Braille Numbers: How the Number Sign Works (With Full 0–9 Chart)
2026-07-28
Braille has no separate symbols for numbers. Instead, it reuses the first ten letters of the alphabet — a through j — and marks them with a special number sign (⠼, dots 3-4-5-6) placed in front. Once you know the letters a–j, you already know every digit.
You can convert any number or text instantly with our free Braille Translator (linked below), and if you're starting from zero, our beginner's guide to reading braille covers the whole six-dot system.
The braille numbers chart (0–9)
Notice the pattern: 1 through 9 map to a through i in order, and 0 maps to j.
| Digit | Based on letter | Braille |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | a | ⠼⠁ |
| 2 | b | ⠼⠃ |
| 3 | c | ⠼⠉ |
| 4 | d | ⠼⠙ |
| 5 | e | ⠼⠑ |
| 6 | f | ⠼⠋ |
| 7 | g | ⠼⠛ |
| 8 | h | ⠼⠓ |
| 9 | i | ⠼⠊ |
| 0 | j | ⠼⠚ |
How multi-digit numbers work
The number sign only needs to appear once at the start of a number — every cell after it is read as a digit until something breaks the sequence (a space, or a letter sign).
- 25 = ⠼⠃⠑ (number sign + b + e)
- 2026 = ⠼⠃⠚⠃⠋ (number sign + b + j + b + f)
- 3.14 = ⠼⠉⠲⠁⠙ — the decimal point (⠲) doesn't end number mode.
Switching back to letters
What if a letter a–j immediately follows a number, like in 'Flat 4b'? Braille uses a letter sign (⠰, dots 5-6) to signal 'the next cell is a letter again': ⠼⠙⠰⠃ reads as '4b'. Without the letter sign, the b would be read as the digit 2.
Frequently asked questions
- Why doesn't braille have separate number symbols?
- Six dots yield only 63 possible patterns — not enough for letters, numbers, punctuation, and formatting marks each to have unique cells. Reusing a–j with a prefix keeps the system compact and fast to learn.
- Is there a different system for math?
- Yes. Technical material often uses the Nemeth Code (common in North America) or UEB technical notation, which handle fractions, exponents, and equations. The a–j system above is standard literary braille.
- How do I write a phone number in braille?
- Put the number sign once at the start of each digit group. Spaces or dashes end number mode, so each new group needs a fresh ⠼.
- Can I convert numbers to braille online?
- Yes — type any number or sentence into our free braille translator and it converts instantly, right in your browser, including the number sign handling described above.