Lokalized - Languages - Arabic

Cardinalities

CARDINALITY_ZERO

Matches n = 0

Example Integers: 0

Example Decimals: 0.0, 0.00, 0.000, 0.0000
CARDINALITY_ONE

Matches n = 1

Example Integers: 1

Example Decimals: 1.0, 1.00, 1.000, 1.0000
CARDINALITY_TWO

Matches n = 2

Example Integers: 2

Example Decimals: 2.0, 2.00, 2.000, 2.0000
CARDINALITY_FEW

Matches n % 100 = 3..10

Example Integers: 3, 10, 103, 110, 1003, …

Example Decimals: 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, 9.0, 10.0, 103.0, 1003.0, …
CARDINALITY_MANY

Matches n % 100 = 11..99

Example Integers: 11, 26, 111, 1011, …

Example Decimals: 11.0, 12.0, 13.0, 14.0, 15.0, 16.0, 17.0, 18.0, 111.0, 1011.0, …
CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches all other values

Example Integers: 100, 102, 200, 202, 300, 302, 400, 402, 500, 502, 600, 1000, 10000, 100000, 1000000, …

Example Decimals: 0.1, 0.9, 1.1, 1.7, 10.1, 100.0, 1000.0, 10000.0, 100000.0, 1000000.0, …

Cardinality example

This localized strings example uses complete, page-local CLDR minimal-pair patterns to demonstrate every Cardinality category defined for the locale. Minimal-pair text contrasts grammatical forms; it is language-reference data, not reusable application copy.

Source: Unicode CLDR 48.2 ar locale data.

Sample localized strings file

ar.json Localized Strings File (Arabic)

{
  "Cardinality.MinimalPair": {
    "commentary": "Demonstrates every CLDR cardinal category defined for this locale.",
    "translation": "{{cardinalityExample}}",
    "placeholders": {
      "cardinalityExample": {
        "value": "cardinalityValue",
        "translations": {
          "CARDINALITY_ZERO": "{{formattedCardinalityValue}} ولد حضر",
          "CARDINALITY_ONE": "ولد واحد حضر",
          "CARDINALITY_TWO": "ولدان حضرا",
          "CARDINALITY_FEW": "{{formattedCardinalityValue}} أولاد حضروا",
          "CARDINALITY_MANY": "{{formattedCardinalityValue}} ولدًا حضروا",
          "CARDINALITY_OTHER": "{{formattedCardinalityValue}} ولد حضروا"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage and expected results

The Java code passes each raw number for cardinality selection and formats its display value separately with NumberFormat. For this right-to-left locale, Lokalized's default BidiIsolation.RTL_LOCALES wraps caller-supplied formatted values with U+2068 FIRST STRONG ISOLATE and U+2069 POP DIRECTIONAL ISOLATE; the expected expressions below show those escapes.

Locale locale = Locale.forLanguageTag("ar");

Strings strings = Strings.withFallbackLocale(locale)
  .localizedStringSupplier(() -> LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromFilesystem(Paths.get("strings")))
  .localeSupplier((matcher) -> matcher.bestMatchFor(locale))
  .build();

NumberFormat numberFormat = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance(locale);

// Raw numbers select language forms; NumberFormat produces the display values

// CARDINALITY_ZERO
Number zeroCardinalityValue = 0;
String zeroFormattedCardinalityValue = numberFormat.format(zeroCardinalityValue);

assertEquals(Cardinality.ZERO, Cardinality.forNumber(zeroCardinalityValue, locale));

// Expected: <FSI>0<PDI> ولد حضر
// U+2068 FIRST STRONG ISOLATE begins bidirectional isolation around a caller-supplied value in right-to-left text
// U+2069 POP DIRECTIONAL ISOLATE ends bidirectional isolation around a caller-supplied value in right-to-left text
assertEquals("\u2068" + zeroFormattedCardinalityValue + "\u2069 ولد حضر", strings.get(
  "Cardinality.MinimalPair",
  Map.of(
    "cardinalityValue", zeroCardinalityValue,
    "formattedCardinalityValue", zeroFormattedCardinalityValue
  )
));

