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How to Pronounce the Number 10 in Arabic: ‘Ashara or ‘Ashra?

Arabic numbers can be tricky, especially “ten” (عشر). This article clarifies its pronunciation based on the noun’s gender: use a fatḥa on the letter ش of عَشَرة when referring to a masculine word (e.g., ten pens) and a sukūn on the ش of عَشْر for feminine words (e.g., ten pages).
byGerald Drißner
March 26, 2016
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A colorful 6x6 grid of comic-style number 10s, each with unique pop-art backgrounds and effects, featuring various bright colors, patterns, and graphic elements in a retro cartoon style.

Last updated 7 months ago.

Arabic numbers often present a challenge for learners, and even some native speakers struggle with their correct pronunciation and usage.

This article focuses on the number “ten” (عشر), specifically addressing how its pronunciation changes based on the gender of the noun it refers to, clarifying whether to use a fatḥa or a sukūn on the letter ش to ensure correct usage.

Let us check the number ten (10) for example: عشر.

RULE: To find the correct vowel, you have to check the gender of the noun to which it is referring to!

Pronunciation عَشَر

➤ If 10 points to a MASCULINE word, there is a فَتْحة on the letter ش.

I bought 10 pens.اشْتَرَيْتُ عشَرةَ أقْلَامٍ
I bought 13 pens.اِشْتَرَيْتُ ثلاثةَ عشَرَ قَلَمًا

Pronunciation عَشْر

➤ If 10 points to a FEMININE word, there is a سُكُون above the letter ش.

I read 10 pages.قرأتُ عشْرَ صَفْحاتٍ
I read 13 pages.قرأتُ ثَلاثَ عشْرةَ صَفْحَةً

The gender in Arabic is not always obvious. For example, is the word for war (حرب) masculine or feminine?

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The number 8 in Arabic is tricky! This article breaks down its special grammatical rules, including why the masculine form is unique, how to correctly use 18, and why 800 often sounds the same. Master this challenging area of Arabic numbers.
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Arabic numbers can be complex due to their intricate rules for case endings and gender agreement. This article explains these challenges and introduces arabic.ba, a new online tool for practicing numbers from 1 to 999,999,999 with audio and exercises.
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Wanna cite this article?

Drißner, G. (2016, March 26). How to Pronounce the Number 10 in Arabic: ‘Ashara or ‘Ashra?. Arabic for Nerds. https://arabic-for-nerds.com/grammar/pronunciation-ten-arabic/

Published: March 26, 2016

Please check the citation before use, especially if your style guide has local requirements.

Publication ISSN: 3055-1730

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This post was published on March 26, 2016 and is over 10 years old. It was last updated 7 months ago. If you find outdated information, please let us know.

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Gerald Drißner
Gerald Drißner (Drissner) has lived in Arab and Islamic countries for more than a decade. He is the founder of Arabic for Nerds.
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