في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة
fi al-martaba al-tasi'a 'ashra
In the nineteenth place
Literally: In the rank the ninth ten
In 15 Seconds
- Specifies the 19th position in a formal list or ranking.
- Requires feminine gender agreement with the noun 'al-martaba'.
- Common in news, sports, and professional data reporting.
Meaning
This phrase is used to specify that someone or something occupies the 19th position in a ranked list, competition, or hierarchy. It is the precise way to say 'in nineteenth place' when you are dealing with formal rankings or statistics.
Key Examples
3 of 6Reporting sports results
جاء العداء المغربي في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة.
The Moroccan runner came in nineteenth place.
Discussing global statistics
تقع مدينتنا في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة من حيث جودة الهواء.
Our city ranks nineteenth in terms of air quality.
Texting a friend about a test
تخيل! اسمي في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة في قائمة الناجحين.
Imagine! My name is 19th on the list of successful candidates.
Cultural Background
In many Arab countries, students are ranked numerically in their class. Being in the '19th rank' is a specific identifier of academic standing that is shared with parents. Channels like beIN Sports use this formal terminology constantly to describe the standing of Arab teams in FIFA or Olympic rankings. Gulf countries often highlight their rankings in global ease-of-doing-business or innovation indices to attract investment. The concept of 'Martaba' is deeply rooted in the 'Adab' (etiquette) of the royal courts, where your rank determined your proximity to the Caliph.
The Fatha Rule
Always keep the fatha on both parts of 'Tasi'ata Ashrata'. It never changes, which makes it easier once you memorize it!
Gender Matching
If you switch to 'Markaz' (masculine), you MUST switch the number to 'Al-Tasi' Ashar'. Mixing them is a sign of a beginner.
In 15 Seconds
- Specifies the 19th position in a formal list or ranking.
- Requires feminine gender agreement with the noun 'al-martaba'.
- Common in news, sports, and professional data reporting.
What It Means
When you hear في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة, you are looking at a specific spot on a ladder. It is not the top, but it is certainly not the bottom. In Arabic, this phrase is the go-to for expressing ordinal numbers in a formal context. The word مرتبة means rank or status, and التاسعة عشرة is the feminine form of nineteenth. Because مرتبة is a feminine noun, the number must match its gender. It sounds very precise and professional, like something you would hear on a news broadcast or read in an economic report.
How To Use It
You use this phrase to describe a result. Think of it as a slot in a sequence. You will usually see it following a subject and a verb like 'came' or 'ranked.' For example, if a country is ranked 19th in the world for coffee consumption, you would use this exact phrase. It is a compound ordinal number, which means it has two parts that stay together. In Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), both parts of the number (9 and 10) usually take a 'fatha' (the 'a' sound) at the end, regardless of their position in the sentence. It is a bit of a grammatical quirk, but it makes you sound very educated!
When To Use It
This is a phrase for the 'serious' moments. Use it when you are discussing sports results, like a marathon runner finishing 19th. It is perfect for business meetings when discussing market shares or company rankings. If you are texting a friend about a list of the 'Top 50 Best Movies' and your favorite is near the middle, this phrase works perfectly. It adds a touch of sophistication to your speech. You will also find it in academic writing or when analyzing data sets.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very slangy, street-level conversations. If you are just hanging out and want to say 'I was 19th in line for shawarma,' using في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة might sound a bit too 'news anchor' for the occasion. In casual dialects, people often simplify numbers or use different words for 'place.' Also, do not use it if the noun you are describing is masculine. If you are talking about المركز (the center/position), which is masculine, you must change the phrase to في المركز التاسع عشر. Using the wrong gender is a common slip-up, so keep an eye on that noun!
Cultural Background
Arabic culture places a high value on eloquence and 'Fusha' (Modern Standard Arabic). Being able to navigate the complex rules of numbers is often seen as a sign of a well-educated person. Historically, Arabic scholars were obsessed with classification and ranking, from poetry competitions to scientific discoveries. This phrase is a modern continuation of that love for order and precision. While the number 19 itself doesn't have a specific mystical meaning in this context, the structure of the phrase reflects the architectural beauty of Arabic grammar.
