Numbers

1. واحد، اتنين، تلاتة

   Wāḥid, itnēn, talāta

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic counting. Egyptians use these colloquial forms, not MSA اثنان and ثلاثة.

   Grammar Note

   Before a counted noun the short form is used (for example تلات).

2. اربعة، خمسة، ستة

   Arbaʿa, khamsa, sitta

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Basic numbers for quantities in markets and transport.

   Grammar Note

   Before a noun the forms are اربع, خمس and ست.

3. سبعة، تمانية، تسعة، عشرة

   Sabʿa, tamanya, tisʿa, ʿashra

   Seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Numbers needed for phone numbers, times and prices.

   Grammar Note

   Eight is تمانية, not MSA ثمانية; the ث becomes t.

4. عشرين، خمسين، مية

   ʿIshrīn, khamsīn, miyya

   Twenty, fifty, one hundred

   Usage

   Used for prices and quantities; essential for haggling.

   Grammar Note

   The tens end in -īn. The word for hundred, مية, is spelled like the word for water.

5. الساعة تلاتة

   Is-sāʿa talāta

   It is three o'clock

   Usage

   The basic way to give the time; the answer to "الساعة كام؟".

   Grammar Note

   Unlike MSA, a plain cardinal is used rather than an ordinal (الثالثة).

6. الساعة تلاتة ونص

   Is-sāʿa talāta wi-nuṣṣ

   It is half past three

   Usage

   How to say half past three. The "and" و is written attached to the next word.

   Grammar Note

   "hour + و + نص" gives "half past".

7. الساعة تلاتة وربع

   Is-sāʿa talāta wi-rubʿ

   It is a quarter past three

   Usage

   How to say a quarter past three. For "a quarter to" use "الا ربع".

   Grammar Note

   "hour + و + ربع" gives "quarter past".

8. عايز تلاتة من ده

   ʿĀyiz talāta min da

   I want three of these

   Usage

   Orders a number of items at a market or shop. A woman says "عايزة".

   Grammar Note

   "number + من + demonstrative" means "… of these". A composed sentence with regular grammar.

9. خمسين جنيه

   Khamsīn ginēh

   Fifty pounds

   Usage

   How to say an amount in Egyptian pounds. After a number above ten the noun stays singular.

   Grammar Note

   The number and جنيه are simply placed side by side. A composed sentence with regular grammar.

10. الف وخمسمية

    Alf wi-khumsumiyya

    One thousand five hundred

    Usage

    Used for larger amounts such as hotel prices or airfares.

    Grammar Note

    Hundreds are compound words, such as خمسمية (500) and تلتمية (300).

11. عمري سبعة وعشرين سنة

    ʿUmri sabʿa wi-ʿishrīn sana

    I am 27 years old

    Usage

    How to answer "عندك كام سنة؟" (how old are you?).

    Grammar Note

    Two-digit numbers put the units first: "units + و + tens". A composed sentence with regular grammar.

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