ארבעה

Hebrew

Hebrew numbers (edit)
40
 ←  3 ד׳
4
5  → 
    Cardinal: ארבעה (arba'á)
    Ordinal: רביעי (r'vi'í)

Etymology

Root
ר־ב־ע (r-b-ʿ)
9 terms

From Proto-Semitic *ʔarbaʕatum.

Pronunciation

  • (Biblical Hebrew) IPA(key): /ʔar.baːˈʕaː/
  • (Samaritan Hebrew) IPA(key): /ar.ba.a/, [ʔɛrˈbæː.æˑ]
  • (Tiberian Hebrew) IPA(key): /ʔar.bɔːˈʕɔː/, [ʔaʀ.bɔˑˈʕɔː]
  • (Yemenite Hebrew) IPA(key): /ʔar.bɔˈʕɔ/, [ʔær.bɔ(ː)ˈʕɔː]
  • (Persian Hebrew) IPA(key): /(ʔ)ær.bɒˈ(ʔ)ɒ/
  • (Iraqi Hebrew) IPA(key): /ʔar.baˈʕa/
  • (Sephardi Hebrew) IPA(key): /ʔar.baˈʕa/ (East), /(ʔ)ar.baˈŋa/ (West)
  • (Ashkenazi Hebrew) IPA(key): /(ʔ)aʁ̞.bɔˈ(ʔ)ɔ/
  • (Modern Israeli Hebrew) IPA(key): /(ʔ)aʁ.baˈ(ʔ)a/
  • Audio:(file)

Numeral

אַרְבָּעָה • (arba'ám (construct אַרְבַּעַת (arbá'at), feminine אַרְבַּע (arbá'))

  1. four

Usage notes

  • In Modern Hebrew, when the numbers three through ten modify a definite masculine noun and are directly preceding it, the construct form is used:
    אַרְבָּעָה סְפָרִיםarba'á s'farímfour books
    אַרְבַּעַת הַסְּפָרִיםarbá'at has'farímthe four books
  • The construct form is not used for higher numbers ending in four, such as twenty-four:
    עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה הַסְּפָרִיםesrím v'arba'á has'farímthe twenty-four books
  • In colloquial Modern Hebrew, the form אַרְבַּע (arbá') is often used regardless of gender.

Coordinate terms