Common Variations
The most common variation is في المركز التاسع عشر. As mentioned, المركز is masculine, so the number drops the 'ah' (ة) sound. You might also hear حلّ في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة, where حلّ means 'to land' or 'to occupy.' In some contexts, you might see الترتيب التاسع عشر, which means 'the 19th arrangement.' If you want to be even more concise, you could just say التاسع عشر if the context of ranking is already established.
Usage Notes
This phrase belongs to the high-register Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It is strictly formal. Ensure you maintain the 'fatha' on both parts of the number for grammatical accuracy.
The Fatha Rule
Always keep the fatha on both parts of 'Tasi'ata Ashrata'. It never changes, which makes it easier once you memorize it!
Gender Matching
If you switch to 'Markaz' (masculine), you MUST switch the number to 'Al-Tasi' Ashar'. Mixing them is a sign of a beginner.
Modesty in Ranking
In some contexts, being in the 19th rank is seen as a very humble but respectable position, often used to show progress from a lower rank.
Examples
6جاء العداء المغربي في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة.
The Moroccan runner came in nineteenth place.
Standard use in sports journalism.
تقع مدينتنا في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة من حيث جودة الهواء.
Our city ranks nineteenth in terms of air quality.
Used to present data or facts.
تخيل! اسمي في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة في قائمة الناجحين.
Imagine! My name is 19th on the list of successful candidates.
Slightly formal but used to emphasize the exact rank.
أنا دائماً في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة من حيث اهتمام العائلة!
I'm always in nineteenth place when it comes to the family's attention!
Hyperbole used for a bit of dry humor.
شركتنا حالياً في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة في السوق المحلي.
Our company is currently in nineteenth place in the local market.
Formal business context.
أن أكون في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة بين ألف متسابق هو فخر لي.
To be in nineteenth place among a thousand contestants is a source of pride for me.
Expressing a sense of accomplishment.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the ordinal number.
حلت الشركة في المرتبة _______ في قائمة أفضل الشركات.
The noun 'المرتبة' is feminine and definite, so the ordinal must be 'التاسعة عشرة'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct in Modern Standard Arabic?
Select the correct sentence:
The compound ordinal 11-19 is fixed with fatha on both parts.
Match the phrase to the most appropriate context.
Where would you most likely hear 'في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة'?
This is a formal statistical expression used in reporting.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
المذيع: أين يقع المنتخب الوطني حالياً؟ المحلل: بعد الخسارة الأخيرة، أصبح المنتخب _______.
This is the most formal and appropriate response for a news analyst.
Match the Arabic phrase with its English equivalent.
Match the following:
Direct translation of the ordinal ranking.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Where to use 'Martaba'
Sports
- • FIFA Rankings
- • Olympic Results
- • League Table
Economy
- • GDP Rank
- • Inflation Index
- • Stock Market
Practice Bank
5 exercisesحلت الشركة في المرتبة _______ في قائمة أفضل الشركات.
The noun 'المرتبة' is feminine and definite, so the ordinal must be 'التاسعة عشرة'.
Select the correct sentence:
The compound ordinal 11-19 is fixed with fatha on both parts.
Where would you most likely hear 'في المرتبة التاسعة عشرة'?
This is a formal statistical expression used in reporting.
المذيع: أين يقع المنتخب الوطني حالياً؟ المحلل: بعد الخسارة الأخيرة، أصبح المنتخب _______.
This is the most formal and appropriate response for a news analyst.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Direct translation of the ordinal ranking.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsBecause 'Martaba' is feminine, the ordinal number must also be feminine. The 'ta marbuta' (ة) is added to both parts of the compound number.
No, for dates we usually say 'اليوم التاسع عشر من...' without the word 'Martaba'.
It can be, but 'Martaba' usually implies a comparative rank, while 'Mustawa' is used for a general level of skill.
The word 'Darajat' (ranks) is more common in the Quran, but the root R-T-B exists in classical Arabic.
You would say 'el-markaz et-tisa'tashar'.
Related Phrases
في المركز التاسع عشر
synonymIn the 19th center/position
المرتبة الأولى
similarThe first rank
تذيل القائمة
contrastTo be at the bottom of the list
تصنيف عالمي
builds onGlobal ranking
بفارق ضئيل
specialized formBy a small margin
