Hebrew and Right-to-Left Text in Unity: Reversed Numbers and English Words
Last reviewed
Hebrew letters do not join, so Hebrew looks easy, but every real sentence mixes directions: numbers, English names, punctuation and brackets inside right-to-left text. TextMesh Pro's right-to-left option draws the whole text in one direction and does not run the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm, so pure Hebrew reads correctly but numbers and English words come out reversed, 2026 as 6202, and brackets face the wrong way.
UniText runs the full Bidirectional Algorithm on every paragraph, so Hebrew, Arabic, Persian, Urdu, Syriac and Thaana mixed with Latin text, numbers and punctuation display in the correct order, with mirrored brackets and a caret that follows the text.
What mixed-direction text needs
Text is stored in the order it is typed. The Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm (UAX #9) splits each paragraph into runs, decides which way each run reads and in what order the runs appear on the line, and does it again for every line after wrapping:
| Content | What has to happen |
|---|---|
| Numbers in Hebrew text | “2026” and “+972-50-123” keep their left-to-right order inside the right-to-left line |
| English words | each Latin run reads left to right, while the runs are placed right to left |
| Punctuation between runs | takes its direction from its neighbors, so a period ends the Hebrew sentence on the left |
| Brackets | ( and ) are mirrored in right-to-left context so they still enclose their contents |
| Wrapped lines | reordering happens per line after wrapping, so the first line holds the start of the sentence |
The usual options
- TextMesh Pro's right-to-left mode. It subtracts each advance instead of adding it, so the stored string is laid out from the right edge. Pure Hebrew lines read correctly; Latin letters and digits inside them are laid out the same way, which users report as flipped numbers and English words, and brackets are not mirrored. The TMP input field has no right-to-left handling, so arrow keys move by stored order and the first selected character can look unselected.
- RTLTMPro. It reverses the string with its own rules, keeps Latin runs and numbers in order and mirrors brackets next to right-to-left letters. It does not implement the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm, and its open Hebrew issues include mixed Hebrew, English and numbers in the wrong order, rich-text tags reversed and misplaced diacritics.
- UI Toolkit. With the Advanced Text Generator it runs full bidirectional layout; without it, right-to-left support is basic text reversal. The caret moves in logical order only.
Right-to-left text in UniText
- The full Bidirectional Algorithm runs on every paragraph, including nested embeddings, mirrored brackets and neutral characters between runs.
- The base direction is automatic: each paragraph takes it from its first strong character, so Hebrew and English paragraphs can share one component, or a direction can be forced.
- Lines wrap first and reorder afterwards, so multi-line paragraphs read in the right order.
- Hebrew points (niqqud) and cantillation marks are positioned by HarfBuzz from the font's tables.
- Caret movement, selection and hit-testing are bidirectional-aware, with caret affinity at direction boundaries.
- Rich-text tags and Markdown work across direction changes, because styles apply to logical ranges.
ההזמנה מספר 4521 נשלחה ב-12.03.2026 (Express) — תודה!The line above is stored exactly as typed: the order number, the date and the English word keep their own direction, and the brackets and dash land where a Hebrew reader expects them.
Questions
Do I need a special Hebrew font?
Does it work in input fields?
Check it in your project
Run the browser demo, follow the setup guide, or compare the free version with the licenses.
Related problems
- Arabic Text in Unity: Fix Disconnected and Reversed LettersTextMesh Pro has no Arabic shaping or bidirectional ordering, so letters render isolated and reversed. UniText shapes Arabic, Persian and Urdu with HarfBuzz and runs the Unicode Bidirectional Algorithm.
- Unity Input Field With IME, Arabic, Emoji and Mobile KeyboardsUnity input fields struggle with IME, right-to-left typing, emoji and WebGL. UniText edits shaped text with native OS input, first-class IME composition and cluster-aware caret movement, whatever the input setting.
- RTLTMPro Alternative: Arabic, Persian and Hebrew Without Rewriting TextRTLTMPro makes TextMesh Pro readable in Arabic by rewriting strings into presentation forms. UniText shapes from the font with HarfBuzz and runs the full Unicode BiDi algorithm, so mixed text, Nastaliq and input work.