How to read ALL NUMBERS in English

How to read ALL NUMBERS in English Big numbers Decimals/Ordinal/Fractions/Dates/Addresses/Phone

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)

  1. 5
  2. 12
  3. 7th
  4. 21
  5. 50
  6. ½
  7. 33
  8. 10th
  9. 90
  10. 3rd
  11. 25
  12. 60
  13. ¾
  14. 13
  15. 14th

Answers:

  1. Five
  2. Twelve
  3. Seventh
  4. Twenty-one
  5. Fifty
  6. One half
  7. Thirty-three
  8. Tenth
  9. Ninety
  10. Third
  11. Twenty-five
  12. Sixty
  13. Three quarters
  14. Thirteen
  15. Fourteenth

Intermediate Level (100-1,000, fractions, decimals, confusing numbers)

  1. 456
  2. 300th
  3. 2/3
  4. 785
  5. 3.25
  6. 999
  7. 123rd
  8. 375
  9. 4.5
  10. 444
  11. 1,000
  12. 800th
  13. 5/8
  14. 13 vs. 30
  15. 14 vs. 40

Answers:

  1. Four hundred fifty-six
  2. Three hundredth
  3. Two thirds
  4. Seven hundred eighty-five
  5. Three point two five
  6. Nine hundred ninety-nine
  7. One hundred twenty-third
  8. Three hundred seventy-five
  9. Four point five
  10. Four hundred forty-four
  11. One thousand
  12. Eight hundredth
  13. Five eighths
  14. Thirteen (stress on “-teen”) vs. Thirty (stress on “thir-“)
  15. Fourteen (stress on “-teen”) vs. Forty (stress on “for-“)

Advanced Level (Big numbers, years, addresses, phone numbers)

  1. 1,234
  2. 9,876
  3. 2024
  4. 1,000,000
  5. 567,890
  6. 1997
  7. 3,000,450
  8. 999,999
  9. 1500
  10. 2008
  11. 135-2468 (phone number)
  12. 222-567 (phone number)
  13. 789 Elm Street (address)
  14. 2022
  15. 1985

Answers:

  1. One thousand two hundred thirty-four
  2. Nine thousand eight hundred seventy-six
  3. Twenty twenty-four
  4. One million
  5. Five hundred sixty-seven thousand, eight hundred ninety
  6. Nineteen ninety-seven
  7. Three million four hundred fifty
  8. Nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine
  9. Fifteen hundred (or one thousand five hundred)
  10. Two thousand eight
  11. One three five, two four six eight (or thirteen fifty, twenty-four sixty-eight)
  12. Two two two, five six seven (or two hundred twenty-two, five sixty-seven)
  13. Seven eighty-nine Elm Street
  14. Twenty twenty-two
  15. 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!

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