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ستة عشر
sit-TA-ta A-shar (masculine) or SIT-ta ash-RA-ta (feminine). The first syllable stress varies by gender: for masculine nouns, emphasize the second syllable of 'sittata,' and for feminine nouns, emphasize the first syllable of 'sitta.' The 'sh' sound is like English 'sh' in 'shoe,' and the 'kh' sound doesn't appear in this number. The 't' is pronounced clearly with a light tap of the tongue.
The number 16 in Arabic is written as ١٦ and spelled ستة عشر (sittata ashar). It belongs to the compound numbers (11-19) and follows unique grammatical rules where both parts are written together and treat the counted noun in a specific way.
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The number 16 demonstrates reverse gender agreement (التمييز العكسي): when counting masculine nouns, use ستة عشر (sittata ashar) with the feminine form in the first part, and when counting feminine nouns, use ست عشرة (sitta ashrata) with the masculine form in the first part. The second part (عشر/عشرة) also follows reverse gender: عشر for feminine nouns and عشرة for masculine nouns. The counted noun (tamyiz) always appears in the singular accusative form (منصوب), taking the tanween fatah (ـًا). Both components of the number are declined according to their position in the sentence, though in Modern Standard Arabic, they often remain in the nominative form in everyday speech. The number is always written as two separate words in Arabic, unlike English where "sixteen" is one word.
In Islamic tradition, the number 16 appears in various contexts, including the age of maturity in some traditional legal opinions and the number of rak'ahs (prayer units) in certain voluntary prayers. The 16th day of Ramadan holds special significance as it marks the middle portion of the blessed month. In daily life, 16 is commonly encountered in contexts like age (sweet sixteen is recognized in some Arab cultures influenced by Western traditions), measurements, and calendar dates.
The structure of 16 in Arabic (ستة عشر) literally means "six-ten," preserving an ancient Semitic counting pattern where the ones digit comes before the tens digit, opposite to the written numeral order (١٦). This creates an interesting reversal: you write right-to-left (١٦ = 16) but say it as "six-ten." Mathematically, 16 is notable in Arabic numerology as a perfect square (4×4) and appears in traditional Islamic geometric patterns, particularly in 16-pointed stars found in mosque architecture.
The number 16 in Arabic, written as ١٦ and spelled ستة عشر (sittata ashar) or ست عشرة (sitta ashrata), represents one of the most grammatically interesting numbers in the Arabic language. As part of the compound numbers from 11-19, it follows unique rules that challenge learners but reveal the beautiful logic of Arabic grammar.
In Arabic script, 16 is written as ١٦ using Eastern Arabic numerals, though many Arab countries also use Western numerals (16). The word form has two variations based on the gender of the noun being counted:
The pronunciation requires attention to syllable stress, which shifts depending on gender. English speakers should practice the clear 't' sound and the emphatic pronunciation of the 'sh' sound in عشر.
The number 16 follows one of Arabic's most distinctive grammatical features: reverse gender agreement (التمييز العكسي). This means the number takes the opposite gender of the noun it modifies:
Both parts of the compound number follow this reversal. The first part (ستة/ست meaning "six") and the second part (عشر/عشرة meaning "ten") both change according to the gender rule.
The noun that follows 16 always appears in:
For example:
In Modern Standard Arabic, 16 appears frequently in:
Calendar dates: السادس عشر من يناير (the sixteenth of January) Ages: عمري ست عشرة سنة (I am sixteen years old - said by a female) Quantities: اشتريت ستة عشر قلمًا (I bought sixteen pens) Time references: الساعة السادسة عشرة (16:00 hours in 24-hour format)
In Islamic tradition, 16 holds various meanings. The 16th of Ramadan is significant as it falls in the middle portion of the holy month. Some classical Islamic scholars discussed 16 as an age milestone in jurisprudential contexts. The number also appears in traditional Islamic art and architecture, particularly in geometric patterns featuring 16-pointed stars.
Learners often struggle with:
Mastering the number 16 in Arabic provides a solid foundation for understanding all compound numbers from 11-19, as they follow identical grammatical patterns. Practice with different nouns of both genders to internalize these essential rules.