0 in Arabic = صفر (ṣifr)

The number 0 in Arabic is pronounced "SIFF-r" (with emphasis on the first syllable and a rolled "r"), written in Arabic script as "صفر", romanized as "ṣifr".

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Ṣifr (صفر) has one or two syllables depending on dialect: ṣifr

Step by step:

1. "Ṣ" - This is an emphatic "s" sound, pronounced deeper in the throat than a regular "s"
2. Make your tongue lower and further back than for a normal "s"
3. "i" - Say a short "i" sound (like "i" in "sit")
4. "fr" - Say "fr" quickly, with a rolled or tapped "r"
5. The result is "SIFF-r" with emphasis on the first syllable

Common mistakes:

• Using a regular "s" instead of the emphatic "ṣ"—the emphatic "ṣ" is deeper and darker
• Not rolling the "r"—Arabic "r" should be rolled or at least tapped
• Adding vowels between letters—it should be compact: "SIFF-r" not "sif-ir"
• Pronouncing it like English "cipher"—it's shorter and more guttural

Regional pronunciation differences:

• Modern Standard Arabic (MSA): SIFF-r
• Egyptian: SEFF-r (with "e" sound instead of "i")
• Levantine (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan): SIFF-er or SI-fer (may add a vowel)
• Gulf Arabic: SIFF-r or SI-fir
• Maghrebi (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia): SEFF-r

The Word "Ṣifr" (صفر)

Arabic script: صفر

• Written right to left
• Three letters: ص (ṣād) + ف (fā') + ر (rā')
• Masculine noun

Origin and History: The word ṣifr (صفر) originally meant "empty" or "nothing" in Arabic. This word gave birth to:

• English "zero" (via Italian "zefiro")
• English "cipher" (directly from Arabic)
• The concept of zero was transmitted from India through Arabic mathematics to Europe

Historical significance: Arabic mathematicians, particularly Al-Khwarizmi in the 9th century, played a crucial role in introducing the concept of zero to Europe. The word "algorithm" itself comes from Al-Khwarizmi's name.

Gender: Ṣifr is masculine

• الصفر (aṣ-ṣifr) = the zero

Eastern Arabic Numerals

In Arabic script, the numeral for 0 is: ٠

Important note: This looks like a small dot or circle. Don't confuse it with:

• Western/European 0 (which looks like an oval)
• The Eastern Arabic numeral for 5 (٥) which has a similar shape in some fonts

Eastern Arabic numerals (0-9): ٠ ١ ٢ ٣ ٤ ٥ ٦ ٧ ٨ ٩

These are called "Eastern Arabic" numerals and are used in most Arab countries (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, etc.).

Western Arabic numerals: In Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, they typically use Western numerals (0, 1, 2, 3, etc.) like in Europe.

Practical Usage

Counting and math:

• Zero is included when counting from zero: صفر، واحد، اثنان، ثلاثة... (ṣifr, wāḥid, ithnān, thalātha...)
• In math: 5 - 5 = 0 (خمسة ناقص خمسة يساوي صفر)

Phone numbers: When giving phone numbers, each digit is pronounced separately:

• 0 = صفر (ṣifr)
• Example: A number like 505 would be: خمسة-صفر-خمسة (khamsa-ṣifr-khamsa)

Prices:

• 0 رiyals/dinars = صفر ريال / صفر دينار
• In prices with decimals, zero may be mentioned or implied

Times:

• 00:00 = الساعة صفر (as-sā'a ṣifr) or منتصف الليل (muntaṣaf al-layl = midnight)
• In 24-hour format: الساعة صفر (hour zero)

Temperature:

• 0°C = صفر درجة مئوية (ṣifr daraja mi'awiyya)
• Below zero = تحت الصفر (taḥt aṣ-ṣifr) or أقل من الصفر (aqall min aṣ-ṣifr)

Addresses and room numbers: Zero doesn't typically appear in traditional address systems, but in modern contexts:

• Room 0 would be غرفة صفر (ghurfa ṣifr) if it exists

Regional Dialect Variations

Egyptian Arabic:

• Pronunciation: SEFF-r (with "e" sound)
• Very commonly used

Levantine Arabic (Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Jordanian):

• Pronunciation: SIFF-er or SI-fer
• May add a helping vowel at the end

Gulf Arabic (Saudi, Emirati, Kuwaiti):

• Pronunciation: SIFF-r or SI-fir
• Generally closer to MSA

Maghrebi Arabic (Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian):

• Pronunciation: SEFF-r
• Often use Western numerals (0) instead of Eastern (٠)

Iraqi Arabic:

• Pronunciation: SIFF-r
• Similar to MSA

Common Phrases with 0

صفر درجة (ṣifr daraja): Zero degrees

من الصفر (min aṣ-ṣifr): From zero, from scratch

• "ابدأ من الصفر" (ibda' min aṣ-ṣifr) = Start from zero/scratch

تحت الصفر (taḥt aṣ-ṣifr): Below zero (temperature)

النقطة صفر (an-nuqṭa ṣifr): Ground zero, starting point

صفر بالمئة (ṣifr bil-mi'a): Zero percent

لا شيء (lā shay'): Nothing (alternative to zero in some contexts)

Writing and Reading

Arabic numerals in text:

• Numbers are written left-to-right (same direction as Western numbers)
• Even though Arabic text is written right-to-left, numerals follow Western direction
• Example: The year 2025 would be written ٢٠٢٥ (reading left to right: 2-0-2-5)

Eastern Arabic numeral 0:

• Written as: ٠
• Looks like a small dot or circle
• Size may vary by font

Grammar Notes

Gender:

• Ṣifr is masculine
• Takes masculine agreement with adjectives and verbs

With definite article:

• الصفر (aṣ-ṣifr) = the zero
• The "ṣ" is a sun letter, so "al" becomes "aṣ"

In compound numbers:

• 10 = عشرة ('ashara), not "one-zero"
• 100 = مئة (mi'a), not "one-zero-zero"
• 1000 = ألف (alf), not "one-zero-zero-zero"
• Zero as a digit only appears in numbers like 101, 102, 105, etc.

Quick Takeaways

• 0 in Arabic is صفر (ṣifr), pronounced "SIFF-r" with an emphatic "ṣ"
• The Eastern Arabic numeral is ٠ (looks like a dot)
• The word gave us English "zero" and "cipher"
• Arabic mathematicians introduced the concept of zero to Europe
• Pronunciation varies by dialect: SIFF-r (MSA, Gulf), SEFF-r (Egyptian, Maghrebi)
• The "ṣ" is an emphatic sound, deeper than regular "s"
• The "r" should be rolled or tapped
• In Maghrebi countries, Western numerals (0) are more common than Eastern (٠)
• "من الصفر" (min aṣ-ṣifr) means "from scratch"

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