8th
الثامن (al-thāmin) means 'the eighth' and is an ordinal number used to indicate position or order in a sequence. It is the masculine form, while الثامنة (al-thāminah) is the feminine form used with feminine nouns. This word is commonly used in dates, rankings, addresses, and any context requiring ordinal numbering.
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أسكن في الطابق الثامن من البناية
askunu fī al-ṭābiq al-thāmin min al-bināyah
I live on the eighth floor of the building
حصل الفريق على المركز الثامن في البطولة
ḥaṣala al-farīq ʿalā al-markaz al-thāmin fī al-buṭūlah
The team obtained eighth place in the championship
ولد أخي في الثامن من يناير
wulida akhī fī al-thāmin min yanāyir
My brother was born on the eighth of January
هذا هو الدرس الثامن في الكتاب
hādhā huwa al-dars al-thāmin fī al-kitāb
This is the eighth lesson in the book
القرن الثامن عشر شهد تطورات كبيرة
al-qarn al-thāmin ʿashar shahida taṭawwurāt kabīrah
The eighteenth century witnessed major developments
In Arabic-speaking cultures, ordinal numbers like الثامن are essential for specifying dates, particularly in the Islamic calendar where dates hold religious significance. The number eight itself doesn't carry special cultural symbolism in Arab culture as some other numbers do. When referring to centuries, Arabic uses ordinal numbers similar to English, though the Islamic calendar (Hijri) is often used alongside the Gregorian calendar in many Arab countries.
Remember that الثامن must agree in gender with the noun it modifies: use الثامن with masculine nouns and الثامنة with feminine nouns. The definite article ال (al-) is typically included when used as an adjective after a definite noun. When stating dates, you can say either اليوم الثامن (the eighth day) or simply الثامن (the eighth). The word remains in the same form regardless of the grammatical case, but the final vowel changes (الثامنُ، الثامنَ، الثامنِ).
The Arabic word الثامن (al-thāmin) is an ordinal number meaning 'the eighth.' As one of the fundamental ordinal numbers in Arabic, it plays a crucial role in everyday communication, from specifying dates and times to indicating rankings and positions in sequences.
One of the most important aspects of using الثامن correctly is understanding gender agreement. Arabic ordinal numbers must match the gender of the noun they modify:
For example, you would say الطابق الثامن (the eighth floor) because طابق is masculine, but الساعة الثامنة (the eighth hour/eight o'clock) because ساعة is feminine.
In Arabic, ordinal numbers typically follow the noun they modify, unlike cardinal numbers which precede the noun. The ordinal number agrees with the noun in definiteness, meaning both take the definite article ال:
الثامن is frequently used when stating dates. In Arabic, dates are commonly expressed as: اليوم + الثامن + من + الشهر (the eighth day of the month). For example: الثامن من مارس (the eighth of March).
When discussing rankings in competitions, academic standings, or ordered lists, الثامن indicates eighth place: المركز الثامن (eighth position) or الترتيب الثامن (eighth ranking).
In urban contexts, الثامن helps specify floor numbers, street addresses, and district numbers. Many Arabic-speaking cities use ordinal numbers for organizational purposes in addressing systems.
Understanding الثامن requires familiarity with its related forms:
In classical Arabic texts and historical documents, ordinal numbers like الثامن are essential for referencing specific periods, dynasties, and rulers. For instance, historians refer to الخليفة الثامن (the eighth caliph) when discussing Islamic history.
When learning to use الثامن, focus on these key points:
By mastering الثامن and other ordinal numbers, you'll significantly improve your ability to discuss sequences, dates, and positions in Arabic, making your communication more precise and natural.