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Why Learn Numbers in Darija?

Numbers are a foundational part of any language, and in Morocco, they’re handy for bargaining, handling money, and telling time. While Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) numbers are understood, Darija numbers are what you’ll hear in everyday conversations. This article will help you master those skills with clear explanations and examples.

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Cardinal Numbers in Moroccan Arabic

Cardinal numbers are the basic counting numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). In Darija, numbers have unique forms and pronunciations compared to MSA, and some rules apply when using them with nouns. Let’s break them down into manageable sections.

Numbers 1 Through 10

These are the building blocks of counting in Darija:

Number	Darija (Transcription)	Arabic Script
1	Wahd	واحد
2	juj	جوج
3	tlata	تالتة
4	rb3a	ربعة
5	khmsa	خمسة
6	stta	ستة
7	sb3a	سبعة
8	tmnya	تمنية
9	ts3ud	تسعة
10	3chra	عشرة

Key Rules for 1 and 2

• Number 1 (wahd): When counting objects, “wahd” changes based on the gender of the noun it describes:
• For masculine nouns: “wahd” (e.g., “wahd rajl” = one man).
• For feminine nouns: “waHda” (e.g., “Mra wahda” = one woman).
• Number 2 (juj): Similarly, “juj” is used for counting two items, and it also agrees with the noun’s gender:
• For masculine nouns: “juj rjal” = two men.
• For feminine nouns: “juj 3ialat” = two women.

Numbers 3 to 10

For numbers 3 to 10, the form remains the same regardless of the noun’s gender, but there’s a special rule when counting objects:

• The noun following numbers 3 to 10 becomes singular, and the number acts like an adjective describing it.
• Example: “tlata ktub” = three books (not “tlata kutub,” as you might expect if you’re familiar with MSA).

Numbers 11 Through 19

Numbers 11 to 19 are formed by combining “3chra” (10) with the digits 1 to 9, with slight modifications:

Number	Darija (Transcription)	Arabic Script
11	Hdach	حداش
12	tnach	طناش
13	tltTach	تلتطاش
14	rba3tach	ربعطاش
15	khmsTach	خمستاش
16	stTach	ستطاش
17	sb3Tach	سبعطاش
18	tmnTach	تمنطاش
19	ts3Tach	تسعطاش

Usage with Nouns

Similar to numbers 3 to 10, the noun following 11 to 19 is singular:

• Example: “Hdach ktab” = eleven books.

Tens: 20, 30, 40… 99

The tens are straightforward and follow a consistent pattern (p. 25):

Number	Darija (Transcription)	Arabic Script
20	3chrin	عشرين
30	tlatin	تالتين
40	rb3in	ربعين
50	khmsin	خمسين
60	sttin	ستين
70	sb3in	سبعين
80	tmanin	تمانين
90	ts3in	تسعين

Combining Tens with Units

To form numbers like 21, 32, etc., say the unit first, followed by “u” (and), then the tens:

• 21 → “Wahd u 3chrin” (واحد وعشرين)
• 32 → “Tnin u tlatin” (ثنين وثلاثين)
• 44 → “Rb3a u rb3in” (ربعة وأربعين)
• 77 → “Sb3a u sb3in” (سبعة وسبعين)
• 69 → “Ts3ud u sttin” (تسعود وستين)

Usage with Nouns

The noun remains singular after these numbers:

• Example: “3chrin ktab” = twenty books.
• Example: “khmsin mra” = fifty women.

Hundreds: 100, 200, 300… 999

The hundreds are formed similarly:

Number	Darija (Transcription)	Arabic Script
100	miya	مية
200	mitayn	ميتين
300	tlt miya	تلت مية
400	rb3 miya	ربع مية
500	khms miya	خمس مية
600	st miya	ست مية
700	sb3 miya	سبع مية
800	tmn miya	تمن مية
900	ts3 miya	تسع مية

Combining Hundreds with Tens and Units

To form numbers like 123 or 567:

1. Start with the hundreds.
2. Add “u” (and) before the tens.
3. Add “u” (and) before the units (if present).

Examples:

• 123 → “Miya u tlata u 3chrin” (مية وتلاتة وعشرين)
• 567 → “Khms miya u sb3a u sttin” (خمسمية وسبعة وستين)
• 849 → “Tmn miya u ts3ud u rb3in” (تمن مية وتسعود وأربعين)
• 902 → “Tss3 miya u juj” (تسعمية وجوج)

Usage with Nouns

The noun remains singular:

• Example: “miya ktab” = one hundred books.
• Example: “tlata miya rajl” = three hundred men.

