Explanation + Extra Practice!
How to Read Numbers in English
Reading numbers in English can be tricky, but here’s a simple guide to help you:
1. Big Numbers
- 1,000 = one thousand
- 10,000 = ten thousand
- 100,000 = one hundred thousand
- 1,000,000 = one million
Tip: Say the numbers in groups of three. For example, 123,456 is “one hundred twenty-three thousand, four hundred fifty-six.”
2. Confusing Numbers
Some numbers can sound similar, so it’s important to listen carefully.
- 12 (twelve) vs. 20 (twenty)
- 13 (thirteen) vs. 30 (thirty)
- 14 (fourteen) vs. 40 (forty)
Tip: Numbers like 13, 14, etc., usually stress the second part (thirteen), while 30, 40, etc., stress the first part (thirty).
3. Decimals
- A decimal is a number with a dot (.).
- Example: 3.5 is read as “three point five.”
- 0.75 is “zero point seven five.”
4. Ordinal Numbers
Ordinal numbers show the position or order.
- 1st = first
- 2nd = second
- 3rd = third
- 4th = fourth
- 10th = tenth
- 21st = twenty-first
Use ordinal numbers when talking about dates, ranking, or positions.
5. Fractions
A fraction is a part of a whole.
- ½ = one half
- ⅓ = one third
- ¼ = one quarter
- ¾ = three quarters
For fractions with bigger numbers:
- 3/8 = three eighths
- 5/9 = five ninths
6. Dates
- Say the month first, then the day, and finally the year.
- Example: January 5, 2024 is read as “January fifth, twenty twenty-four.”
7. Years
- For years from 2000 onwards, say the whole number:
- 2023 = “twenty twenty-three.”
- For years before 2000, split the number:
- 1987 = “nineteen eighty-seven.”
8. Addresses
Addresses are usually read by grouping the digits two by two.
- Example: 1234 Elm Street is read as “twelve thirty-four Elm Street.”
9. Phone Numbers
Phone numbers are read digit by digit or the digits can be grouped two by two to help with memorization.
- Example: 555-1234 is read as “five five five, one two three four” or as “five five five, twelve thirty-four.”
By practicing how to say these numbers correctly, you’ll become more confident with English numbers!
Extra Practice
Here’s an ESL numbers reading practice quiz with 3 levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. Each level has 15 questions. The answers with explanations on how to read each number are provided at the bottom of each level.
Beginner Level (1-100, ordinals, simple fractions)
- 5
- 12
- 7th
- 21
- 50
- ½
- 33
- 10th
- 90
- 3rd
- 25
- 60
- ¾
- 13
- 14th
Answers:
- Five
- Twelve
- Seventh
- Twenty-one
- Fifty
- One half
- Thirty-three
- Tenth
- Ninety
- Third
- Twenty-five
- Sixty
- Three quarters
- Thirteen
- Fourteenth
Intermediate Level (100-1,000, fractions, decimals, confusing numbers)
- 456
- 300th
- 2/3
- 785
- 3.25
- 999
- 123rd
- 375
- 4.5
- 444
- 1,000
- 800th
- 5/8
- 13 vs. 30
- 14 vs. 40
Answers:
- Four hundred fifty-six
- Three hundredth
- Two thirds
- Seven hundred eighty-five
- Three point two five
- Nine hundred ninety-nine
- One hundred twenty-third
- Three hundred seventy-five
- Four point five
- Four hundred forty-four
- One thousand
- Eight hundredth
- Five eighths
- Thirteen (stress on “-teen”) vs. Thirty (stress on “thir-“)
- Fourteen (stress on “-teen”) vs. Forty (stress on “for-“)
Advanced Level (Big numbers, years, addresses, phone numbers)
- 1,234
- 9,876
- 2024
- 1,000,000
- 567,890
- 1997
- 3,000,450
- 999,999
- 1500
- 2008
- 135-2468 (phone number)
- 222-567 (phone number)
- 789 Elm Street (address)
- 2022
- 1985
Answers:
- One thousand two hundred thirty-four
- Nine thousand eight hundred seventy-six
- Twenty twenty-four
- One million
- Five hundred sixty-seven thousand, eight hundred ninety
- Nineteen ninety-seven
- Three million four hundred fifty
- Nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine
- Fifteen hundred (or one thousand five hundred)
- Two thousand eight
- One three five, two four six eight (or thirteen fifty, twenty-four sixty-eight)
- Two two two, five six seven (or two hundred twenty-two, five sixty-seven)
- Seven eighty-nine Elm Street
- Twenty twenty-two
- Nineteen eighty-five
This quiz covers a variety of number-reading situations at each level of difficulty, allowing learners to practice different aspects of English number usage!