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ثلاثة وأربعون
Thalatha wa-arba'un (ذ as in 'the', ah-LAH-tah wah ar-bah-OON) — stress falls on the second syllable of 'thalatha' and the final syllable of 'arba'un'. The 'th' sound (ث) is pronounced like the 'th' in 'three', and the 'ayn (ع) in 'arba'un' is a glottal stop. Break it into: THAL-ah-tah (pause) wah ar-bah-OON.
The number 43 in Arabic is written as ثلاثة وأربعون (thalatha wa-arba'un), literally meaning "three and forty." This compound number follows the Arabic convention of placing the smaller unit before the larger one, connected by wa (و, meaning 'and'). It is used in all standard contexts where 43 items, measurements, or quantities are referenced.
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The number 43 in Arabic demonstrates the complex gender agreement rules of compound numbers. The first component 'thalatha' (three) and second component 'arba'un' (forty) have different gender agreement patterns. When counting masculine nouns, use ثلاثة وأربعون (thalatha wa-arba'un), but when counting feminine nouns, use ثلاثاً وأربعين (thalath wa-arba'in) — note the feminine form of 'three' and the accusative/genitive form of 'forty.' The number 43 belongs to the 21-99 range, which always takes the inverse gender agreement: if the noun is masculine, the number uses feminine forms, and vice versa. Additionally, the compound follows the pattern of smaller number + wa- + larger number, and the entire phrase is treated as a dual-like unit that can take case endings in construct phrases (إضافة/idafa). When 43 appears in a counting context without a direct noun, it remains in the nominative case (ثلاثة وأربعون), but when it precedes or follows a noun in genitive position, the 'arba'in' portion adjusts accordingly.
While 43 itself holds no particular religious or mystical significance in Islamic tradition (unlike numbers such as 7, 40, or 99 which have theological importance), it appears frequently in historical and literary Arabic texts. The number is notably used in Islamic jurisprudence and hadith collections where specific quantities are mentioned. In modern Arab culture, 43 is encountered regularly in everyday commerce, street addresses, and media, making it a practical number for learners to master for real-world Arabic communication.
The number 43 demonstrates the elegant binary nature of Arabic compound numbers: it combines the special form thalatha (three) with the tens form arba'un (forty), showing how Arabic breaks down larger numbers into components. In classical Arabic poetry and literature, compound numbers like 43 were often used to describe armies, treasures, and crowds, reflecting the sophistication of mathematical language in historical Arabic texts. The word 'arba'un' (forty) itself has deep etymological roots and appears frequently in religious and cultural contexts, making the number 43 a natural occurrence in traditional narratives and religious discussions.
The Arabic number 43 is expressed as ثلاثة وأربعون (thalatha wa-arba'un), which literally translates to "three and forty." This compound number follows the distinctive Arabic numbering convention where smaller units are stated before larger units, connected by the conjunction wa (و), meaning 'and.' Understanding 43 is essential for learners progressing beyond basic counting into practical, everyday Arabic communication.
Phonetic Breakdown:
Thalatha (ثلاثة): THAL-ah-tah
Wa (و): wah
Arba'un (أربعون): ar-bah-OON
Full Pronunciation: THAL-ah-tah wah ar-bah-OON
In Arabic script, 43 is written as:
The written form uses the full spelling in formal, literary, and educational contexts, while Arabic numerals appear in modern documents, price tags, addresses, and technical writing.
One of the most critical aspects of using 43 in Arabic is understanding gender agreement. Arabic numbers in the 21-99 range follow an inverse gender agreement pattern, which is opposite to what English speakers might expect.
When counting masculine nouns, use: ثلاثة وأربعون (thalatha wa-arba'un)
When counting feminine nouns, use: ثلاثاً وأربعين (thalath wa-arba'in)
This inverse agreement stems from classical Arabic grammar rules for compound numbers. The explanation is debated among linguists, but one theory suggests that compound numbers were originally treated as nouns themselves, and nouns typically take the opposite gender agreement from their counting words in classical Semitic languages.
When 43 appears in a phrase with grammatical dependencies, case endings may apply:
السعر ثلاثة وأربعون دولاراً
في الفصل ثلاثة وأربعون طالبة
عمري ثلاثة وأربعون سنة
قضيت ثلاثاً وأربعين ساعة في الرحلة
ولد في سنة ألف وتسعمائة وثلاثة وأربعين
الموضوع على الصفحة ثلاثة وأربعون
In modern Arabic-speaking countries, 43 appears in everyday contexts: bus numbers, apartment addresses, phone numbers, prices, and sports statistics. For learners, mastering numbers in the 40s range is crucial for practical communication. While 43 has no particular mystical or religious significance (unlike 7, 40, or 99 in Islamic tradition), it represents a milestone in numerical competency for Arabic learners.
The number 43 (ثلاثة وأربعون) is a compound number that requires careful attention to gender agreement rules, following the inverse pattern of Arabic numbers 21-99. Mastering its pronunciation, written forms, and grammatical applications opens doors to fluent numerical expression in Arabic across commerce, education, daily life, and formal discourse.