Convert an amount to words in French and Arabic: dirhams and centimes

How does the tool write an amount in words?

The tool writes the whole part (the dirhams) in words, then the two digits after the decimal separator (the centimes) after "et", meaning "and". Zero centimes are left out. Zero and one keep the singular: 0.01 MAD (DH) gives "zéro dirham et un centime".

In French, the tool uses the traditional spelling:

• A hyphen between tens and units below 100: "vingt-deux".
• "et un" for 21, 31, 41, 51 and 61, and "soixante et onze", but "quatre-vingt-un" and "quatre-vingt-onze".
• "vingt" and "cent" take an s only when multiplied and nothing follows: "quatre-vingts", "deux cents", but "quatre-vingt-un", "deux cent un", "quatre-vingt mille".
• "mille" never takes an s.
• "million" and "milliard" are nouns: "deux millions", with "de" before the currency when nothing follows, as in "un million de dirhams".
• The 1990 spelling reform allows hyphens everywhere ("deux-cent-un"): both spellings are accepted, and the tool uses the traditional one.

Worked example: 1,234.50 MAD (DH) in French and Arabic words

Take an invoice for 1,234.50 MAD (DH). The whole part is "mille deux cent trente-quatre": "mille" with no s, "cent" with no s because a number follows, and a hyphen in "trente-quatre". The 50 centimes come after "et".

Result in French: "mille deux cent trente-quatre dirhams et cinquante centimes". In Arabic: "ألف ومئتان وأربعة وثلاثون درهمًا وخمسون سنتيمًا". Another telling case: 16,380.00 MAD (DH) gives "seize mille trois cent quatre-vingts dirhams", with an s because nothing follows, whereas 16,381.00 MAD (DH) gives "seize mille trois cent quatre-vingt-un dirhams".

How is the amount written in Arabic?

In Arabic, the agreement between the number and the counted noun depends on the number, and all the counted nouns here are masculine (درهم، سنتيم، ألف، مليون). Centimes are written "سنتيم", for example "خمسون سنتيمًا". For compound amounts ending in 1 or 2, the tool follows the common invoicing convention, as in "مئة وواحد درهم". The other rules it applies:

• 1 and 2: "درهم واحد", "درهمان".
• 3 to 10: plural noun, number in the feminine form, "ثلاثة دراهم", "عشرة دراهم".
• 11 to 99: singular noun in the accusative, "أحد عشر درهمًا", "خمسون درهمًا".
• Round hundreds and thousands: singular noun in the genitive, "مئتا درهم", "ألفا درهم", "اثنا عشر ألف درهم".
• The noun follows the last number: "ألف ومئتا درهم", "مليونان وخمسمئة ألف درهم".

What are the common mistakes?

Most mistakes come from agreement rules. They easily slip past a quick proofread but show on a document handed to a customer or a bank.

• Mixing up "quatre-vingt" and "quatre-vingts", or "cent" and "cents".
• Adding an s to "mille".
• Forgetting "de" after a round million.
• Forgetting the centimes.
• A mismatch between the amount in figures and the amount in words.
• In Arabic, writing "ثلاثة درهم" instead of "ثلاثة دراهم".

Where is the amount in words used, and what should you watch?

In Morocco, the amount in words is a customary line at the bottom of invoices, introduced by "Arrêtée la présente facture à la somme de". It also appears on cheques, bills of exchange and LCN, receipts and contracts, where it confirms the amount in figures.

On a cheque or a bill of exchange, the two amounts must match. If they differ, the amount in words is generally the one retained, so always check before signing.

The tool's result is indicative. Proofread it before using it on an official document, and check the required invoice details with your expert-comptable (chartered accountant): rules evolve with the finance laws and official circulars.

How SOGESTIO adds the amount in words to your invoices

In SOGESTIO, invoice and quote PDFs include the amount in words automatically, using the same logic as this tool, alongside your logo, payment terms, bank details, amount already paid and balance due. Documents are generated in French, Arabic or English. Cheques and bills of exchange (LCN) are tracked with their number, bank, due date and status.