// CARDINALITY_ONE
Number oneCardinalityValue = 1;
String oneFormattedCardinalityValue = numberFormat.format(oneCardinalityValue);

assertEquals(Cardinality.ONE, Cardinality.forNumber(oneCardinalityValue, locale));

assertEquals("ولد واحد حضر", strings.get(
  "Cardinality.MinimalPair",
  Map.of(
    "cardinalityValue", oneCardinalityValue,
    "formattedCardinalityValue", oneFormattedCardinalityValue
  )
));

// CARDINALITY_TWO
Number twoCardinalityValue = 2;
String twoFormattedCardinalityValue = numberFormat.format(twoCardinalityValue);

assertEquals(Cardinality.TWO, Cardinality.forNumber(twoCardinalityValue, locale));

assertEquals("ولدان حضرا", strings.get(
  "Cardinality.MinimalPair",
  Map.of(
    "cardinalityValue", twoCardinalityValue,
    "formattedCardinalityValue", twoFormattedCardinalityValue
  )
));

// CARDINALITY_FEW
Number fewCardinalityValue = 3;
String fewFormattedCardinalityValue = numberFormat.format(fewCardinalityValue);

assertEquals(Cardinality.FEW, Cardinality.forNumber(fewCardinalityValue, locale));

// Expected: <FSI>3<PDI> أولاد حضروا
assertEquals("\u2068" + fewFormattedCardinalityValue + "\u2069 أولاد حضروا", strings.get(
  "Cardinality.MinimalPair",
  Map.of(
    "cardinalityValue", fewCardinalityValue,
    "formattedCardinalityValue", fewFormattedCardinalityValue
  )
));

// CARDINALITY_MANY
Number manyCardinalityValue = 11;
String manyFormattedCardinalityValue = numberFormat.format(manyCardinalityValue);

assertEquals(Cardinality.MANY, Cardinality.forNumber(manyCardinalityValue, locale));

// Expected: <FSI>11<PDI> ولدًا حضروا
assertEquals("\u2068" + manyFormattedCardinalityValue + "\u2069 ولدًا حضروا", strings.get(
  "Cardinality.MinimalPair",
  Map.of(
    "cardinalityValue", manyCardinalityValue,
    "formattedCardinalityValue", manyFormattedCardinalityValue
  )
));

// CARDINALITY_OTHER
Number otherCardinalityValue = 100;
String otherFormattedCardinalityValue = numberFormat.format(otherCardinalityValue);

assertEquals(Cardinality.OTHER, Cardinality.forNumber(otherCardinalityValue, locale));

// Expected: <FSI>100<PDI> ولد حضروا
assertEquals("\u2068" + otherFormattedCardinalityValue + "\u2069 ولد حضروا", strings.get(
  "Cardinality.MinimalPair",
  Map.of(
    "cardinalityValue", otherCardinalityValue,
    "formattedCardinalityValue", otherFormattedCardinalityValue
  )
));

Cardinality Ranges

These are CLDR's explicit range mappings. For any start/end pair not listed, Cardinality.forRange(...) falls back to the ending cardinality.

CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_ONE

Matches CARDINALITY_ZERO
CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_TWO

Matches CARDINALITY_ZERO
CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_FEW

Matches CARDINALITY_FEW
CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_MANY

Matches CARDINALITY_MANY
CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_TWO

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_FEW

Matches CARDINALITY_FEW
CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_MANY

Matches CARDINALITY_MANY
CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_TWO - CARDINALITY_FEW

Matches CARDINALITY_FEW
CARDINALITY_TWO - CARDINALITY_MANY

Matches CARDINALITY_MANY
CARDINALITY_TWO - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_FEW - CARDINALITY_FEW

Matches CARDINALITY_FEW
CARDINALITY_FEW - CARDINALITY_MANY

Matches CARDINALITY_MANY
CARDINALITY_FEW - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_MANY - CARDINALITY_FEW

Matches CARDINALITY_FEW
CARDINALITY_MANY - CARDINALITY_MANY

Matches CARDINALITY_MANY
CARDINALITY_MANY - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_ONE

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_TWO

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER
CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_FEW

Matches CARDINALITY_FEW
CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_MANY

Matches CARDINALITY_MANY
CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Matches CARDINALITY_OTHER

Cardinality range example

The start and end cardinalities select the locale's CLDR range result. The selected form wraps a separately formatted display range.

