thamanun — pronounced with the 'th' sound as in 'the' (voiced dental fricative), followed by 'ah' as in 'father,' then 'mah,' then 'noon' (with a long 'oo' sound). Emphasis falls on the first syllable: THA-mah-noon. The final 'n' (noon) is characteristic of the masculine nominative case ending.
About This Number
ثمانون (thamanun) is the Arabic word for the number 80, written as an even tens number. It is a masculine plural form that follows specific grammatical rules when used with nouns, and is commonly written in Arabic numerals as 80 or in full Arabic script as ثمانون.
Usage Examples
He is eighty years old: "عمره ثمانون سنة" (omrohu thamanun sanah) — note that the noun سنة (sanah, year) comes after the number in the singular form.
Eighty students attended the conference: "حضر ثمانون طالباً المؤتمر" (hadara thamanun taliban al-mu'tamar) — the noun is in the accusative plural form (طالباً).
The book costs eighty dinars: "السعر ثمانون ديناراً" (al-si'r thamanun dinaran) — the currency word follows in accusative case.
Eighty days passed: "مرت ثمانون يوماً" (marrat thamanun ayyaman) — the noun يوماً (ayyaman, days) is in accusative case.
There are eighty pages in this novel: "الرواية فيها ثمانون صفحة" (al-riwayah fiha thamanun safha) — singular feminine noun follows.
He worked for eighty hours: "عمل لمدة ثمانون ساعة" (amila limuddatin thamanun sa'ah) — feminine noun in accusative case.
Grammar Notes
ثمانون (thamanun) is a masculine plural noun in Arabic that requires specific noun agreement patterns. When used with a counted noun, the number 80 requires that the noun appear in the accusative singular or plural form, not the nominative. Unlike numbers 3-9 which require the plural nominative, and unlike numbers 21-99 ending in 1 or 2, the tens numbers (20, 30, 40, etc.) demand the singular accusative feminine noun form or plural accusative form depending on the noun's gender. The number ثمانون itself does not change for gender agreement with the counted noun, remaining in its masculine form regardless of whether counting masculine or feminine objects. When combined with other numbers (like 81, 82, etc.), the pattern changes: 81 becomes واحد وثمانون (wahid wa-thamanun, literally one and eighty) and requires specific grammatical treatment. In modern written Arabic and formal speech, ثمانون maintains the standard case ending (-un) in nominative position, but changes to ثمانين (thamanin) in genitive or accusative cases.
Cultural Significance
While 80 holds no specific religious significance in Islamic tradition compared to numbers like 7, 40, or 99, it is encountered frequently in daily Arabic-speaking contexts, particularly in commerce, age references, and administrative matters. The number appears in historical and literary contexts, such as references to the 80 Companions of the Prophet or various historical events counted in groups of eighty. Understanding how to use and conjugate numbers like 80 correctly is essential for conducting business, discussing ages, and engaging in everyday conversation in Arabic-speaking communities.
Fun Facts
In Arabic numerology and linguistic tradition, the number 80 is derived from the root ث-م-ن (th-m-n) meaning 'eight,' with the suffix -oon indicating the plural masculine form, making it literally 'the eights' in conceptual terms. The number 80 holds interesting mathematical properties in Arabic classical texts; it was studied by medieval Arabic mathematicians who developed sophisticated counting systems and algorithms still reflected in modern mathematics. Interestingly, in some Arabic dialects and historical texts, counting from 80 onwards can vary regionally, with some Gulf dialects using slightly different numerical expressions, though the formal Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) form ثمانون remains standard across all Arabic-speaking regions.
## The Arabic Number 80: ثمانون (Thamanun)
### What is 80 in Arabic?
The Arabic number 80 is written as **ثمانون** (transliterated as *thamanun* or *thamaneen*). In Arabic numerals, it is represented as 80. This number belongs to the tens category and has specific grammatical rules that learners of Arabic must understand to use it correctly in sentences and everyday conversation.
