Understand the pattern
For 21–99, say the unit before the tens and join them with w: wa7ed w 3eshreen is 21, literally one and twenty. Compare 22, etneen w 3eshreen, and 25, khamsa w 3eshreen. Eleven and twelve have special forms: 7idash and etnash. Do not construct them by copying the pattern for 21. Numbers used with nouns can change form or word order, so treat this as counting practice first. When a price is unclear, ask for repetition and confirm the amount before paying.
Examples to use
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| Masri Latin | Arabic script | Meaning | Usage note |
|---|---|---|---|
| wa7ed | واحد | one | — |
| etneen | اتنين | two | — |
| talata | تلاتة | three | — |
| arba3a | أربعة | four | — |
| khamsa | خمسة | five | — |
| setta | ستة | six | — |
| sab3a | سبعة | seven | — |
| tamanya | تمانية | eight | — |
| tes3a | تسعة | nine | — |
| 3ashara | عشرة | ten | — |
| 3eshreen | عشرين | twenty | — |
| meyya | مية | one hundred | — |
Try it yourself
Build 23 and 27 from the table. Then read “khamsa w 3eshreen” as a number. Practise the three answers in a different order, without looking.
Answer and explanation
23 = talata w 3eshreen (تلاتة وعشرين); 27 = sab3a w 3eshreen (سبعة وعشرين); khamsa w 3eshreen = 25. The unit changes while w 3eshreen stays the same.
Sources and editorial note
Further reading on this topic. These external references use their own transcription conventions; they are not an endorsement or a review of this guide.