If you are ranking your favorite movies, this works too. It is great for professional presentations. You can even use it when texting friends. It helps you sound precise and organized. It is a staple in news reporting and academic writing.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for dates. You wouldn't say 'The 20th of May' using مرتبة. Do not use it for simple counting. If you have 20 apples, just say عشرون تفاحة. Avoid using it if you want to be very vague. It is a specific number. Telling your partner they are 'in the 20th place' in your heart is a bad idea. That is a one-way ticket to the doghouse!
Cultural Background
In Arab cultures, academic and professional ranking is very important. High school results are often ranked nationally. Being in a 'rank' implies you have been evaluated. The word مرتبة also means 'rank' or 'grade' in a military or social sense. Historically, social hierarchies were clearly defined. Today, this language persists in how people discuss excellence and competition. It reflects a culture that values structured achievement.
Common Variations
You might hear في المركز العشرين (In the 20th center/position). This is almost identical in meaning. In some dialects, people might just say رقم عشرين (Number twenty). However, في المرتبة sounds much more elegant. It suggests a formal evaluation took place. If you want to sound like a pro, stick with المرتبة.
Usage Notes
This phrase is highly versatile across all registers of Arabic. It is grammatically straightforward because 'العشرين' is an indeclinable sound masculine plural form in this context (it stays 'العشرين' regardless of the case of 'المرتبة').
The 'Ya' Rule
Always use 'العشرين' (with a Ya) after prepositions like 'في' or 'من'. Never use 'العشرون' in these cases.
Don't forget the 'Al'
Without the 'Al', you are just saying 'in rank twenty', which sounds like a room number rather than a competitive position.
Rankings Matter
In formal Arabic writing, citing a specific rank like 'the 20th' adds significant credibility to your argument.
Examples
6شركتنا الآن في المرتبة العشرين عالمياً.
Our company is now in the twentieth place globally.
Used here to show a formal business ranking.
وصل العداء في المرتبة العشرين بعد سباق طويل.
The runner arrived in twentieth place after a long race.
Standard use for sports results.
أنا في المرتبة العشرين في طابور الخبز!
I am in the twentieth place in the bread line!
Using formal ranking language for a mundane task adds a bit of drama.
أشعر أنني في المرتبة العشرين من اهتماماتك.
I feel like I am in the twentieth place of your interests.
Used metaphorically to show low priority.
هذا الفيلم في المرتبة العشرين في قائمتي المفضلة.
This movie is in the twentieth place on my favorites list.
Used for personal categorization.
تحتل الدولة المرتبة العشرين في تصدير النفط.
The country occupies the twentieth rank in oil exports.
Very formal, typical of news or academic papers.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrase.
حلّت الشركة في _______ العشرين في قائمة فوربس.
The definite article 'ال' is required for formal rankings.
Choose the grammatically correct sentence.
Which of these is correct?
The preposition 'في' requires the genitive 'العشرين'.
Match the situation to the most appropriate use of the phrase.
A news anchor reporting on a country's GDP ranking.
Formal news reporting requires the full MSA expression.
Complete the dialogue.
المذيع: أين تقع جامعتنا عالمياً؟ المحلل: _________.
The preposition 'في' is standard for expressing location within a ranking.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesحلّت الشركة في _______ العشرين في قائمة فوربس.
The definite article 'ال' is required for formal rankings.
Which of these is correct?
The preposition 'في' requires the genitive 'العشرين'.
A news anchor reporting on a country's GDP ranking.
Formal news reporting requires the full MSA expression.
المذيع: أين تقع جامعتنا عالمياً؟ المحلل: _________.
The preposition 'في' is standard for expressing location within a ranking.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, 'المركز العشرين' is very common, especially in sports and competitions. 'المرتبة' is slightly more formal and used in academic or economic contexts.
Because of the preposition 'في'. In Arabic, prepositions put the following words in the genitive case. For numbers like 20, 30, 40, the genitive ending is '-in'.
Generally, yes. It implies being in the top tier of a large group, though the 'Top 10' is the ultimate goal for prestige.
You say 'المرتبة الحادية والعشرون' (nominative) or 'المرتبة الحادية والعشرين' (genitive).
Related Phrases
في المركز العشرين
synonymIn the 20th position
من بين العشرين الأوائل
similarAmong the top twenty
في المرتبة الأخيرة
contrastIn the last rank
ترتيباً تنازلياً
builds onIn descending order
