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Fifteen
خمسة عشر (khamsah ashara) is the Arabic number word for fifteen, composed of the numeral five (خمسة) combined with ten (عشر). It is used in both formal and informal contexts to express the quantity of 15 items, time, dates, or measurements. This compound number follows specific grammatical rules in Arabic, particularly regarding noun agreement and gender.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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لديّ خمسة عشر كتاباً في مكتبتي.
Ladayya khamsah ashara kitaaban fee maktabati.
I have fifteen books in my library.
الاجتماع سيكون في الساعة الثالثة والنصف بعد الظهر، أي خمسة عشر والنصف.
Al-ijtimau sayakun fee as-saa'a ath-thaalitha wa-an-nisf ba'da dh-dhuhr, ay khamsah ashara wa-an-nisf.
The meeting will be at half past three in the afternoon, that is fifteen and a half o'clock.
والدتي ستحتفل بعيد ميلادها في خمسة عشر من يوليو.
Walidati satahhtafil bi-eid miladaha fee khamsah ashara min yulyu.
My mother will celebrate her birthday on the fifteenth of July.
يحتاج هذا المشروع إلى خمسة عشر عاملاً لإكماله في الوقت المحدد.
Yahtaj hadha al-mashruu' ila khamsah ashara 'amilan li-ikmalihi fee al-waqt al-muhadad.
This project needs fifteen workers to complete it on time.
عملت في هذه الشركة لمدة خمسة عشر سنة.
Amilt fee hadhihi ash-sharika li-muddat khamsah ashara sanah.
I have worked at this company for fifteen years.
In Arabic-speaking cultures, numbers are fundamental to daily commerce, timekeeping, and communication. The number fifteen holds significance in Islamic tradition, as it appears in various contexts including religious dates and Quranic references. Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.) are widely used in modern Arabic, but the written word form خمسة عشر is essential for formal writing, literature, and when precision and clarity are paramount.
Remember that خمسة عشر is a compound number where خمسة (five) is in the nominative case and عشر (ten) follows as a construct. When using it with nouns, the noun typically comes after the number and is in the accusative plural form (e.g., خمسة عشر طالباً - fifteen students). Pay attention to gender agreement in formal contexts, as خمسة عشرة (with ta marbuta) is used when counting feminine nouns, though modern usage often treats compound numbers invariably.
The Arabic word خمسة عشر (khamsah ashara) represents the number fifteen and is composed of two elements: خمسة (khamsah, meaning five) and عشر (ashara, meaning ten). This compound structure is fundamental to understanding how Arabic constructs numbers from eleven to nineteen. The number fifteen is commonly used in daily Arabic conversation for telling time, counting objects, expressing ages, discussing durations, and denoting dates.
خمسة عشر is a compound numeral formed through the additive system where five is added to ten. Unlike some European languages, Arabic compound numbers from 11-19 maintain a relatively consistent structure. The word خمسة stays in its nominative form, while عشر serves as the second component. When used with nouns, the compound number governs the accusative plural form of the noun: خمسة عشر طالباً (fifteen students), خمسة عشر كتاباً (fifteen books).
It's important to note that in modern standard Arabic (Fusha), there are gender considerations. The form خمسة عشرة (with ta marbuta) is theoretically used for feminine nouns, though contemporary usage often treats the number invariably, particularly in informal speech and writing.
خمسة عشر can be written in several ways:
When writing formal documents, business correspondence, or literary works, the word form is preferred. In technical contexts, scientific writing, and modern digital communication, the numeral form (١٥ or 15) is standard.
The number fifteen appears frequently in everyday Arabic contexts:
Time: In 24-hour military time, 15:00 is الساعة خمسة عشر (as-saa'a khamsah ashara). In 12-hour format, it's expressed as الثالثة والنصف (half past three).
Dates: خمسة عشر من يناير (the fifteenth of January), خمسة عشر من شهر رمضان (the fifteenth day of Ramadan).
Quantities: خمسة عشر تفاحة (fifteen apples), خمسة عشر طالباً (fifteen students), خمسة عشر سنة (fifteen years).
Age and Duration: ابني عمره خمسة عشر سنة (My son is fifteen years old), عملت هناك خمسة عشر سنة (I worked there for fifteen years).
In Islamic tradition and Arab culture, certain numbers hold special significance. The fifteenth day of Islamic months is culturally significant, as it typically marks the full moon (البدر). The fifteenth of Sha'ban (منتصف شعبان) is known as Laylat al-Baraa'h, a night of spiritual importance in Islamic tradition. Additionally, the fifteenth of Rajab marks the birth of Imam Ali in Shi'a Islamic tradition.
Moreover, in Arab business culture and formal communication, precision in numbers is highly valued. Stating خمسة عشر instead of "approximately fifteen" (حوالي خمسة عشر) demonstrates accuracy and professionalism.
Several idiomatic expressions incorporate the number fifteen:
To properly contextualize خمسة عشر within the Arabic numeral system:
The compound numbers 11-19 (احدى عشر through تسعة عشر) all follow the same structural pattern as خمسة عشر, making it an important model for understanding intermediate numbers in Arabic.
In contemporary Arabic, particularly in digital communication, texting, and business contexts, numerals (15 or ١٥) are often preferred for brevity and clarity. However, in formal writing, literary works, poetry, and official documents, the written form خمسة عشر remains standard and expected.
Dialectal variations exist across different Arab regions, but the Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) form خمسة عشر is universally understood and respected in all Arabic-speaking communities.
English speakers learning Arabic should recognize that compound numbers like خمسة عشر follow a logical additive pattern, making them easier to remember than English's irregular historical formations (like "fifteen" versus "five" and "ten"). Practice pairing the number with different categories of nouns to reinforce gender and case agreement. Additionally, becoming comfortable with both written and numeral forms of the number is practical for real-world Arabic communication, from reading newspapers to conducting business transactions.
خمسة عشر is a foundational Arabic number that appears consistently in everyday communication. Understanding its structure, proper usage with nouns, and cultural significance enables learners to communicate more effectively in Arabic. Whether used for telling time, stating quantities, or expressing ages and durations, mastery of this compound number is essential for any student of the Arabic language.