8 in Arabic = ثمانية (thamāniya)

The number 8 in Arabic is pronounced "tha-MAA-nee-ya" (with a soft "th" and stress on the middle syllable), written in Arabic script as "ثمانية", romanized as "thamāniya".

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Thamāniya (ثمانية) has four syllables: tha-mā-ni-ya

Step by step:

1. "Tha" - Say "tha" with soft "th" (tongue between teeth)
2. "mā" - Say "MAA" with long vowel (STRESS HERE)
3. "ni" - Say "nee"
4. "ya" - Say "ya"
5. Put stress on the second syllable: tha-MĀ-ni-ya

The "th" sound (ث):

• Soft interdental—tongue between teeth
• Like "th" in "think"
• In many dialects becomes "t"

Common mistakes:

• Using "t" instead of soft "th" in MSA
• Not making the "ā" long enough
• Stressing the wrong syllable
• Pronouncing it as three syllables instead of four

Regional pronunciation differences:

• Modern Standard Arabic (MSA): tha-MAA-nee-ya
• Egyptian: ta-MAN-ya (loses middle syllable, "th" becomes "t")
• Levantine: tma-NEH or t-MAA-neh
• Gulf Arabic: tha-MAA-nee-ya (closer to MSA)
• Maghrebi: t-MAN-ya or TMAN-ya

The Word "Thamāniya" (ثمانية)

Arabic script: ثمانية

• Written right to left
• Six letters: ث (thā') + م (mīm) + ا (alif) + ن (nūn) + ي (yā') + ة (tā' marbūṭa)
• Ends with ة (ta marbuta)

Origin: From the Arabic root ث-م-ن (th-m-n) relating to "eight" and "price/value"

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

• With masculine nouns: use ثمانية (thamāniya) - with ة ending
• With feminine nouns: use ثماني (thamānī) - without ة ending

Eastern Arabic Numeral

In Arabic script, the numeral for 8 is: ٨

Important note: The Eastern Arabic 8 looks like a slightly curved vertical line with a small hook:

• Eastern Arabic: ٨
• Western/European: 8

Practical Usage

Counting: When counting: ...ستة، سبعة، ثمانية، تسعة، عشرة

Phone numbers:

• 8 = ثمانية (thamāniya) or تمانية (tamāniya) in dialects
• Example: 858 = ثمانية-خمسة-ثمانية

Prices:

• 8 riyals = ثمانية ريالات (thamāniyat riyālāt)

Times:

• 8:00 = الساعة الثامنة (as-sā'a ath-thāmina) - ordinal "eighth"

Dates:

• The 8th = الثامن (ath-thāmin) - ordinal form

Compound Numbers with 8

18:

• 18 = ثمانية عشر (thamāniyata 'ashar) - masculine

28, 38, 48, etc.:

• 28 = ثمانية وعشرون (thamāniya wa-'ishrūn)
• 88 = ثمانية وثمانون (thamāniya wa-thamānūn)

Regional Dialect Variations

Egyptian: ta-MAN-ya (simplified, "th" becomes "t") Levantine: tma-NEH or t-MAA-neh (loses syllables) Gulf: tha-MAA-nee-ya (maintains MSA form) Maghrebi: t-MAN-ya or TMAN-ya

Common Phrases with 8

ثماني مرات (thamānī marrāt): Eight times ثمانية أيام (thamāniyat ayyām): Eight days ثمن (thaman): Price/value (from same root ث-م-ن)

Connection to "Price"

Interestingly, the word ثمن (thaman) meaning "price" comes from the same root (ث-م-ن) as "eight":

• ثمانية (thamāniya) = eight
• ثمن (thaman) = price, value
• The connection relates to ancient pricing systems

Quick Takeaways

• 8 in Arabic is ثمانية (thamāniya), pronounced "tha-MAA-nee-ya"
• The Eastern Arabic numeral is ٨
• Has four syllables in MSA, often reduced in dialects
• "Th" (ث) becomes "t" in Egyptian and Levantine
• Stress on second syllable: tha-MĀ-ni-ya
• Same root as "price" (ثمن - thaman)
• OPPOSITE gender rule applies

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If you're traveling in Arabic-speaking countries, TravelNum shows you how numbers are pronounced in context.