English Numbers: Decimals and How to Write & Say Them | B1

A bite-size guide for English learners to write and say decimals right in real talks, not just in mathematics.

Examples of Decimals

0.5: "zero point five" or "point five"

3.14: "three point one four"

12.345: "twelve point three four five"

Decimals in English can be confusing as many countries use a comma (,) in these types of numbers (1,5).

In most English speaking countries (and in some others) a decimal point (.) is used instead (1.5).

Instead of "zero point zero zero one" (0.001) you can use a shorter from by skipping the first "zero":

0.001: "point zero zero one"

0.0001: "point zero zero zero one"

Nought: commonly used in British

English, especially in mathematics:

"The number is nought point five." (0.5)

To pronounce decimal numbers in English, follow these guidelines:

1. Whole Number Part: Read the whole number part as you normally would.

2. Decimal Point: Say "point" for the decimal point.

3. Fractional Part: Read each digit individually after the decimal point.

Examples:

0.3 – zero point three

1.25 – one point two five

4.07 – four point zero seven

9.5 – nine point five

12.355 – twelve point three five five

100.01 – one hundred point zero one

0.009 – zero point zero zero nine

27.6 – twenty-seven point six

Handy Tips

1. Remember this special decimal number:

0.5 is also called a half.

2. You see decimal numbers every day in prices like $19.99, sizes like 1.5 meters, or data like 7.3% growth.

Also explore:

Continue to the Intermediate Level English Language Resources for more topics and tips