واحد، اثنان، ثلاثة
wāḥid, ithnān, thalāthah
The phrase "one, two, three" in Arabic is واحد، اثنان، ثلاثة (wāḥid, ithnān, thalāthah).
This phrase represents the first three cardinal numbers used for counting.
Which one should you use?
While واحد، اثنان، ثلاثة is the standard sequence, individual numbers have variations. For example, the formal way to say two is اثنين (ithnayn) and the formal way to say three is ثلاثة (thalātha). In informal settings, you may hear تلاتة (tilāta) for the number three.
How do you pronounce it?
wāḥid, ithnān, thalāthah
Did you know?
- Depending on the gender of the object being counted, the forms of واحد and ثلاثة change, meaning there are separate 'masculine' and 'feminine' versions of these numbers.
- When counting objects, Arabic uses a counterintuitive rule where the number ثلاثة often requires the noun it counts to be in the plural form, even though it is a small number.
- The word واحد can be used idiomatically to mean 'single' or 'unique', often appearing in religious and philosophical contexts to describe oneness.
Examples in context
- عندي أخ واحد (ʿandī akh wāhid)I have one brother
- عِد معي: واحد، اثنان، ثلاثة.id ma'ī: waḥid, ithnān, thalātha.Count with me: one, two, three.
Example conversation
A teacher is helping a student count.
- عمر Omarيا ليلى، عِدِّ من جديد.yā Laylā, idd min jadīd.Layla, count again.
- ليلى Laylaواحد، اثنان، ثلاثة.waḥid, ithnān, thalātha.One, two, three.
- عمر Omarأحسنتِ يا ليلى، ممتاز!aḥsanti yā Laylā, mumtāz!Well done, Layla, excellent!
- ليلى Laylaشكراً لك يا عمر.shukran laka yā 'Umar.Thank you, Omar.
