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7th
السابع (as-sābiʿ) is the ordinal number meaning 'seventh' in Arabic. It is used to indicate position or order in a sequence, such as the seventh day, floor, or person. As an adjective, it agrees in gender and definiteness with the noun it modifies.
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اليوم السابع من الشهر هو موعد الاجتماع.
al-yawm as-sābiʿ min ash-shahr huwa mawʿid al-ijtimāʿ
The seventh day of the month is the date of the meeting.
أسكن في الطابق السابع من العمارة.
askun fī aṭ-ṭābiq as-sābiʿ min al-ʿimāra
I live on the seventh floor of the building.
هو السابع في ترتيب المسابقة.
huwa as-sābiʿ fī tartīb al-musābaqa
He is seventh in the competition ranking.
القرن السابع الهجري شهد أحداثاً مهمة.
al-qarn as-sābiʿ al-hijrī shahida aḥdāthan muhimma
The seventh century Hijri witnessed important events.
الساعة السابعة صباحاً هو وقت الاستيقاظ.
as-sāʿa as-sābiʿa ṣabāḥan huwa waqt al-istīqāẓ
Seven o'clock in the morning is waking time.
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In Islamic culture, the number seven holds special significance. The seventh heaven (السماء السابعة) is the highest level of paradise in Islamic cosmology. The number seven appears frequently in religious practices, such as circling the Kaaba seven times during Hajj (الطواف سبعة أشواط). Saturday, literally meaning 'the seventh day' (السبت), is traditionally considered the seventh day of the week in Arabic calendars.
السابع must agree in gender with the noun it describes: use السابع (as-sābiʿ) for masculine nouns and السابعة (as-sābiʿa) for feminine nouns. When used with definite nouns, it takes the definite article 'ال' (al-). Note that unlike English, where ordinal numbers often come after the noun in dates, Arabic typically places them before the noun in most contexts.
The Arabic word السابع (as-sābiʿ) is the ordinal number meaning 'seventh' in English. As an essential component of Arabic numeracy, this word appears frequently in everyday conversations, formal writing, addresses, and time expressions. Understanding how to use ordinal numbers like السابع correctly is crucial for learners seeking fluency in Arabic communication.
As an ordinal adjective, السابع follows specific grammatical rules in Arabic. It must agree in gender, number, and definiteness with the noun it modifies. For masculine nouns, use السابع (as-sābiʿ), while feminine nouns require السابعة (as-sābiʿa). For example, 'the seventh day' is اليوم السابع (al-yawm as-sābiʿ) because يوم (day) is masculine, but 'the seventh hour' is الساعة السابعة (as-sāʿa as-sābiʿa) because ساعة (hour) is feminine.
When the noun being described is definite (has the definite article 'ال'), the ordinal number must also take the definite article. In indefinite contexts, the ordinal appears without 'ال', as in طابق سابع (ṭābiq sābiʿ) meaning 'a seventh floor.' This agreement system is fundamental to proper Arabic grammar.
The word السابع appears in numerous everyday situations. It's commonly used for building floors (الطابق السابع - the seventh floor), dates (اليوم السابع من الشهر - the seventh day of the month), rankings and positions in competitions, and time expressions. When telling time, الساعة السابعة means 'seven o'clock' or literally 'the seventh hour.'
In historical and academic contexts, السابع frequently appears in century designations, such as القرن السابع (al-qarn as-sābiʿ) for 'the seventh century.' This can refer to either the seventh century CE or the seventh century in the Islamic Hijri calendar, depending on context.
The number seven holds profound cultural and religious importance in Arab and Islamic tradition, making السابع more than just a numerical position. In Islamic cosmology, السماء السابعة (the seventh heaven) represents the highest level of paradise, which is why the English expression 'in seventh heaven' denotes ultimate happiness.
During the Hajj pilgrimage, Muslims perform الطواف (circumambulation) around the Kaaba seven times, and the ritual of السعي (walking between Safa and Marwa) is also performed seven times. These religious practices have embedded the number seven deeply in Islamic consciousness. Additionally, Saturday in Arabic is السبت (as-sabt), traditionally considered the seventh day of the week in Arab calendars.
Understanding السابع is enhanced by knowing related numerical vocabulary. The cardinal number 'seven' is سبعة (sabʿa) when counting or referring to quantity. The ordinal numbers surrounding it are السادس (as-sādis) meaning 'sixth' and الثامن (ath-thāmin) meaning 'eighth.' The word أسبوع (usbūʿ), meaning 'week,' shares the same root, reflecting the seven days in a week.
For English speakers learning Arabic, mastering السابع requires attention to gender agreement, which doesn't exist in English ordinal numbers. Practice by creating sentences with both masculine and feminine nouns. Remember that in Arabic, ordinal numbers typically precede the noun they modify, unlike some English constructions where they may follow. Pay special attention to pronunciation: the ʿayn (ع) sound in السابع is distinctive and important for clear communication. Regular practice with dates, floor numbers, and time expressions will help solidify your understanding and usage of this essential ordinal number.