### Pronunciation Guide for 80 in Arabic
Pronouncing ثمانون correctly is essential for effective communication. The pronunciation breaks down as follows:
- **Tha** (ث) — pronounced like the 'th' in English "the" (a voiced dental fricative)
- **Ma** (مـ) — pronounced like 'mah' in "father"
- **Noon** (ـون) — pronounced as a long 'oo' sound followed by 'n'
Put together: **THA-mah-noon**, with stress on the first syllable. The word maintains this pronunciation across all Arabic-speaking regions, though some regional variations exist in rapid speech.
### Grammatical Rules for Using 80 in Arabic
Understanding the grammar of ثمانون is crucial because Arabic numbers follow complex agreement patterns that differ significantly from English. Here are the key rules:
**Case Endings**
When ثمانون appears as the subject of a sentence (nominative case), it takes the ending -ون (oon). In genitive or accusative cases, it changes to ثمانين (thamanin) with the ending -ين (een). For example:
- Nominative: "ثمانون طالب" (eighty students are...)
- Accusative: "رأيت ثمانين طالباً" (I saw eighty students) — note the case change
**Noun Agreement**
Unlike English, where "eighty" remains the same regardless of what is being counted, Arabic requires specific noun forms after the number 80:
- The noun following 80 typically appears in the **singular accusative feminine form** or **plural accusative form**, depending on the noun's gender and the formality level
- Example with singular: "ثمانون سنة" (eighty years) — سنة (sanah) is singular feminine in accusative case
- Example with plural: "ثمانون يوماً" (eighty days) — يوماً (ayyaman) is plural accusative
**Gender Neutrality of the Number**
Importantly, ثمانون does not change for gender. Whether counting masculine or feminine nouns, the number itself remains ثمانون. This is different from numbers 1-9, which do change for gender agreement.
### How 80 is Used in Daily Arabic
The number 80 appears frequently in everyday Arabic contexts:
**Age and Time**
- "عمري ثمانون سنة" (I am eighty years old)
- "الاجتماع سيستغرق ثمانون دقيقة" (The meeting will take eighty minutes)
**Quantity and Measurement**
- "اشتريت ثمانون كتاباً" (I bought eighty books)
- "المسافة ثمانون كيلومتراً" (The distance is eighty kilometers)
**Monetary Values**
- "السعر ثمانون ريالاً" (The price is eighty riyals)
**Composite Numbers with 80**
When forming numbers like 81, 82, etc., the structure changes:
- 81: "واحد وثمانون" (wahid wa-thamanun) — literally "one and eighty"
- 85: "خمسة وثمانون" (khamsah wa-thamanun) — literally "five and eighty"
In these composite numbers, the smaller number comes first, followed by "و" (wa, meaning "and"), then ثمانون.
### Modern Standard Arabic vs. Dialects
While ثمانون is the standard form in Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha), regional dialects may have slight variations in pronunciation or usage. However, understanding the formal standard ensures comprehension across all Arabic-speaking regions.
### Practice Examples
1. "في الفصل ثمانون طالباً" — There are eighty students in the classroom.
2. "عملت هناك لمدة ثمانون عاماً" — I worked there for eighty years.
3. "اشترينا ثمانون زجاجة ماء" — We bought eighty bottles of water.
4. "الكتاب يحتوي على ثمانون صفحة" — The book contains eighty pages.
5. "دفعت ثمانون دولاراً مقابل القميص" — I paid eighty dollars for the shirt.
### Conclusion
Mastering the use of ثمانون (eighty) is essential for any Arabic learner because it demonstrates understanding of how tens numbers function grammatically in Arabic. The key is remembering that the number itself does not change for gender, but the noun that follows must be in the appropriate case form, typically accusative. With practice and attention to the grammatical patterns outlined above, you will develop confidence in using 80 and other tens numbers naturally in Arabic conversation and writing.