Numbers in

English

Speaking for Business

We are going to learn
how to say:

• big numbers
• decimals
• prices
Big Numbers
Numbers are everywhere!

First, you try!

• 120,000
• 342,876,288
• 12,073
Well, let’s see if you were right.

• 120,000 = “one hundred and twenty

thousand” or “a hundred and twenty
thousand”
342,876,288 = “three hundred and
forty-two million, eight hundred and
seventy-six thousand, two hundred and
eighty-eight”
12,073 = “twelve thousand and
seventy-three”
What are the rules here?

1. Break big numbers up into small

groups.
2. Don’t make “one hundred,” “one
thousand,” etc., plural!
3. “One hundred” or “a hundred”
mean the same.
1. How to group the numbers
• See the commas between the
numbers?

At the end of each group of

numbers where commas are- add
“billion,” “million,” “thousand,”
etc. afterwards.
2. Don’t make “million” and “thousand” plural
• Don’t make “one hundred,”
“one thousand,” etc., plural!
3. “One hundred” or “a hundred” mean the same.
Using “and” is optional.
It is more common for British speakers
to use "and" than Americans.

100 = “one hundred” or “a hundred”

1,000 = “one thousand” or “a thousand”

1,000,000 = “one million” or “a

million”
Decimals
Let’s try
• According to my calculations, the
growth rate for the next quarter will
be 3.6666666…
• The angle is 45.89 °.

The answer is:

Three point six six infinitely.
Forty five point eight nine degree.
What are the rules?
1. Say “point” for decimal
numbers
2. After “point,” read the numbers
individually as ones.
3. When numbers repeat forever,
just say “infinitely”
Prices
Let’s try saying these
numbers

• That one only costs $1.89! Let’s get it!

• They really wanted to sell the house
for £200,000, but in the end, they had
to accept half that.
• Wow — €0.99? That’s cheap!
Were you right? Let’s check.
• $1.89 = “ a dollar eighty-nine
(cents)” or “a dollar and eighty-
nine cents” or “one eighty-nine”
£200,000 = “two hundred
thousand pounds” or “two
hundred grand” or “two hundred
K”
€0.99 = “ninety-nine cents”
What are the rules here?

1. Word order of prices

2. Using “grand” or “K” instead of
“thousand”
1. Word order

• This goes for euro, peso, or any other

currency.

• Try saying these numbers:

• €1,571.10
• €50.51
• $ 3,500.000
2. Using “grand” or “K” instead of
“thousand”

• Use this only for whole numbers

• Don’t say 4,900 as 4 k 900 hundred.

 Check your understanding. The
answers are on the next page.

• The stock is trading at $87. 65.

• Many producers and retailers believe a customer
sees a price of $29.95 as in the $20 price range
rather than $30 one.
• The urban population of the world has grown
rapidly from 746 000 000 in 1950 to 3 900 000
000 in 2014.
• The company has lost $2 500 000 000 in funding
this year.
• There was a $5 000 increase this year.
 Answers
• The stock is trading at eighty-seven dollars and sixty-five
cents.
• Many producers and retailers believe a customer sees a
price of twenty-nine ninety-five as in the twenty dollars
price range rather than thirty dollars one.
• The urban population of the world has grown rapidly from
seven hundred forty-six million in 1950 to three point nine
billion in 2014.
• The company has lost two point five billion in funding this
year.
• There was a five thousand dollars increase this year.
Now you know how to say big
numbers, prices and decimals.
Great job!