ثَمَانِيَة
ṯamāniya
The English word "eight" is translated into Arabic as ثَمَانِيَة (ṯamāniya). Wiktionary also lists تمانية (tamāniyya) and ثَمَنْيَة (tamanya).
Meaning: cardinal number 8 (num)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ثَمَانِيَة | ṯamāniya | |
| تمانية | tamāniyya | Egyptian Arabic |
| ثَمَنْيَة | tamanya | Hijazi Arabic, feminine |
The phrase is used to denote the cardinal number 8.
Which one should you use?
The standard form is ثَمَانِيَة, while تمانية is a common spoken variation. The form ثَمَنْيَة is used as a feminine version in specific dialects.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ثَمَانِيَة is the most common way to say eight in formal Arabic. In contrast, تمانية is a casual version used in everyday speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
تمانية is the common spoken version used in the Egyptian dialect. The form ثَمَنْيَة is used in Hijazi Arabic.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ثَمَنْيَة is marked as feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
ṯamāniya
Did you know?
- In Arabic grammar, the number ثَمَانِيَة follows a rule of gender polarity, meaning it takes the feminine form when counting masculine objects and the masculine form for feminine objects.
- Arabic numerals, which English speakers call 'Arabic numerals', are actually based on a system developed in India, but the word ثَمَانِيَة is a distinct Semitic root shared with Hebrew's 'shmoneh'.
- In some Arab cultures, the number eight is associated with luck and abundance, often appearing in traditional architecture and geometric art patterns.
Examples in context
- عِنْدِي ثَمَانِيَةُ كُتُبٍ جَدِيدَةٍ.ʿindī thamāniyatu kutubin jadīdah.I have eight new books.
Example conversation
Nour and Youssef are talking about a group project.
- نور Nourكم شخصاً في فريقنا يا يوسف؟Kam shakhṣan fī farīqinā yā Youssef?How many people are in our team, Youssef?
- يوسف Youssefنحن ثَمَانِيَة أشخاص.Naḥnu thamāniyah ashkhāṣ.We are eight people.
- نور Nourهذا عدد جيد جداً.Hādhā ʿadad jayyid jiddan.That is a very good number.
- يوسف Youssefنعم، سننهي العمل بسرعة.Naʿam, sanunhī al-ʿamal bisurʿah.Yes, we will finish the work quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eight” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
