Free Arabic Spoken Course – Lesson 3: Numbers, Age & Everyday Conversations

May 3, 2025
Free Arabic Spoken Course

Part of the free Arabic Spoken Course Series

Have you ever been in a Gulf country—or chatting online with a Gulf friend—and suddenly wished you knew how to ask someone’s age or say your own? If you only know how to count to “wahid” (1), don’t worry. Today’s lesson is your beginner-friendly guide to numbers in Gulf Arabic and how to talk about age naturally and politely.

Whether you’re heading to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, or just want to understand Gulf speakers better, this lesson will help you sound more authentic from day one.

Table of Contents

🧠 Why Numbers Matter in Real-Life Arabic

Numbers are everywhere: from telling your age, buying groceries, giving your phone number, to asking the time. But numbers in Gulf Arabic (اللهجة الخليجية) sound a little different from Modern Standard Arabic (MSA)—especially in casual conversation.

That’s why we’re focusing on:

✅ Numbers 1–20 (plus tens)
✅ How to ask and answer “How old are you?”
✅ Useful cultural notes
✅ A real-life dialogue to practice with

📚 Vocabulary: Numbers in Gulf Arabic (1–20)

Here’s your go-to chart for numbers 1 to 20. We’ve included the Arabic script, Romanized pronunciation, and the English meaning.

English	Arabic	Roman Arabic
1	واحد	wāḥid
2	اثنين	ithnayn / ithnēn
3	ثلاثة	thalātha
4	أربعة	arba‘a
5	خمسة	khamsa
6	ستة	sitta
7	سبعة	sab‘a
8	ثمانية	thamāniya
9	تسعة	tis‘a
10	عشرة	‘ashara
11	أحد عشر	aḥad ‘ashar
12	اثنا عشر	ithnā ‘ashar
13	ثلاثة عشر	thalātha ‘ashar
14	أربعة عشر	arba‘a ‘ashar
15	خمسة عشر	khamsa ‘ashar
16	ستة عشر	sitta ‘ashar
17	سبعة عشر	sab‘a ‘ashar
18	ثمانية عشر	thamāniya ‘ashar
19	تسعة عشر	tis‘a ‘ashar
20	عشرين	‘ishrīn

👉 Gulf Accent Tip:
In conversation, you’ll often hear these numbers pronounced softly. For example:

“ithnayn” sounds like “ithnēn”
“arba‘a” might become just “arba‘”

🗣️ How to Ask “How Old Are You?” in Gulf Arabic

The most common phrase is:

Arabic: كم عمرك؟
Roman Arabic: kam ‘umrik?
English: How old are you?

🧍‍♂️ Example Answer:

Arabic: أنا عمري خمسة وعشرين سنة.
Roman Arabic: Ana ʿumrī khamsa w ʿishrīn sana.
English: I am 25 years old.

🧠 Word Breakdown:

Arabic	Roman Arabic	Meaning
أنا	ana	I
عمري	ʿumrī	my age
خمسة	khamsa	five
وعشرين	w ʿishrīn	and twenty
سنة	sana	year

👉 Grammar Tip:
Use “w” to connect numbers (like 5 and 20 → khamsa w ʿishrīn). Always say the number before “sana” (year).

🧑‍🏫 Cultural Tip: Be Polite with Age Questions

In Gulf culture, asking someone’s age is usually fine—especially with friends or younger people. But when talking to older people or in formal situations, it’s better to be polite or let them share their age first.

Try this softer version:

Arabic: ممكن أسأل، كم عمرك؟
Roman Arabic: Mumkin as’al, kam ‘umrik?
English: May I ask, how old are you?

🔢 Bonus: Counting by Tens

Here’s a quick chart to help you go beyond 20.