Sample localized strings file

ar.json Localized Strings File (Arabic)

{
  "Delivery.Window": {
    "commentary": "Estimated delivery window, expressed as a range of days.",
    "translation": "{{window}}",
    "placeholders": {
      "window": {
        "range": {
          "start": "minDays",
          "end": "maxDays"
        },
        "translations": {
          "CARDINALITY_ZERO": "{{formattedDayRange}} يوم",
          "CARDINALITY_ONE": "{{formattedDayRange}} يوم",
          "CARDINALITY_TWO": "{{formattedDayRange}} يومان",
          "CARDINALITY_FEW": "{{formattedDayRange}} أيام",
          "CARDINALITY_MANY": "{{formattedDayRange}} يومًا",
          "CARDINALITY_OTHER": "{{formattedDayRange}} يوم"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage and expected results

The Java code passes raw range endpoints for selection. Because NumberFormat formats one number at a time, it formats both endpoints separately and joins them for display; choose range punctuation appropriate to your application. For this right-to-left locale, Lokalized's default BidiIsolation.RTL_LOCALES wraps caller-supplied formatted values with U+2068 FIRST STRONG ISOLATE and U+2069 POP DIRECTIONAL ISOLATE; the expected expressions below show those escapes.

Locale locale = Locale.forLanguageTag("ar");

Strings strings = Strings.withFallbackLocale(locale)
  .localizedStringSupplier(() -> LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromFilesystem(Paths.get("strings")))
  .localeSupplier((matcher) -> matcher.bestMatchFor(locale))
  .build();

NumberFormat numberFormat = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance(locale);

// Raw numbers select language forms; NumberFormat produces the display values

// CARDINALITY_ZERO range
Number minDays = 0;
String formattedMinDays = numberFormat.format(minDays);
Number maxDays = 1;
String formattedMaxDays = numberFormat.format(maxDays);
String formattedDayRange = formattedMinDays + "-" + formattedMaxDays;

assertEquals(Cardinality.ZERO, Cardinality.forRange(
  Cardinality.forNumber(minDays, locale),
  Cardinality.forNumber(maxDays, locale),
  locale
));

// Expected: <FSI>0-1<PDI> يوم
// U+2068 FIRST STRONG ISOLATE begins bidirectional isolation around a caller-supplied value in right-to-left text
// U+2069 POP DIRECTIONAL ISOLATE ends bidirectional isolation around a caller-supplied value in right-to-left text
assertEquals("\u2068" + formattedDayRange + "\u2069 يوم", strings.get(
  "Delivery.Window",
  Map.of("minDays", minDays, "maxDays", maxDays, "formattedDayRange", formattedDayRange)
));

Ordinalities

All ordinal numbers use ORDINALITY_OTHER; no value selects a different form.

Example: اتجه إلى المنعطف الـ 2 يمينًا..

Language-Specific Examples

These examples show how Lokalized models grammatical choices and translation behavior that commonly affect Arabic application copy. Each example identifies the Lokalized language forms and other library features it uses.

Definiteness in noun phrases

This example contrasts an indefinite direct object, a definite noun, and a definite iḍāfa construct phrase. Construct state describes the relationship between the nouns; it is not a third degree of definiteness.

Language references: University of Oregon - the Arabic definite article, University of Oregon - the iḍāfa construct, Western Kentucky University - Arabic accusative forms

Lokalized forms used: Definiteness

Sample localized strings file

ar.json Localized Strings File (Arabic)

{
  "Open {{document}}.": {
    "translation": "افتح {{document}}.",
    "placeholders": {
      "document": {
        "value": "definiteness",
        "translations": {
          "DEFINITENESS_DEFINITE": "الكتاب",
          "DEFINITENESS_INDEFINITE": "كتابًا",
          "DEFINITENESS_CONSTRUCT": "كتاب الطالب"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Usage and expected results

Locale locale = Locale.forLanguageTag("ar");

