Ten and the first teens
Read two-digit values and learn the special forms for eleven and twelve.
Counting pattern
In ١٠, the tens digit ١ is on the left and the ones digit ٠ on the right, just as in 10; never reverse a digit string because Arabic words run right to left. Eleven and twelve have special first parts: aḥada and ithnaa. The forms here are those used with masculine counted nouns; twelve uses its nominative form. All base letters are familiar by this point; ة and hamza were introduced with shadda and laam–alif. If these signs are new to you, revisit that lesson. Names below use pause pronunciation without final case endings.
١٠ – ١٣
10 to 13
10 — ١٠
Ayn begins the word; sh is as in ship. All three spoken vowels are short a.
عَشَرَة
ʿashara — 10
11 — ١١
Use aḥada here, not waaḥid followed by ten. Keep ḥ and ʿayn distinct.
أَحَدَ عَشَر
aḥada ʿashar — 11
12 — ١٢
The first part is ithnaa, without the final n of standalone ithnaan. Hold aa.
اِثْنَا عَشَر
ithnaa ʿashar — 12
13 — ١٣
The ة in the first part is pronounced t before its a: thalaathata, then ʿashar.
ثَلَاثَةَ عَشَر
thalaathata ʿashar — 13