English	Arabic	Roman Arabic
30	ثلاثين	thalāthīn
40	أربعين	arba‘īn
50	خمسين	khamsīn
60	ستين	sittīn
70	سبعين	sab‘īn
80	ثمانين	thamānīn
90	تسعين	tis‘īn
100	مئة	mi’a

You can combine them easily:

35 = خمسة و ثلاثين → khamsa w thalāthīn
48 = ثمانية و أربعين → thamāniya w arba‘īn

🏦 Large Numbers in Gulf Arabic

English	Arabic	Roman Arabic
1,000	ألف	alf
10,000	عشرة آلاف	‘ashara alāf
100,000	مئة ألف	miya alf
1,000,000 (1 million)	مليون	milyūn
10,000,000	عشرة ملايين	‘ashara malāyīn
100,000,000	مئة مليون	miya milyūn
10,00,000 (1 lakh)	مئة ألف	miya alf (used instead of “lakh”)
1 crore (10 million)	عشرة ملايين	‘ashara malāyīn

❗ Gulf Arabic doesn’t use “lakh” or “crore” natively—those are used in South Asia. In Gulf Arabic, we use “thousand,” “million,” and “billion.”

✏️ Grammar Tips

In Gulf Arabic, the number often precedes the noun (e.g., thalātha ikhwān = three brothers).
Use w (and) to connect tens and units: khamsa w thalāthīn (35).
When talking about currency, “riyāl” stays singular after 3+ (no plural form): khamsa riyāl, not riyālāt.

👩‍🏫 Arabic Spoken Course: Sample Dialogue + Word-by-Word (Conversations 1–10)

These cover a variety of real-life situations.

🗨️ Conversation 1 – At a Coffee Shop

📌 Dialogue

Arabic Script:
🧑‍💼: السلام عليكم، كم عمرك؟
👩‍🦰: وعليكم السلام، عمري تسعة عشر سنة. وأنت؟
🧑‍💼: أنا عمري اثنين وعشرين سنة.

Roman Arabic:
🧑‍💼: Assalāmu ʿalaykum, kam ʿumrik?
👩‍🦰: Wa ʿalaykum assalām, ʿumrī tisʿa ʿashar sana. W inta?
🧑‍💼: Ana ʿumrī ithnēn w ʿishrīn sana.

English:
🧑‍💼: Peace be upon you, how old are you?
👩‍🦰: And peace be upon you, I’m nineteen years old. And you?
🧑‍💼: I’m twenty-two years old.

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
السلام عليكم	Assalāmu ʿalaykum	Peace be upon you
كم	Kam	How much / How
عمرك؟	ʿumrik?	Your age?
وعليكم السلام	Wa ʿalaykum assalām	And peace be upon you
عمري	ʿumrī	My age
تسعة عشر	Tisʿa ʿashar	Nineteen
سنة	Sana	Year
وأنت؟	W inta?	And you?
أنا	Ana	I
اثنين وعشرين	Ithnēn w ʿishrīn	Twenty-two

🗨️ Conversation 2 – At a Market Stall

📌 Dialogue

Arabic Script:
👨‍🦱: بكم هذا؟
👨‍🦳: بخمسة و ثلاثين ريال.

Roman Arabic:
👨‍🦱: Bikam hādhā?
👨‍🦳: B khamsa w thalāthīn riyāl.

English:
👨‍🦱: How much is this?
👨‍🦳: It’s thirty-five riyals.

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
بكم	Bikam	How much (price)?
هذا	Hādhā	This
بخمسة	B khamsa	For five
و ثلاثين	W thalāthīn	And thirty
ريال	Riyāl	Riyal (currency)

🗨️ Conversation 3 – Talking About Salary

📌 Dialogue

Arabic Script:
👨‍💼: كم راتبك؟
👨‍🔧: راتبي ثمانية آلاف وخمسمية.

Roman Arabic:
👨‍💼: Kam rātbak?
👨‍🔧: Rātbī thamāniyat alāf w khamsmiyya.

English:
👨‍💼: What’s your salary?
👨‍🔧: My salary is eight thousand five hundred.

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
كم	Kam	How much / What
راتبك؟	Rātbak?	Your salary?
راتبي	Rātbī	My salary
ثمانية آلاف	Thamāniyat alāf	Eight thousand
و خمسمية	W khamsmiyya	And five hundred

🗨️ Conversation 4 – Booking a Hotel Room

📌 Dialogue

Arabic Script:
👩‍💼: كم سعر الغرفة لليلة؟
👨‍💼: ستمية وخمسين ريال.

