9 in Arabic = تسعة (tis'a)

The number 9 in Arabic is pronounced "TIS-ah" (with a glottal stop and stress on the first syllable), written in Arabic script as "تسعة", romanized as "tis'a".

Quick Answer

Pronunciation

Tis'a (تسعة) has two syllables: tis-'a

Step by step:

1. "Tis" - Say "TIS" (like "tis" in "tissue")
2. "'a" - Say "ah" with a glottal stop or 'ayn before it
3. The ع ('ayn) is the pharyngeal sound from the throat
4. Put stress on the first syllable: TIS-'a

The 'ayn (ع) sound:

• Pharyngeal constriction from deep in throat
• Like tightening your throat while saying "ah"
• Same challenging sound as in أربعة (arba'a) and سبعة (sab'a)

Common mistakes:

• Skipping the 'ayn—saying "TIS-a" instead of "TIS-'a"
• Not producing the pharyngeal constriction
• Stressing the second syllable—it should be TIS-'a, not tis-'A

Regional pronunciation differences:

• Modern Standard Arabic (MSA): TIS-'a (clear 'ayn)
• Egyptian: TIS-'a (maintains 'ayn)
• Levantine: TIS-'a or tis-'a
• Gulf Arabic: TIS-'a (clear 'ayn)
• Maghrebi: TES-'a or TIS-'a

The Word "Tis'a" (تسعة)

Arabic script: تسعة

• Written right to left
• Four letters: ت (tā') + س (sīn) + ع ('ayn) + ة (tā' marbūṭa)
• Ends with ة (ta marbuta)

Origin: From the Arabic root ت-س-ع (t-s-') relating to "nine"

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

• With masculine nouns: use تسعة (tis'a) - with ة ending
• With feminine nouns: use تسع (tis') - without ة ending

Examples:

• Nine books (masculine): تسعة كتب (tis'at kutub)
• Nine houses (feminine): تسع دور (tis' dur)

Eastern Arabic Numeral

In Arabic script, the numeral for 9 is: ٩

Important note: The Eastern Arabic 9 looks like a reversed or mirrored "9":

• Eastern Arabic: ٩ (like a flipped Western 9)
• Western/European: 9

Eastern Arabic numerals (0-9): ٠ ١ ٢ ٣ ٤ ٥ ٦ ٧ ٨ ٩

Practical Usage

Counting: When counting: ...سبعة، ثمانية، تسعة، عشرة (sab'a, thamāniya, tis'a, 'ashara)

Phone numbers: Each digit is pronounced separately:

• 9 = تسعة (tis'a)
• Example: 959 = تسعة-خمسة-تسعة (tis'a-khamsa-tis'a)

Prices:

• 9 riyals = تسعة ريالات (tis'at riyālāt)
• 9 dinars = تسعة دنانير (tis'at danānīr)

Times:

• 9:00 = الساعة التاسعة (as-sā'a at-tāsi'a) - uses ordinal "ninth"
• 9:15 = الساعة التاسعة والربع
• 9:30 = الساعة التاسعة والنصف

Dates:

• The 9th = التاسع (at-tāsi') - uses ordinal form
• September 9th = التاسع من سبتمبر (at-tāsi' min sibtambir)

Ages:

• 9 years old = تسع سنوات (tis' sanawāt) - "years" is feminine, so use تسع

Addresses:

• Room 9 = غرفة رقم تسعة (ghurfa raqm tis'a)
• Floor 9 = الطابق التاسع (aṭ-ṭābiq at-tāsi')

Compound Numbers with 9

19:

• 19 = تسعة عشر (tis'ata 'ashar) - masculine / تسع عشرة (tis'a 'ashrata) - feminine

29, 39, 49, etc.:

• 29 = تسعة وعشرون (tis'a wa-'ishrūn)
• 39 = تسعة وثلاثون (tis'a wa-thalāthūn)
• 49 = تسعة وأربعون (tis'a wa-arba'ūn)
• 59 = تسعة وخمسون (tis'a wa-khamsūn)
• 69 = تسعة وستون (tis'a wa-sittūn)
• 79 = تسعة وسبعون (tis'a wa-sab'ūn)
• 89 = تسعة وثمانون (tis'a wa-thamānūn)
• 99 = تسعة وتسعون (tis'a wa-tis'ūn)

Regional Dialect Variations

Egyptian Arabic:

• Pronunciation: TIS-'a (maintains 'ayn)
• Often: تسعة (tis'a)

Levantine Arabic (Syrian, Lebanese, Palestinian, Jordanian):

• Pronunciation: TIS-'a or tis-'a
• Maintains the 'ayn sound

Gulf Arabic (Saudi, Emirati, Kuwaiti):

• Pronunciation: TIS-'a
• Very close to MSA
• Clear 'ayn sound

Maghrebi Arabic (Moroccan, Algerian, Tunisian):

• Morocco: TES-'a or TIS-'a
• Algeria: TIS-'a or TES-'a
• Vowel quality may vary

Iraqi Arabic:

• Pronunciation: TIS-'a
• Clear 'ayn maintained

Common Phrases with 9

تسع مرات (tis' marrāt): Nine times

تسعة أيام (tis'at ayyām): Nine days

كل تسعة (kull tis'a): Every nine

تاسع تسعة (tāsi' tis'a): Ninth of nine

تسعون (tis'ūn): Ninety

التسعون (at-tis'ūn): The nineties

Grammar Notes

Opposite gender rule (3-10): Numbers 3-10 take the OPPOSITE gender of the noun:

• Masculine noun → use تسعة (tis'a) with ة
• Feminine noun → use تسع (tis') without ة

Pronunciation in context:

• تسعة alone: TIS-'a
• تسعة كتب (nine books): often pronounced TIS-'at (adding "t" sound)

Related words from root ت-س-ع:

• تسعة (tis'a) = nine
• تاسع (tāsi') = ninth
• تسعون (tis'ūn) = ninety

Writing Numbers

Eastern Arabic:

• Written as: ٩
• In a phone number: ٩٥٩٠ (9590)

In text:

• Numbers are written left-to-right
• So 99 in Eastern Arabic numerals: ٩٩ (read left to right: 9-9)

Quick Takeaways

• 9 in Arabic is تسعة (tis'a), pronounced "TIS-ah" with 'ayn (ع)
• The Eastern Arabic numeral is ٩
• The 'ayn (ع) is a pharyngeal sound from the throat
• Stress is on the first syllable: TIS-'a
• OPPOSITE gender rule: use تسعة with masculine nouns, تسع with feminine nouns
• Comes from root ت-س-ع
• The 'ayn sound is generally preserved across most Arabic dialects
• 99 = تسعة وتسعون (tis'a wa-tis'ūn)

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