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ثلاثة وثمانون
THAH-lah-thah wah THAH-mah-noon. Break it down: 'THAH-lah-thah' (three) + 'wah' (and) + 'THAH-mah-noon' (eighty). The 'th' sounds are dental fricatives, similar to the 'th' in 'think,' and the emphatic 'th' in 'thamanun' is deeper and more guttural than in 'thalatha.'
The number 83 in Arabic is written as ثلاثة وثمانون (thalatha wa-thamanun), literally meaning 'three and eighty.' This compound number follows the Arabic convention of stating the units before the tens, connected by the conjunction 'wa' (و). It is used in counting, mathematical expressions, and everyday contexts such as stating ages, quantities, and measurements.
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The number 83 (ثلاثة وثمانون) is a compound number consisting of two parts: ثلاثة (three) and ثمانون (eighty), joined by 'wa' (and). The units component (ثلاثة) follows the standard rules for the number three, which requires the counted noun to be in the accusative plural (or broken plural) form and masculine gender. The tens component (ثمانون) is invariable and does not change with gender. When used with a noun, the entire number phrase precedes the noun, which appears in the accusative case with indefinite form (tanwīn). For example: ثلاثة وثمانون رجلاً (83 men) uses the accusative masculine singular form rayyul. The number does not agree with feminine nouns; instead, both parts remain masculine regardless of the noun's gender. In written Arabic, compound numbers from 21-99 follow this consistent pattern where units precede tens. The noun following any number 3 and above must be in accusative case and plural form.
While 83 itself has no specific religious or mystical significance in Islamic tradition, numbers in Arabic culture are often associated with personal milestones and age-related celebrations. In Arab societies, reaching one's 80s represents entry into a venerable stage of life, often marked by family gatherings and recognition of life experience. The number is commonly encountered in literary works, historical records, and administrative documents throughout the Arab world.
The number 83 is a prime number, which holds mathematical interest in Arabic scholarly traditions. In the context of learning Arabic, 83 serves as an excellent example of compound number formation because it clearly demonstrates how Arabic reverses the English order of units and tens — we say 'three and eighty' rather than 'eighty-three.' The structure of compound numbers from 21-99 in Arabic provides learners with a consistent pattern that reinforces understanding of both basic number components and the flexibility of Arabic grammar.
The Arabic number 83 is expressed as ثلاثة وثمانون (thalatha wa-thamanun), which literally translates to 'three and eighty.' This compound number is essential for anyone learning to count in Arabic, as it demonstrates fundamental principles of Arabic numerals and grammatical agreement.
To pronounce 83 in Arabic correctly, break it into two components:
The complete pronunciation is: THAH-lah-thah wah THAH-mah-noon
Note that the 'th' sounds are dental fricatives, similar to English 'think,' while the emphatic 'th' in 'thamanun' originates from deeper in the throat, giving it a distinctive quality.
Unlike English, which places larger numbers before smaller ones (eighty-three), Arabic reverses this order and places units before tens. This pattern applies to all compound numbers from 21 to 99. The two components are connected by 'wa' (و), meaning 'and,' creating a flowing compound number that Arabic speakers use naturally in daily speech.
When using 83 with nouns, several grammatical rules apply:
Case Requirements: The noun following any number 3-99 must appear in the accusative case (mansub). This is marked by the suffix -an with tanwīn (the double diacritical mark) in indefinite nouns. For example:
Gender Considerations: While the number three (ثلاثة) typically requires a feminine noun in certain contexts when standing alone, compound numbers 21-99 remain masculine regardless of the noun's gender. Both components of 83 maintain their masculine form even when counting feminine nouns.
Plural Requirements: Nouns counted by 83 must be in plural form (or broken plural for certain nouns). The number phrase always precedes the noun in standard Arabic construction.
Age Expression: My grandmother is 83 years old: جدتي عمرها ثلاثة وثمانون سنة (jaddatī 'umruha thalatha wa-thamanun sanah)
In this example, the noun 'sanah' (year) takes the accusative case form.
Counting Objects: There are 83 pages in this book: الكتاب فيه ثلاثة وثمانون صفحة (al-kitāb fīh thalatha wa-thamanun safḥa)
Here, 'safḥa' (page) remains feminine but still takes the accusative case.
Measurements: The temperature reached 83 degrees Celsius: درجة الحرارة وصلت إلى ثلاثة وثمانون درجة مئوية (daraja al-harāra wasalat ilā thalatha wa-thamanun daraja mi'awiyya)
Financial Contexts: The bill came to 83 Egyptian pounds: الفاتورة كانت ثلاثة وثمانون جنيهاً مصرياً (al-fātura kānat thalatha wa-thamanun junayhan misriyyan)
Learners often make these errors when using 83:
In Arab societies, the number 83 appears frequently in daily life. You might encounter it when:
Mastering compound numbers like 83 is crucial for functional Arabic literacy and spoken communication.
Interestingly, 83 is a prime number, meaning it is only divisible by 1 and itself. This mathematical property was recognized and studied in medieval Arabic mathematics, reflecting the deep engagement Arab scholars had with numerical theory.
To solidify your understanding of 83 in Arabic, practice using it in various contexts. Try forming sentences with different nouns, paying careful attention to case endings and plural forms. Regular exposure to compound numbers in authentic Arabic materials — whether through news broadcasts, literature, or conversation — will develop your intuition for natural number usage.
Understanding how to use 83 effectively opens the door to mastering all compound numbers in Arabic, a skill essential for any learner aiming for proficiency in the language.