Roman Arabic:
👩‍💼: Kam siʿr al-ghurfa lil-layla?
👨‍💼: Sittmiyya w khamsīn riyāl.

English:
👩‍💼: How much is the room per night?
👨‍💼: Six hundred fifty riyals.

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
كم	Kam	How much
سعر	Siʿr	Price
الغرفة	Al-ghurfa	The room
لليلة	Lil-layla	Per night
ستمية	Sittmiyya	Six hundred
وخمسين	W khamsīn	And fifty
ريال	Riyāl	Riyal (currency)

🗨️ Conversation 5 – Talking About Family Members

📌 Dialogue

Arabic Script:
👧: كم أخ عندك؟
👩‍🦱: عندي أربعة أخوان.

Roman Arabic:
👧: Kam akh ʿindak?
👩‍🦱: ʿIndī arbaʿa ikhwan.

English:
👧: How many brothers do you have?
👩‍🦱: I have four brothers.

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
كم	Kam	How many
أخ	Akh	Brother
عندك؟	ʿIndak?	Do you have?
عندي	ʿIndī	I have
أربعة	Arbaʿa	Four
أخوان	Ikhwan	Brothers (dual/plural)

🗨️ Conversation 6 – Asking About Distance

📌 Dialogue

Arabic Script:
👨‍✈️: كم كيلو من هنا إلى الدمام؟
👳: حوالي مية وعشرة كيلومتر.

Roman Arabic:
👨‍✈️: Kam kīlo min hinā ilā ad-Dammām?
👳: Ḥawālī miya w ʿashara kīlōmētar.

English:
👨‍✈️: How many kilometers from here to Dammam?
👳: About one hundred ten kilometers.

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
كم	Kam	How many
كيلو	Kīlo	Kilo / Kilometer
من هنا	Min hinā	From here
إلى الدمام	Ilā ad-Dammām	To Dammam
حوالي	Ḥawālī	About / approximately
مية	Miya	One hundred
وعشرة	W ʿashara	And ten
كيلومتر	Kīlōmētar	Kilometer

🗨️ Conversation 7 – Talking About Time

📌 Dialogue

Arabic Script:
🧒: كم الساعة؟
👨: الساعة تسعة ونص.

Roman Arabic:
🧒: Kam as-sāʿa?
👨: As-sāʿa tisʿa w niṣṣ.

English:
🧒: What time is it?
👨: It’s nine thirty.

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
كم	Kam	What / How much
الساعة	As-sāʿa	The hour / The time
تسعة	Tisʿa	Nine
و نص	W niṣṣ	And a half (thirty mins)

🗨️ Conversation 8 – Shopping for Furniture

📌 Dialogue

Arabic Script:
👩‍🦰: كم سعر الطاولة؟
👨‍🔧: بألفين وخمسمية ريال.

Roman Arabic:
👩‍🦰: Kam siʿr aṭ-ṭāwla?
👨‍🔧: B alfayn w khamsmiyya riyāl.

English:
👩‍🦰: How much is the table?
👨‍🔧: Two thousand five hundred riyals.

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
كم	Kam	How much
سعر	Siʿr	Price
الطاولة	Aṭ-ṭāwla	The table
بألفين	B alfayn	For two thousand
و خمسمية	W khamsmiyya	And five hundred
ريال	Riyāl	Riyal (currency)

🗨️ Conversation 9 – Discussing Followers on Social Media

📌 Dialogue

👦: كم عندك متابع؟
👧: عندي ثلاثمية وخمسين ألف.

Roman Arabic:
👦: Kam ʿindak mutābiʿ?
👧: ʿIndī thalāthmiyya w khamsīn ālf.

English:
👦: How many followers do you have?
👧: I have three hundred fifty thousand.

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
كم	Kam	How many
عندك	ʿIndak	Do you have?
متابع	Mutābiʿ	Follower
عندي	ʿIndī	I have
ثلاثمية	Thalāthmiyya	Three hundred
و خمسين	W khamsīn	And fifty
ألف	Ālf	Thousand

🗨️ Conversation 10 – Talking About a Business Deal

📌 Dialogue

👨‍💼: الصفقة كانت بمليون وربع.
👨‍🔧: ما شاء الله، رقم كبير!

