سبعون

Seventy

Difficulty Level

Description

سبعون (sabʿūn) is the Arabic cardinal number meaning "seventy." It is used to count objects, express quantities, and indicate age or measurements. This number is fundamental in everyday communication and mathematical contexts in Arabic-speaking cultures.

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Example Sentences

والدي يبلغ من العمر سبعون سنة.

Wālidī yablughu min al-ʿumur sabʿūn sanah.

My father is seventy years old.

في المكتبة سبعون كتاباً عن التاريخ.

Fī al-maktabah sabʿūn kitāban ʿan al-tārīkh.

There are seventy books about history in the library.

قضينا سبعون ساعة في الرحلة.

Qadaynā sabʿūn sāʿah fī al-rihlah.

We spent seventy hours on the trip.

السعر هو سبعون دولاراً.

Al-siʿr huwa sabʿūn dūlāran.

The price is seventy dollars.

شارك سبعون طالباً في المسابقة.

Shārak sabʿūn tālib fī al-musābaqah.

Seventy students participated in the competition.

Synonyms

سبعين(Seventy (alternative form))

Antonyms

صفر(Zero)واحد(One)

Cultural Notes

Numbers hold significant cultural importance in Arabic-speaking countries, with سبعون appearing frequently in traditional stories, religious texts, and daily transactions. The number seven itself carries mystical significance in Islamic tradition, appearing prominently in the Quran, which reinforces the cultural weight of numbers built on it like seventy. Understanding numbers is essential for participating in markets, conducting business, and engaging in social conversations throughout the Arab world.

Usage Tips

Remember that سبعون is invariable—it does not change form based on gender or case in standard Arabic. When counting objects, use the construct form سبعون + noun (e.g., سبعون كتاباً - seventy books). In Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), both سبعون and the alternative form سبعين are acceptable, though سبعون is more formal. Always place the number before the counted noun to maintain proper grammatical structure.

## What Does سبعون (Sabʿūn) Mean? سبعون is the Arabic cardinal number for seventy (70). It is a fundamental numerical term used in counting, expressing quantities, stating ages, and discussing measurements. As a cardinal number, it represents a fixed quantity and is essential vocabulary for anyone learning Arabic. ## Grammar and Structure سبعون is grammatically classified as an indeclinable cardinal number, meaning it maintains the same form regardless of gender, case, or the noun it modifies. This distinguishes it from many other Arabic adjectives that must agree with their nouns in gender and number. When used with nouns, the pattern is typically: سبعون + noun in the accusative case (مفعول به), as in سبعون كتاباً (seventy books) or سبعون شخصاً (seventy people). The number can be written as سبعون (definite form) or سبعين in colloquial contexts, though Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) prefers سبعون for formal writing and speech. ## Usage in Daily Life سبعون appears frequently in everyday Arabic communication. It is commonly used to: - **Express age**: "والدتي تبلغ من العمر سبعون سنة" (My mother is seventy years old) - **State quantities**: "اشتريت سبعون تفاحة من السوق" (I bought seventy apples from the market) - **Discuss measurements**: "المسافة حوالي سبعون كيلومتر" (The distance is approximately seventy kilometers) - **Reference time**: "انتظرت سبعون دقيقة" (I waited seventy minutes) ## Mathematical and Numerical Context سبعون sits between ستون (sixty) and ثمانون (eighty) in the Arabic numerical sequence. Understanding its position in the broader number system is important for building numerical literacy. Like other multiples of ten in Arabic (عشرة, عشرون, ثلاثون, أربعون, خمسون, ستون, سبعون, ثمانون, تسعون, مائة), سبعون follows the same grammatical rules and patterns. ## Cultural Significance Numbers carry cultural and religious weight in Arabic tradition. The number seven (سبعة) and its multiples like seventy hold special significance in Islamic heritage, appearing frequently in the Quran. Consequently, سبعون is often encountered in religious narratives, traditional literature, and cultural discussions. Understanding how to use this number correctly demonstrates cultural competence and respect for Arabic linguistic traditions. ## Practical Tips for Learners When using سبعون, keep the following guidelines in mind: 1. **Maintain invariability**: Unlike adjectives, never change سبعون based on gender or case agreement 2. **Proper word order**: Place سبعون before the noun it modifies 3. **Accusative case**: The noun following سبعون typically appears in the accusative case 4. **Approximation phrases**: Use حوالي (approximately) or حوالي سبعون for estimated quantities 5. **Comparative expressions**: Combine with أكثر من (more than) or أقل من (less than) for numerical comparisons ## Common Phrases and Expressions Several common expressions utilize سبعون: - **في السبعينات من العمر** (In one's seventies) - used to describe someone in their seventies - **حوالي سبعون** (About seventy) - approximate quantities - **سبعون وواحد** (Seventy-one) - compound numbers - **مائة وسبعون** (One hundred and seventy) - larger composite numbers ## Conclusion Mastering سبعون is crucial for effective Arabic communication. This number appears regularly in commercial transactions, age discussions, statistical data, and general conversation. By understanding its grammatical properties and cultural context, learners can use this fundamental numerical term with confidence and accuracy.