Arabic Numbers for Kids (0–10)
Learn number names from 0 to 10, hear the pronunciation, and play counting games
Numeral Table: 0–10
| Number | Arabic name | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | صفر | Sifr |
| 1 | واحد | Waahid |
| 2 | اثنان | Ithnaan |
| 3 | ثلاثة | Thalaatha |
| 4 | أربعة | Arba'a |
| 5 | خمسة | Khamsa |
| 6 | ستة | Sitta |
| 7 | سبعة | Sab'a |
| 8 | ثمانية | Thamaaniya |
| 9 | تسعة | Tis'a |
| 10 | عشرة | Ashara |
Start with things your child can touch and count: blocks, spoons, or toys. We use familiar 0–9 digits and connect them to Arabic names: waahid, ithnaan, thalaatha. Touch each object once while counting, then say how many there are altogether.
Each Number, One by One
An empty plate has zero apples. Put one apple on it, then take it away and say sifr (zero).
Hold up one finger and say waahid. Find one toy, one spoon, and one book together.
Arabic has a special grammatical form just for the number 2, called the "dual" — rare among world languages.
The Arabic word for 3 starts with the letter ث (Tha), which makes the soft "th" sound as in "think".
The word for 4 contains the letter ع (Ain), one of the unique Arabic throat sounds.
The "Khamsa" (an open hand with five fingers) is a famous symbol across the Arab world.
Make two groups of three blocks. Count all six blocks together and say sitta.
The number 7 appears often in Arab and Islamic traditions, and many children's stories use it.
Thamaaniya is one of the longer number words — a nice one to practise clapping out syllables.
Arrange nine blocks in three rows of three. Touch each block once as you count to tis'a.
After ten, numbers combine: 11 is أحد عشر (ahada ashar), which literally means "one ten".
From number names to counting objects
Place three blocks in front of your child. Touch each block once and say waahid, ithnaan, thalaatha. The last number tells us there are three blocks. Then try counting apples in the game, starting with the 1–5 level.
Count apples & hear the numbersThree Counting Games for Parents
The best way to make numbers stick is not memorising but daily play. Try these three simple games that need no materials.
🪜 Stairs Counting
Every time you climb stairs together, count each step aloud in Arabic — waahid, ithnaan, thalaatha. Stairs give a built-in rhythm and turn a daily routine into a counting lesson.
🍎 Snack Math
At snack time, ask your child to bring you a number of items in Arabic: "a'teeni khamsa" (give me five) grapes. They count as they hand them over, learning numbers and sharing at once.
🔢 Number Hunt
Look for numbers (0–9) around you — on a clock, a phone, a car plate, or a book page. Each time you spot one, name it together in Arabic.
A Fun Quirk: Numbers Go the Other Way
Arabic words run right-to-left. In the number 10, tens are on the left and ones are on the right. The number 25 is spoken khamsa wa-ishroon (خمسة وعشرون, twenty-five). The arrangement of digits on a page is different from the order of the spoken words; do not read it as "two-five".
Frequently Asked Questions
Which digits do these Arabic lessons use?
These lessons use 0, 1, 2, 3 and the other familiar digits. The learning goal is to connect each number to its Arabic name and to a quantity of objects.
How are digits arranged inside right-to-left Arabic text?
Arabic words run right-to-left, but place value works like 0–9 numerals: in 25, the 2 on the left means two tens and the 5 on the right means five ones. Say the number khamsa wa-ishroon (خمسة وعشرون, twenty-five), not "two-five".
At what age should my child start counting in Arabic?
Children can chant numbers as a song from around age two, and connect the spoken number to a quantity of objects from about age three or four. Start with 1–5, make it playful, and add more only when those feel easy.
Quick Tips for Teaching Numbers
• Count everyday objects in Arabic — fingers, fruits, toys
• Sing counting songs in Arabic — rhythm fixes the order
• Use numbers in daily routines — "give me 3 apples"
• Make counting a game — who reaches 10 fastest?