Roman Arabic:
👨‍💼: Aṣ-ṣafqa kānat b milyūn w rubʿ.
👨‍🔧: Mā shā’ Allāh, raqam kabīr!

English:
👨‍💼: The deal was for one million and a quarter.
👨‍🔧: Wow, that’s a big number!

🧩 Word-by-Word Table

Arabic	Roman Arabic	English Meaning
الصفقة	Aṣ-ṣafqa	The deal
كانت	Kānat	Was
بمليون	B milyūn	For one million
وربع	W rubʿ	And a quarter
ما شاء الله	Mā shā’ Allāh	God has willed it (Wow)
رقم	Raqam	Number
كبير	Kabīr	Big / Large

🧕 Cultural Tips: Numbers in Daily Gulf Life

Politeness Matters: When asking someone’s age, add a polite phrase like ممكن أسأل؟ (mumkin as’al?)
Business Conversations: Numbers are crucial in bargaining and budgeting. Be ready to say prices with confidence.
Lucky Numbers: Gulf culture doesn’t focus much on numerology, but even/round numbers (e.g., 10, 100, 1000) are often preferred in negotiation.
Use of “lakh” and “crore”: These are not used in Gulf Arabic. Replace with “hundred thousand” (miya alf) and “ten million” (‘ashara malāyīn).

✅ Key Takeaways

Use kam ‘umrik? to ask someone’s age.
Answer with ‘umrī + number + sana.
Learn the Gulf Arabic accent for smoother conversation.
Be polite when talking about age in formal settings.

🧪 Mini Quiz – Test Yourself!

Translate the following into Gulf Arabic:

I am 37 years old.
The bill is 94 riyals.
I have 2 cars.
My salary is 8,500 riyals.
They bought the company for 3 million.

🔗 Related Posts from the Arabic Spoken Course Series

Free Arabic Spoken Course- Lesson 1: Greetings & Introductions
Free Arabic Spoken Course- Lesson 2: Introducing Yourself and Asking Names
Arabic Conversation Phrases for Beginners
Arabic Conversation for Job Interviews

Frequently Asked Questions – Numbers & Age in Gulf Arabic

What's the difference between Gulf Arabic numbers and Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) numbers?

The core number words are largely the same, but Gulf Arabic often uses slightly different pronunciations and simplified forms in conversation. For example, “ithnayn” (2) in MSA becomes “ithnēn” in Gulf Arabic. Additionally, native speakers tend to speak more casually, dropping some case endings or shortening syllables.

How do I know when to use “sana” (year) in age expressions?

Use “sana” (سنة) after stating someone’s age to clarify you’re talking about years. Example: “ʿumrī khamsa w ʿishrīn sana” means “I am 25 years old.” It’s optional in casual speech but helps beginners sound clearer.

Is it polite to ask someone’s age in Gulf countries?

Among peers or in friendly settings, yes—it’s normal to ask about age. However, when speaking to elders or in formal situations, it’s more polite to wait for them to mention it or ask using softer language like: “Mumkin asʾal, kam ʿumrik?” (May I ask, how old are you?)

How do I say numbers like 1,000 or 1,000,000 in Gulf Arabic?

Here’s a quick list: 1,000 – ألف (alf) 100,000 – مئة ألف (mi’at alf) 1,000,000 – مليون (milyōn) 10,000,000 – عشرة ملايين (ʿashara malāyīn) For Indian-style counting: Lakh = 100,000 → lakh = مئة ألف Crore = 10 million → crore = عشرة ملايين

What’s the best way to memorize numbers in Gulf Arabic?

Use a mix of methods: Practice with real-life dialogues (like the ones in this blog). Say your phone number, age, or prices aloud in Arabic. Download the Numbers Worksheet PDF from this course. Try the Mini Quiz at the end of this blog to reinforce your learning!

📥 Call to Action

✅ Buy our Speak Arabic Like Arab E-Book
✅ Enroll in our Live Arabic Classes – Interactive Gulf Arabic taught online
✅ Follow our Free Arabic Spoken Course