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Most students of Arabic grammar are afraid of numbers. Even some native speakers have difficulties to write and pronounce them correctly.
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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