Levantine numbers have two forms: one for counting out loud, and a shorter one used right before a noun.
The numbers
| Levantine | Counting | Before a noun | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | صفر | sifr | |
| 1 | واحد | waa7ad | (see below) |
| 2 | تنين | tnein | (see below) |
| 3 | تلاتة | tlaate | tlat |
| 4 | أربعة | arba3a | arba3 |
| 5 | خمسة | khamse | khams |
| 6 | ستة | sitte | sitt |
| 7 | سبعة | sab3a | sab3 |
| 8 | تمانية | tmaanye | tman |
| 9 | تسعة | tis3a | tis3 |
| 10 | عشرة | 3ashra | 3ashr |
The short form drops the final vowel: tlat kutub (three books), khams da2aaye2 (five minutes).
One and two
You don't usually say "one" or "two" in front of a noun.
- One: use the noun on its own. Add waa7ad (or wa7de for feminine) after it for emphasis.
- Two: use the dual ending -ein.
- بدي كتاب واحدbaddi ktaab waa7adI want one book.
- عندي أختين3andi ukhteinI have two sisters.
Three to ten take the plural
- تلات كتبtlat kutubthree books
- سبع سنينsab3 sniinseven years
A few plurals beginning with a vowel take an extra -t-: tlatt iyyaam (three days), arba3t ashhur (four months), khamst alaaf (five thousand).