A11K

Nine

UK /["/naɪn/"]/US /["/naɪn/"]/

Definition

The number 9 in numerical form.

In simple words: The number after eight.

Examples

  • I have nine apples in the basket.
  • She scored nine points in the game.
  • There are nine planets in our solar system.
  • He is nine years old.
  • I need to buy nine books for school.

Usage notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts. Commonly used in counting, telling time, and age. Avoid in situations requiring formal numeration like legal documents.

Grammar pattern

standalone number

Memory hint

Think of 'nine' as 'nine lives' of a cat.

Collocations

  • nine lives
  • nine o'clock
  • nine yards

Synonyms

  • 9
  • ninefold
  • nonary

Antonyms

  • zero
  • none

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'nineteen'
  • Mistakenly written as a word with a 'g' at the end ('ning')
  • Pronounced incorrectly as 'nayn'