Strings strings = Strings.withFallbackLocale(locale)
  .localizedStringSupplier(() -> LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromFilesystem(Paths.get("strings")))
  .localeSupplier((matcher) -> matcher.bestMatchFor(locale))
  .build();

assertEquals("افتح الكتاب.", strings.get(
  "Open {{document}}.", Map.of("definiteness", Definiteness.DEFINITE)
));

assertEquals("افتح كتابًا.", strings.get(
  "Open {{document}}.", Map.of("definiteness", Definiteness.INDEFINITE)
));

assertEquals("افتح كتاب الطالب.", strings.get(
  "Open {{document}}.", Map.of("definiteness", Definiteness.CONSTRUCT)
));

Solar and lunar article pronunciation

The definite article is written ال in both cases, but its pronunciation assimilates before solar letters. Transliteration makes the selected pronunciation visible: ash-shams versus al-qamar.

Language reference: University of Oregon - the Arabic definite article

Lokalized forms used: Phonetic

Sample localized strings file

ar.json Localized Strings File (Arabic)

{
  "Pronounce the definite noun.": {
    "translation": "{{word}}",
    "placeholders": {
      "word": {
        "value": "word",
        "translations": {
          "PHONETIC_SOLAR": "ash-shams (الشمس)",
          "PHONETIC_LUNAR": "al-qamar (القمر)"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

The application-provided resolver classifies each raw term at runtime. Its small lookup map stands in for application-specific pronunciation logic or a lexicon.

Usage and expected results

Locale locale = Locale.forLanguageTag("ar");

Map<String, Phonetic> phoneticsByTerm = Map.ofEntries(
  Map.entry("الشمس", Phonetic.SOLAR),
  Map.entry("القمر", Phonetic.LUNAR)
);
PhoneticResolver phoneticResolver = (term, ignoredLocale) ->
  phoneticsByTerm.getOrDefault(term, Phonetic.OTHER);

Strings strings = Strings.withFallbackLocale(locale)
  .localizedStringSupplier(() -> LocalizedStringLoader.loadFromFilesystem(Paths.get("strings")))
  .phoneticResolver(phoneticResolver)
  .localeSupplier((matcher) -> matcher.bestMatchFor(locale))
  .build();

assertEquals("ash-shams (الشمس)", strings.get(
  "Pronounce the definite noun.", Map.of("word", "الشمس")
));

assertEquals("al-qamar (القمر)", strings.get(
  "Pronounce the definite noun.", Map.of("word", "القمر")
));

Addendum: Language Form Rules

The language form expressions above are specified by Unicode Technical Standard #35 and use the following notation:

n absolute value of the source number (integer and decimals)
i integer digits of n
v number of visible fraction digits in n, with trailing zeros
w number of visible fraction digits in n, without trailing zeros
f visible fractional digits in n, with trailing zeros
t visible fractional digits in n, without trailing zeros
c/e compact decimal exponent operands used by some CLDR compact-number rules

Cardinalities

CARDINALITY_ZERO

CARDINALITY_ONE

CARDINALITY_TWO

CARDINALITY_FEW

CARDINALITY_MANY

CARDINALITY_OTHER

Cardinality example

Sample localized strings file

Usage and expected results

Cardinality Ranges

CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_ONE

CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_TWO

CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_FEW

CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_MANY

CARDINALITY_ZERO - CARDINALITY_OTHER

CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_TWO

CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_FEW

CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_MANY

CARDINALITY_ONE - CARDINALITY_OTHER

CARDINALITY_TWO - CARDINALITY_FEW

CARDINALITY_TWO - CARDINALITY_MANY

CARDINALITY_TWO - CARDINALITY_OTHER

CARDINALITY_FEW - CARDINALITY_FEW

CARDINALITY_FEW - CARDINALITY_MANY

CARDINALITY_FEW - CARDINALITY_OTHER

CARDINALITY_MANY - CARDINALITY_FEW

CARDINALITY_MANY - CARDINALITY_MANY

CARDINALITY_MANY - CARDINALITY_OTHER

CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_ONE

CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_TWO

CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_FEW

CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_MANY

CARDINALITY_OTHER - CARDINALITY_OTHER

Cardinality range example

Sample localized strings file

Usage and expected results

Ordinalities

Language-Specific Examples

Definiteness in noun phrases

Sample localized strings file

Usage and expected results

Solar and lunar article pronunciation

Sample localized strings file

Usage and expected results

Addendum: Language Form Rules