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أربعون
Ar-BAH-oon (nominative form). The stress falls on the final syllable. The 'Q' sound (ق) is a deep, guttural sound produced in the back of the throat — similar to a 'k' but deeper and more emphatic. Pronounce each syllable clearly: ar (like the letter 'R' in English) + bah (rhymes with 'spa') + oon (like 'noon' in English). For the accusative form أربعين (ar-BAH-een), the final syllable changes to rhyme with 'seen' rather than 'noon.'
أربعون (arba'un) is the Arabic number 40, representing a round tens number in the Arabic numeral system. It is masculine in gender and is used both as a standalone number and in compound numbers (41-49). This number follows unique grammar rules common to tens in Arabic, requiring special attention to gender agreement and noun pairing.
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أربعون (arba'un) is a tens number that requires careful gender and case agreement. In the nominative case, it appears as أربعون and is considered masculine. When used with both masculine and feminine nouns, the number typically maintains its masculine form, but the following noun must be in the accusative case (منصوب) and appear in the plural form. In the accusative and genitive cases, أربعون becomes أربعين (arba'in). Importantly, tens numbers (20, 30, 40, etc.) are treated as dual-like constructs in classical Arabic, meaning they govern nouns differently than other numbers; the noun after a tens number should be accusative plural. Additionally, when أربعون appears in compound numbers (41-49), the construction follows the pattern of 'ones + tens,' where both numbers must agree in case with the following noun.
The number 40 holds profound significance in Islamic and Arab tradition, appearing frequently in the Quran and Islamic history. Most notably, the Prophet Muhammad spent 40 years before receiving revelation, and Muslims fast for 30 days during Ramadan with an additional 10 days of Shawwal often observed, totaling 40. The number also appears in numerous Quranic stories, such as Prophet Musa (Moses) spending 40 years in the wilderness and the Children of Israel's 40-year journey. In Arab culture, 40 is associated with wisdom, maturity, and completion, making it a spiritually and culturally loaded number.
The word أربعون (arba'un) derives from the root ر-ب-ع, which relates to the concept of 'four' — as 40 is four tens. In everyday Arabic, the number 40 appears frequently in colloquial expressions and proverbs; for example, 'after forty' (بعد الأربعين) often marks a significant life transition. Interestingly, the form أربعين (arba'in) in the accusative/genitive case is used more frequently in narrative and religious texts than the nominative form, as these texts often describe events involving 'forty' in specific contexts requiring oblique cases.
The number 40 in Arabic is written as أربعون (arba'un) in its nominative form and أربعين (arba'in) in its accusative and genitive forms. Understanding this number is essential for Arabic learners because tens numbers follow distinct grammar patterns that differ from cardinal numbers 1-19 and higher compound numbers. The number 40 represents a significant threshold in Arabic counting and appears frequently in everyday speech, religious texts, and classical literature.
To pronounce أربعون correctly, break it into three syllables: ar-BAH-oon. The stress falls on the second-to-last syllable. The Arabic letter ق (qaf) produces a deep, guttural sound from the back of the throat that has no direct English equivalent—think of it as an emphatic 'k' sound. The final ون (-oon) rhymes with the English word 'noon.' When the number shifts to accusative/genitive form (أربعين), the pronunciation becomes ar-BAH-een, with the final syllable rhyming with 'seen.'
In Arabic, tens numbers (20, 30, 40, 50, etc.) operate under a unique grammatical system distinct from other cardinal numbers. Here are the critical rules:
1. Case System: أربعون is nominative (المرفوع), while أربعين is both accusative (المنصوب) and genitive (المجرور). The case depends on the grammatical function within the sentence. For example:
2. Gender Agreement: Unlike numbers 3-19, which show strict gender agreement (feminine forms for masculine nouns and vice versa), the number 40 remains masculine regardless of whether it modifies masculine or feminine nouns. This characteristic is consistent across all tens numbers.
3. Noun Case Requirements: The noun following أربعون or أربعين must ALWAYS be in the accusative case (منصوب) and must be plural. This is a defining feature of tens numbers and distinguishes them from other counting systems:
4. Agreement in Compound Numbers: When 40 appears in compound numbers (41-49), the structure follows the pattern "ones number + tens number." Both components must agree in case with the modified noun. For example: اثنان وأربعون (42) would require both components to shift case together.
Example 1: Simple Statement أربعون طالباً يدرسون الرياضيات (Forty students are studying mathematics)
Example 2: After a Verb (Past Tense) اشتريت أربعين قلماً من المكتبة (I bought forty pens from the library)
Example 3: Religious/Historical Context صام الرسول أربعين يوماً (The Prophet fasted for forty days)
Example 4: Prepositional Phrase في الفصل أربعون طالبة (In the classroom are forty female students)
Example 5: Possession لدي أربعون كتاباً في مكتبتي (I have forty books in my library)
Understanding when to use أربعون versus أربعين is crucial:
The number 40 appears throughout Islamic history and religious texts with remarkable frequency. In the Quran, 40 is mentioned in numerous contexts: Prophet Musa spent 40 years in the wilderness, Prophet Muhammad received revelation at age 40, and the Children of Israel were tested for 40 years in the desert. This recurring appearance has made 40 a number of spiritual weight in Islamic culture.
Beyond religious significance, the number 40 marks important life transitions in Arab society. The phrase "بعد الأربعين" (after forty) colloquially references the point at which a person reaches mature adulthood, and many Arab traditions recognize the 40th day after significant events (birth, death) as spiritually significant.
The grammar rules for 40 are identical to those for 20, 30, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90. All tens numbers share these characteristics: masculine gender, accusative plural nouns, and dual case forms. However, the number 40 is unique in its cultural and religious prominence, making it perhaps the most frequently encountered tens number in both classical and modern Arabic texts.
Mastering the number 40 and its grammar rules is an important step in Arabic proficiency. The distinction between أربعون and أربعين, combined with the requirement for accusative plural nouns, represents a core feature of Arabic's case and number system. By understanding these patterns, learners can apply them to all tens numbers and significantly improve their grammatical accuracy in Arabic communication.