Number Words - Definition, Examples, Quiz, FAQ, Trivia
Learn how to read and write numbers as words with easy explanations and practice activities
What are Number Words?
Number words are the written form of numbers. Instead of using numerals like "5", we write the word "five". Learning number words helps us read and understand numbers in stories, books, and everyday life.
There are different ways to represent numbers:
1. Numerals: Symbols like 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
2. Number words: Words like one, two, three, four, five
3. Expanded form: Showing the value of each digit, like 100 + 20 + 3 for 123
Knowing number words helps you become a better reader and writer, especially when working with word problems in math or writing numbers in sentences.
Key Concept
Number words are like the names we give to numbers. Just like people have names, numbers have word names too!
Number Words 1-20
The numbers from 1 to 20 have unique words. These are the building blocks for all other number words. Let's learn them:
Remember
Numbers from 13 to 19 mostly end with "teen", which means "ten more than". For example, thirteen means three more than ten.
Tens Number Words
The tens numbers are multiples of ten. They form the foundation for writing larger numbers. Here are the tens number words:
To write numbers between tens, we combine the tens word with the ones word. For example:
21 = twenty-one
35 = thirty-five
47 = forty-seven
59 = fifty-nine
63 = sixty-three
74 = seventy-four
86 = eighty-six
98 = ninety-eight
Writing Tip
When writing two-word numbers like twenty-one, always use a hyphen between the tens and ones places.
Rules for Writing Number Words
There are important rules to follow when writing numbers as words:
1. Hyphenate compound numbers: Always use a hyphen between tens and ones (twenty-one, thirty-five, forty-two).
2. Hundreds, thousands, millions: For larger numbers:
- 100 = one hundred
- 1,000 = one thousand
- 1,000,000 = one million
3. Use "and" for decimals: When writing decimal numbers, use "and" for the decimal point:
4.5 = four and five tenths
7.25 = seven and twenty-five hundredths
4. Writing numbers in sentences: Generally, smaller numbers (one to nine) are written as words, while larger numbers use numerals. However, this can vary by style guide.
Common Mistake
Many people forget the hyphen in numbers like twenty-one or thirty-five. Remember: always use a hyphen between tens and ones!
Number Words Examples
Let's look at some examples of number words in different contexts:
Basic Examples:
Number
7
seven
Number
15
fifteen
Number
23
twenty-three
Number
100
one hundred
- I have three apples and two oranges.
- My sister is fifteen years old.
- We need twenty-four chairs for the party.
- The book has one hundred pages.
Number
125
one hundred twenty-five
Number
1,002
one thousand two
Number
3,456
three thousand four hundred fifty-six
Real-World Use
We use number words when writing checks, reading recipes, following instructions, and in many storybooks. They help make writing clearer and easier to read.
Number Words Practice Quiz
Test your understanding with this 5-question quiz. Choose the correct answer for each question.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to common questions about number words:
Math Trivia
Discover interesting facts about numbers and words:
Ancient Number Systems
The modern number words we use today evolved over thousands of years. They have roots in Proto-Indo-European language and were influenced by Latin, Greek, and Germanic languages.
Number Words Around the World
Different languages have different patterns for number words. In Chinese, the number system is more regular than English. For example, 11 is "ten-one", 12 is "ten-two", making it easier to learn.
Counting in Different Bases
While we use a base-10 number system (decimal), some cultures have used base-20 (vigesimal) systems. This is why in French, 80 is "quatre-vingts" (four twenties).
Longest Number Word
The longest number word in English is "quindecillion" which has 15 letters. It represents 1 followed by 48 zeros in the short scale system used in the United States.
