في المرتبة الثامنة
fy almrtb althamn
In the eighth place
Literally: In the rank the eighth
In 15 Seconds
- Used for ranking something as number eight in a list.
- Common in sports, news, and academic achievement contexts.
- Requires the feminine form 'الثامنة' to match the noun 'المرتبة'.
Meaning
This phrase is used to describe something or someone that holds the eighth position in a ranked list, competition, or hierarchy. It is the standard way to say 'in eighth place' when you're looking at statistics, sports results, or global standings.
Key Examples
3 of 6Discussing sports results
جاء منتخبنا الوطني في المرتبة الثامنة في البطولة.
Our national team came in eighth place in the tournament.
Analyzing economic data
تحتل هذه الشركة المرتبة الثامنة عالمياً.
This company occupies the eighth rank globally.
Texting a friend about a race
تخيل! وصلت في المرتبة الثامنة رغم التعب.
Imagine! I finished in eighth place despite being tired.
Cultural Background
Rankings in education are extremely important. Being in the 'Top 10' (العشرة الأوائل) is a major social achievement celebrated in newspapers. In business and government reports, 'Martaba' is used to show progress in global competitiveness indices. The word 'Martaba' was used to describe levels of heaven or ranks of angels in classical literature. Arabic news channels like Al Jazeera use this phrase constantly for economic data visualizations.
Gender Match
Always check the gender of the noun. If you use 'Markaz' (masculine), change 'Thamina' to 'Thamin'.
Verbal Flow
Use the verb 'Ja'a' (came) or 'Halla' (landed) before the phrase to sound more like a native news anchor.
In 15 Seconds
- Used for ranking something as number eight in a list.
- Common in sports, news, and academic achievement contexts.
- Requires the feminine form 'الثامنة' to match the noun 'المرتبة'.
What It Means
في المرتبة الثامنة is all about order. It tells you exactly where something sits in a sequence. It’s not just about the number eight. It’s about the status of being eighth. Think of it as a label for a specific slot in a Top 10 list. If your favorite football team finishes the season here, they are doing okay, but not great. It implies there are seven others ahead and many others behind.
How To Use It
You usually pair this phrase with verbs of 'coming' or 'occupying.' The most common verb is جاء (came) or حلّ (landed/occupied). For example, you would say جاء الفريق في المرتبة الثامنة (The team came in eighth place). You don't need much else to make the sentence work. It’s a complete thought on its own. Just remember that المرتبة is a feminine noun. This means the number الثامنة must also be feminine to match it.
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase for formal reports or news. If you’re discussing the economy, you might say a country ranks eighth in exports. In sports, it’s used for league tables or race results. You can also use it in school settings. If you were the eighth best student in your class, this is how you’d brag (humbly) to your parents. It’s perfect for any situation involving a leaderboard or a structured list.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for simple counting. If you have eight apples, don't use المرتبة. That would sound like your apples are in a beauty pageant. Also, avoid it in very casual, slang-heavy conversations with friends. In a cafe, you’d probably just say الثامن (the eighth) and skip the formal word المرتبة. It’s a bit too 'stiff' for deciding who goes next in a video game. Use it when the ranking actually matters.
Cultural Background
In the Arab world, rankings are taken very seriously in education and poetry competitions. Historically, being in the 'Top 10' of anything is a point of pride. The word مرتبة itself comes from a root meaning 'step' or 'level.' It evokes the image of a staircase. Each rank is a step you’ve climbed. While being eighth isn't the podium, in a field of hundreds, it’s still considered a respectable achievement in modern media contexts.
Common Variations
You will often hear في المركز الثامن (fi al-markaz al-thāmin). This is almost identical in meaning. المركز means 'center' or 'position' and is masculine. Because it's masculine, the number changes to الثامن. Both are used interchangeably in news and sports. Another variation is ترتيبه الثامن (his ranking is eighth). This is a bit more direct and common in casual office talk.
Usage Notes
This is a high-frequency phrase in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It is formal enough for a business presentation but common enough to be understood by anyone watching the news.
Gender Match
Always check the gender of the noun. If you use 'Markaz' (masculine), change 'Thamina' to 'Thamin'.
Verbal Flow
Use the verb 'Ja'a' (came) or 'Halla' (landed) before the phrase to sound more like a native news anchor.
Spelling
Don't forget the dots on the 'Ta Marbuta' (ة). Without them, it looks like a pronoun 'his'.
Examples
6جاء منتخبنا الوطني في المرتبة الثامنة في البطولة.
Our national team came in eighth place in the tournament.
Standard sports commentary usage.
تحتل هذه الشركة المرتبة الثامنة عالمياً.
This company occupies the eighth rank globally.
Used here with the verb 'occupy' for a formal tone.
تخيل! وصلت في المرتبة الثامنة رغم التعب.
Imagine! I finished in eighth place despite being tired.
A bit formal for a text, but used for emphasis.
كنت في المرتبة الثامنة على مستوى الفصل.
I was in eighth place at the class level.
Common way to describe academic standing.
أنا في المرتبة الثامنة في طابور الخبز، سأجوع بالتأكيد!
I'm eighth in the bread line; I'll definitely starve!
Using formal ranking for a mundane situation adds humor.
للأسف، تراجعنا إلى المرتبة الثامنة هذا العام.
Unfortunately, we dropped to eighth place this year.
Expresses regret over a falling rank.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the ordinal number.
جاءت المتسابقة في المرتبة _______.
Since 'Al-Martaba' is feminine, we must use the feminine ordinal 'Al-Thamina'.
Which sentence is the most formal way to say 'The company is ranked 8th'?
اختر الجملة الأكثر رسمية:
The verb 'Tahtallu' (occupies) combined with 'Al-Martaba' is the most formal and professional register.
Match the Arabic phrase to its English context.
طابق الجمل بالمعنى المناسب:
The phrase adapts to global, personal, and athletic contexts.
Complete the dialogue with the appropriate phrase.
أحمد: كيف كان ترتيبك في الامتحان؟ خالد: ليس سيئاً، لقد كنت _______.
This is the natural way to respond to a question about rank.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesجاءت المتسابقة في المرتبة _______.
Since 'Al-Martaba' is feminine, we must use the feminine ordinal 'Al-Thamina'.
اختر الجملة الأكثر رسمية:
The verb 'Tahtallu' (occupies) combined with 'Al-Martaba' is the most formal and professional register.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
The phrase adapts to global, personal, and athletic contexts.
أحمد: كيف كان ترتيبك في الامتحان؟ خالد: ليس سيئاً، لقد كنت _______.
This is the natural way to respond to a question about rank.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, but it sounds formal. 'He is 8th in his class' is 'هو في المرتبة الثامنة في صفه'.
In sports, yes. In official reports and statistics, 'المرتبة الثامنة' is preferred.
Use 'الثامن' (Al-Thamin) without the 'a' at the end.
Not necessarily. In a global list of 200 countries, 8th is excellent. In a race of 10 people, it's near the bottom.
Related Phrases
في المركز الثامن
synonymIn the eighth center/place
من العشرة الأوائل
builds onAmong the top ten
تراجع للمركز الثامن
specialized formDropped to eighth place
في ذيل القائمة
contrastAt the tail of the list