Thousands: 1,000, 2,000…

The thousands follow a similar pattern :

Number	Darija (Transcription)	Arabic Script
1,000	alf	ألف
2,000	alfayn	ألفين
3,000	tlt alaf	تلت ألاف
4,000	rb3 alaf	ربع ألاف

Combining Thousands with Other Numbers

To form numbers like 1,100 or 3,421:

• Start with the thousands.
• Add “u” (and) before the hundreds.
• Add “u” (and) before the tens and units (if present).

Examples:

• 1,100 → “Alf u miya” (ألف ومية)
• 2,350 → “alfayn u tlata miya u khmsin” ( آلفين وتلاتمية وخمسين)
• 3,421 → “Tlt alaf u rb3 miya u wahd u 3chrin” (تلاتة آلاف وربعمية وواحد وعشرين)
• 5,678 → “Khms alaf u stta miya u tmnya u sb3in” (خمسة آلاف وستمية وتمانية وسبعين)
• 10,000 → “ʿ3chra alaf” (عشرة آلاف)

Usage with Nouns

The noun stays singular.

Examples:

• 1,000 books → “Alf ktab” (ألف كتاب)
• 3,000 men → “Tlt alaf rajel” (تلت آلاف راجل)
• 5,000 houses → “Khms alaf dar” (خمس آلاف دار)
• 10,000 cars → “ʿ3chr alaf tonobil” (عشر آلاف طونوبيل)

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Ordinal Numbers in Moroccan Arabic

Ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) are used to describe order or rank. In Darija, they’re formed differently from cardinal numbers and often use the word “dyal” for possession.

Basic Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal	Darija (Transcription)	Usage Example
First	Luwl (m) / Luwla (f)	“Rajl luwl” = the first man
Second	tani (m/f)	“Ktab tani” = the second book
Third	Talt (m) / talta (f)	“Lmra talta” = the third woman

Forming Higher Ordinals

• Example: “l-ktab rabe3” = the fourth book.
• Example: “r-rajl Lkhams” = the fifth man.

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Fractions in Darija

Fractions are useful for discussing quantities, especially in markets or recipes.

Fraction	Darija (Transcription)	Arabic Script
Half	nss	نص
Third	tulut	تلت
Quarter	rb3	ربع

Usage Examples

• “nss kilo” = half a kilo.
• “tulut litr” = a third of a liter.
• “rb3 sa3a” = a quarter of an hour.

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Practical Applications: Using Numbers in Everyday Contexts

Let’s apply what we learned in real-life scenarios.

Telling Time

Time in Darija uses cardinal numbers:

• “LwaHda” = one o’clock.
• “tlata u nss” = three thirty (literally “three and a half”).
• To ask the time: “chhal f sa3a?” = What time is it?

Shopping and Bargaining

When shopping, numbers are crucial for negotiating prices:

• “BchHal hada?” = How much is this?
• “3chrin (20) dirham” = Twenty dirhams.
• “rb3 miya dirham? bzzaf!” = Four hundred dirhams? Too much!

Giving Directions

Numbers are used to indicate distances or addresses:

• “tlata kilometrat” = three kilometers.
• “l-bab lkhams” = The fifth door.

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Practice Exercises

Here are some exercises to solidify your understanding:

1. Counting Practice: Write the numbers 1-20 in Darija, then say them out loud.
2. Noun Agreement: Pair these numbers with nouns:

• “waHid” with “ktab” (book).
• “juj” with “3ialat” (women).
• “tlata” with “rjal” (men).

3. Dialogue Creation: Write a short dialogue in Darija where you negotiate the price of an item starting at 100 dirhams and settling at 80 dirhams.

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Conclusion

Mastering numbers in Moroccan Arabic opens the door to countless practical interactions in Morocco. By starting with the basics, moving to larger numbers, and applying them in real-life contexts like shopping or telling time, you’ll gain confidence quickly.

If you want to learn more and improve your Darija level, I invite you to download the GoDarija app:

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.godarija.app

iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/godarija-learn-moroccan-arabic/id6741084589