diff --git a/runtime/syntax/vim.vim b/runtime/syntax/vim.vim
index 4038a65440..c4e231d145 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/vim.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/vim.vim
@@ -276,6 +276,10 @@ syn keyword vimAugroupKey	contained aug[roup]  skipwhite nextgroup=vimAugroupBan
 syn cluster	vimOperGroup	contains=vimEnvvar,vimFunc,vimFuncVar,vimOper,vimOperParen,vimNumber,vimString,vimRegister,@vimContinue,vim9Comment,vimVar,vimBoolean,vimNull
 syn match	vimOper	"\a\@<!!"			skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
 syn match	vimOper	"||\|&&\|[-+*/%.]"		skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
+syn match	vimOper	"?"			skipwhite nextgroup=@vimExprList
+" distinguish ternary : from ex-colon
+syn match	vimOper	"\s\@1<=:\ze\s\|\s\@1<=:$"		skipwhite nextgroup=@vimExprList
+syn match	vimOper	"??"			skipwhite nextgroup=@vimExprList
 syn match	vimOper	"="			skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
 syn match	vimOper	"\%#=1\%(==\|!=\|>=\|<=\|=\~\|!\~\|>\|<\)[?#]\="	skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
 syn match	vimOper	"\<is\%(not\)\=\>"		skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
@@ -291,9 +295,9 @@ endif
 syn cluster	vimFuncList	contains=vimFuncBang,vimFunctionError,vimFuncKey,vimFuncSID,Tag
 syn cluster	vimDefList	contains=vimFuncBang,vimFunctionError,vimDefKey,vimFuncSID,Tag
 
-syn cluster	vimFuncBodyCommon	contains=@vimCmdList,vimCmplxRepeat,vimContinue,vimCtrlChar,vimDef,vimEnvvar,vimFBVar,vimFunc,vimFunction,vimLetHereDoc,vimNotation,vimNotFunc,vimNumber,vimOper,vimOperParen,vimRegister,vimSearch,vimSpecFile,vimString,vimSubst,vimFuncFold,vimDefFold
-syn cluster	vimFuncBodyList	contains=@vimFuncBodyCommon,vimComment,vimLineComment,vimFuncVar,vimInsert,vimConst,vimLet
-syn cluster	vimDefBodyList	contains=@vimFuncBodyCommon,vim9Comment,vim9LineComment,vim9Const,vim9Final,vim9Var,vim9Null,vim9Boolean,vim9For
+syn cluster	vimFuncBodyCommon	contains=@vimCmdList,vimCmplxRepeat,vimContinue,vimCtrlChar,vimDef,vimEnvvar,vimFBVar,vimFunc,vimFunction,vimLetHereDoc,vimNotation,vimNotFunc,vimNumber,vimOper,vimOperParen,vimRegister,vimSpecFile,vimString,vimSubst,vimFuncFold,vimDefFold
+syn cluster	vimFuncBodyList	contains=@vimFuncBodyCommon,vimComment,vimLineComment,vimFuncVar,vimInsert,vimConst,vimLet,vimSearch
+syn cluster	vimDefBodyList	contains=@vimFuncBodyCommon,vim9Comment,vim9LineComment,vim9Const,vim9Final,vim9Var,vim9Null,vim9Boolean,vim9For,vim9Search
 
 syn region	vimFuncPattern	contained		matchgroup=vimOper start="/" end="$" contains=@vimSubstList
 syn match	vimFunction	"\<fu\%[nction]\>"	skipwhite nextgroup=vimCmdSep,vimComment,vimFuncPattern contains=vimFuncKey
@@ -1019,8 +1023,10 @@ syn match	vim9CommentTitleLeader	'#\s\+'ms=s+1	contained
 
 " Searches And Globals: {{{2
 " ====================
-syn match	vimSearch	'^\s*[/?].*'		contains=vimSearchDelim
+VimL syn match	vimSearch	'^\s*[/?].*'		contains=vimSearchDelim
 syn match	vimSearchDelim	'^\s*\zs[/?]\|[/?]$'	contained
+Vim9 syn match	vim9Search	'^\s*:[/?].*'		contains=vim9SearchDelim
+syn match	vim9SearchDelim	'^\s*\zs:[/?]\|[/?]$'	contained contains=vimCmdSep
 syn region	vimGlobal	matchgroup=Statement start='\<g\%[lobal]!\=/'  skip='\\.' end='/'	skipwhite nextgroup=vimSubst1
 syn region	vimGlobal	matchgroup=Statement start='\<v\%[global]!\=/' skip='\\.' end='/'	skipwhite nextgroup=vimSubst1
 
@@ -1406,8 +1412,8 @@ if !exists("skip_vim_syntax_inits")
  hi def link vimQuoteEscape	vimEscape
  hi def link vimRegister	SpecialChar
  hi def link vimScriptDelim	Comment
- hi def link vimSearchDelim	Statement
  hi def link vimSearch	vimString
+ hi def link vimSearchDelim	Delimiter
  hi def link vimSep	Delimiter
  hi def link vimSet	vimCommand
  hi def link vimSetAll	vimOption
@@ -1500,6 +1506,8 @@ if !exists("skip_vim_syntax_inits")
  hi def link vim9MethodNameError	vimFunctionError
  hi def link vim9Null	Constant
  hi def link vim9Public	vimCommand
+ hi def link vim9Search	vimString
+ hi def link vim9SearchDelim	Delimiter
  hi def link vim9Static	vimCommand
  hi def link vim9Super	Identifier
  hi def link vim9This	Identifier