tis'a

٩ is the Arabic nine.

It's 9 in the Eastern Arabic numerals, the digits printed alongside Arabic script in Egypt, the Levant, Iraq and the Gulf. North Africa west of Libya uses the same 0 to 9 you do. The Arabic name for the number is tis'a (تِسْعة).

Much like a Western 9, with a straighter tail. Numbers inside Arabic text run left to right even though the words run right to left, so ٢٠٢٦ reads 2026.

Getting ٩ out of your keyboard.

There's no special key. With an Arabic layout switched on, the number row usually types these digits instead of 0 to 9, and the layout that ships with every OS is a two-minute setup.

Setup guides: Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android.

1. WindowsSwitch to Arabic (101) with Win+Space and press 9 on the number row. The row types Arabic digits while that layout is active; the numpad keeps typing 0 to 9.
2. iPhoneHold the globe key, pick Arabic, then tap ١٢٣. The number layer is the Arabic row, with ٩ in the same place 9 would be.
3. AndroidSame idea on Gboard and Samsung Keyboard: switch to Arabic, open the number layer. If it shows 0 to 9 instead, the keyboard's settings have a native-digits toggle.
4. MacApple ships several Arabic input sources and they don't agree about the number row. Open Keyboard Viewer with yours active and look at the top row; if it shows 0 to 9, try the plain “Arabic” source instead of the PC one.
5. AnywhereCopy it from the card above. In Word, type 0669 and press Alt+X.