5 in Arabic = خمسة (khamsa)

The number 5 in Arabic is pronounced "KHAM-sa" (with a guttural "kh" sound and stress on the first syllable), written in Arabic script as "خمسة", romanized as "khamsa".

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Khamsa (خمسة) has two syllables: kham-sa

Step by step:

1. "Kham" - Say "KHAM" with a guttural "kh" sound
2. The "kh" (خ) is like the "ch" in Scottish "loch" or German "Bach"
3. It's made at the back of your throat, like a soft gargling
4. "sa" - Say "sa" (like "sa" in "saga")
5. Put stress on the first syllable: KHAM-sa

The "kh" sound (خ):

• NOT a "k" sound
• NOT an "h" sound
• Made at the very back of your mouth/throat
• Like clearing your throat or saying "ch" in "loch"
• Friction sound from the back of your throat

Common mistakes:

• Pronouncing it as "KAM-sa" with hard "k"—use guttural "kh"
• Pronouncing it as "HAM-sa"—it's not a simple "h"
• Stressing the second syllable—it should be KHAM-sa, not kham-SA
• Making it sound like "hams"—the first syllable has the "kh" sound

Regional pronunciation differences:

• Modern Standard Arabic (MSA): KHAM-sa (clear "kh")
• Egyptian: KAM-sa (the "kh" often becomes "k")
• Levantine (Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan): KHAM-se or KHAMseh
• Gulf Arabic: KHAM-sa (maintains "kh")
• Maghrebi: KHAM-sa or KHEM-sa

The Word "Khamsa" (خمسة)

Arabic script: خمسة

• Written right to left
• Four letters: خ (khā') + م (mīm) + س (sīn) + ة (tā' marbūṭa)
• Ends with ة (ta marbuta)

Origin: From the Arabic root خ-م-س (kh-m-s) relating to "five"

Gender usage: Following the opposite gender rule (3-10):

• With masculine nouns: use خمسة (khamsa) - with ة ending
• With feminine nouns: use خمس (khams) - without ة ending

Examples:

• Five books (masculine): خمسة كتب (khamsat kutub)
• Five houses (feminine): خمس دور (khams dur)

Eastern Arabic Numeral

In Arabic script, the numeral for 5 is: ٥

Important note: The Eastern Arabic 5 looks like a heart or zero with a tail:

• Eastern Arabic: ٥ (looks somewhat like a circle with a downward tail)
• Western/European: 5

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

Cultural Significance: The Hand of Fatima

The number 5 has special cultural significance in Arab and Islamic cultures through the خمسة (khamsa) or "Hand of Fatima":

The Khamsa symbol:

• A palm-shaped amulet with five fingers
• Used as protection against the evil eye
• One of the most popular talismans in the Middle East and North Africa
• The five fingers represent various meanings: the five pillars of Islam, the five people of the cloak, etc.

"Khamsa wa khamees" (خمسة وخميس):

• A gesture and phrase used to ward off evil
• Involves showing an open palm (five fingers)
• Common protective saying

Practical Usage

Counting: When counting: واحد، اثنان، ثلاثة، أربعة، خمسة... (wāḥid, ithnān, thalātha, arba'a, khamsa...)

Phone numbers: Each digit is pronounced separately:

• 5 = خمسة (khamsa)
• Example: 555 = خمسة-خمسة-خمسة (khamsa-khamsa-khamsa)

Prices:

• 5 riyals = خمسة ريالات (khamsat riyālāt)
• 5 dinars = خمسة دنانير (khamsat danānīr)

Times:

• 5:00 = الساعة الخامسة (as-sā'a al-khāmisa) - uses ordinal "fifth"
• 5:15 = الساعة الخامسة والربع
• 5:30 = الساعة الخامسة والنصف

Dates:

• The 5th = الخامس (al-khāmis) - uses ordinal form
• May 5th = الخامس من مايو (al-khāmis min māyū)

Ages:

• 5 years old = خمس سنوات (khams sanawāt) - "years" is feminine

Addresses:

• Room 5 = غرفة رقم خمسة (ghurfa raqm khamsa)
• Floor 5 = الطابق الخامس (aṭ-ṭābiq al-khāmis)

Compound Numbers with 5

15:

• 15 = خمسة عشر (khamsata 'ashar) - masculine / خمس عشرة (khamsa 'ashrata) - feminine

25, 35, 45, etc.:

• 25 = خمسة وعشرون (khamsa wa-'ishrūn)
• 35 = خمسة وثلاثون (khamsa wa-thalāthūn)
• 45 = خمسة وأربعون (khamsa wa-arba'ūn)
• 55 = خمسة وخمسون (khamsa wa-khamsūn)
• 95 = خمسة وتسعون (khamsa wa-tis'ūn)

Regional Dialect Variations

Egyptian Arabic:

• Pronunciation: KAM-sa (the "kh" becomes "k")
• Very common: "kamsa"
• The guttural is lost

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

• Pronunciation: KHAM-se or KHAM-seh
• Maintains the "kh" sound
• Final vowel may change

Gulf Arabic (Saudi, Emirati, Kuwaiti):

• Pronunciation: KHAM-sa
• Very close to MSA
• Clear "kh" sound

Maghrebi Arabic (Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian):

• Morocco: KHAM-sa or KHEM-sa
• Algeria: KHAM-sa
• Tunisia: KHAM-sa
• Generally maintains "kh"

Iraqi Arabic:

• Pronunciation: KHAM-sa
• Clear "kh" sound

Common Phrases with 5

خمس مرات (khams marrāt): Five times

خمسة أيام (khamsat ayyām): Five days

الخميس (al-khamīs): Thursday (related to "five"/"fifth day")

كل خمسة (kull khamsa): Every five

خامس خمسة (khāmis khamsa): Fifth of five

خمسة وخميس (khamsa wa-khamīs): Protective phrase against evil eye (literally "five and Thursday")

خمسين (khamsīn): Fifty (also a hot desert wind lasting ~50 days)

Thursday: A Special Connection

The word for Thursday in Arabic is الخميس (al-khamīs), which is related to the number five because:

• It's the fifth day of the week (Sunday being the first)
• The root خ-م-س connects it to "five"

Grammar Notes

Opposite gender rule (3-10):

• Masculine noun → use خمسة (khamsa) with ة
• Feminine noun → use خمس (khams) without ة

Pronunciation in context:

• خمسة alone: KHAM-sa
• خمسة كتب: often pronounced KHAM-sat (adding "t" sound)

Related words from root خ-م-س:

• خمسة (khamsa) = five
• خامس (khāmis) = fifth
• خميس (khamīs) = Thursday
• خمسون (khamsūn) = fifty
• خمس (khums) = one fifth

Writing Numbers

Eastern Arabic:

• Written as: ٥
• In a phone number: ٥٥٥٠ (5550)

In text:

• Numbers are written left-to-right
• So 55 in Eastern Arabic numerals: ٥٥ (read left to right: 5-5)

Quick Takeaways

• 5 in Arabic is خمسة (khamsa), pronounced "KHAM-sa" with a guttural "kh"
• The Eastern Arabic numeral is ٥
• The "kh" (خ) is like "ch" in "loch"—made at the back of the throat
• Stress is on the first syllable: KHAM-sa
• In Egyptian dialect, "kh" often becomes "k": KAM-sa
• OPPOSITE gender rule: use خمسة with masculine nouns, خمس with feminine nouns
• Thursday = الخميس (al-khamīs) relates to "five/fifth"
• "Khamsa" (hand) is a popular protective symbol against evil eye
• Comes from root خ-م-س

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