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Forty
أربعون (arba'ūn) is the Arabic cardinal number meaning 'forty.' It is used to count, express quantity, and indicate the fourth decade in numerical sequences. This number is fundamental in Arabic mathematics, timekeeping, and everyday communication.
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في الفصل أربعون طالباً.
Fī al-faṣl arba'ūn ṭālibaً.
There are forty students in the classroom.
عمري أربعون سنة.
'Umrī arba'ūn sanah.
I am forty years old.
اشتريت أربعون كتاباً من المكتبة.
Ishtarayt arba'ūn kitābaً min al-maktabah.
I bought forty books from the library.
السعر أربعون ريالاً فقط.
Al-si'r arba'ūn riyālaً faqaṭ.
The price is only forty riyals.
انتظرت أربعون دقيقة في الطابور.
Intaẓart arba'ūn daqīqah fī al-ṭāb'ūr.
I waited forty minutes in the queue.
The number forty holds significant cultural and religious importance in Arabic and Islamic tradition. It appears frequently in the Quran and Islamic history, such as the forty days of fasting during Ramadan, the forty days of postpartum seclusion, and Prophet Muhammad's age when he received revelation. In contemporary Arabic culture, forty is used commonly in business, education, and daily transactions across all Arabic-speaking regions.
When using أربعون with nouns, remember that Arabic numbers from 11-99 typically take the plural form of the noun (e.g., أربعون طالباً - forty students, using the plural). However, when أربعون stands alone as a number, it remains unchanged. Pay attention to gender agreement in compound numbers (e.g., واحد وأربعون - forty-one requires gender agreement with the counted noun).
أربعون (arba'ūn) is the Arabic cardinal number representing forty (40). It is one of the tens place numbers in the Arabic numeral system and is essential for counting, expressing quantities, telling time, discussing ages, and conducting business transactions. The word is used in both Modern Standard Arabic (Fusha) and various Arabic dialects across the Middle East, North Africa, and other Arabic-speaking regions.
أربعون is an indeclinable noun (ممنوع من الصرف - mamnū' min al-ṣarf), meaning it does not follow standard declension patterns and remains unchanged regardless of case. When used with nouns, Arabic numerals from 11-99 require the counted noun to be in plural form and in the accusative case (منصوب - manṣūb). For example:
Within the Arabic counting system, أربعون falls between تسعة وثلاثون (thirty-nine) and واحد وأربعون (forty-one). When forming compound numbers with أربعون, the structure is different from English. The ones digit precedes the tens digit, connected with و (wa - and):
This reverse order is characteristic of Arabic number formation and should be practiced carefully by learners.
The number forty holds profound significance in Islamic tradition and Arab culture. It appears repeatedly in the Quran in spiritually and historically important contexts. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) received the message of Islam at age forty, marking a pivotal moment in Islamic history. Additionally, forty days and nights is a recurring period in Islamic and broader Middle Eastern cultural narratives, symbolizing testing, purification, and transformation.
In modern Arabic culture, reaching one's forties (في الأربعين من العمر - fī al-arba'īn min al-'umr) is often marked as entering middle age, and this milestone carries social and personal significance in family contexts and life planning.
أربعون is used extensively in everyday situations:
Temperature and Weather: أربعون درجة مئوية (forty degrees Celsius) is a common reference point in hot climates.
Currency and Commerce: Prices, wages, and financial transactions regularly involve this number (أربعون ريالاً, أربعون دولاراً).
Time and Duration: Waiting periods, appointment times, and event durations are frequently expressed using أربعون (أربعون دقيقة - forty minutes).
Age and Milestones: Discussing age is a common conversational topic, and the age forty is particularly notable.
When using compound numbers with أربعون, gender agreement becomes important. The ones digit must agree in gender with the noun being counted:
However, أربعون itself remains neutral and doesn't change, demonstrating its indeclinable nature.
While أربعون is the standard form in Modern Standard Arabic, spoken dialects may have variations. However, most Arabic speakers understand and use this standard form, making it universally comprehensible across Arabic-speaking regions.
English speakers learning Arabic should practice أربعون in various contexts to develop fluency. Use it in sentences about prices, ages, distances, and durations. Pay special attention to the plural noun that follows it and practice compound numbers thoroughly. Understanding that Arabic counts backward in tens (with the ones place first) is crucial for number mastery.
Regularly hearing and repeating أربعون in authentic Arabic media, conversations, and practical situations will solidify its usage and help with overall Arabic language proficiency.