Full Explanation: Numbers in English (Pronunciation and Use)
When learning English, understanding how to pronounce numbers is essential for
daily communication, whether it's to discuss quantities, tell time, or give dates and
prices. This guide will walk you through the basics of English numbers, focusing on
pronunciation, the differences between similar-sounding numbers, and how to use
them correctly.
1. Cardinal Numbers (Counting Numbers. (ﺍﻷﻋﺪﺍﺩ ﺍﻷﺳﺎﺳﻴﺔ ) ﻋﺪ ﺍﻷﻋﺪﺍﺩ
Cardinal numbers are used for counting (e.g., one, two, three) or stating how many of
something there is.
Basic Numbers (1-10):
• 1: one
• 2: two
• 3: three
• 4: four
• 5: five
• 6: six
• 7: seven
• 8: eight
• 9: nine
• 10: ten
These are straightforward and are the foundation for understanding numbers in
English.
Numbers 11-19:
• 11: eleven
• 12: twelve
• 13: thirteen
• 14: fourteen
• 15: fifteen
• 16: sixteen
• 17: seventeen
• 18: eighteen
• 19: nineteen
Note: Starting from 13, numbers have the suffix "-teen". Make sure to stress the
second syllable when saying these numbers: thirTEEN, fourTEEN, etc.
Tens (20-90):
• 20: twenty
• 30: thirty
• 40: forty
• 50: fifty
• 60: sixty
• 70: seventy
• 80: eighty
• 90: ninety
These multiples of 10 are used as building blocks for larger numbers. When
pronouncing these numbers, the stress is usually on the first syllable: THIRty,
FORty, etc.
Combining Numbers (21-99):
To form numbers between the tens, simply combine the tens and the units:
• 21: twenty-one
• 34: thirty-four
• 56: fifty-six
• 89: eighty-nine
Important: Notice how we use a hyphen when writing these numbers, and the stress
usually remains on the tens part (e.g., SEVen-ty TWO).
2. Key Pronunciation Differences:
Teen vs. Ty Numbers:
This is one of the trickiest parts of learning numbers in English. The difference
between "teen" and "ty" numbers lies in both pronunciation and stress.
Thirteen (13) vs. Thirty (30)
o ThirTEEN: The stress is on the second syllable, making the "teen"
part more prominent.
o THIRty: The stress is on the first syllable, with the "-ty" part softer.
Fifteen (15) vs. Fifty (50)
o FifTEEN: Stress on the second syllable.
o FIFty: Stress on the first syllable.
Practice Tip: Exaggerate the stress on the syllables when you first practice to hear the
difference clearly. Try saying "fourTEEN" and "FORty" to feel the shift in where
your voice emphasizes.
3. Hundreds, Thousands, and Beyond
Hundreds:
• 100: one hundred
• 200: two hundred
• 350: three hundred and fifty
When saying numbers in the hundreds, the structure is simple:
• State the number of hundreds, then the remaining digits. If there are additional
tens or units (e.g., 357), you say "and" before the final part:
o 357: three hundred and fifty-seven.
Thousands:
• 1,000: one thousand
• 1,500: one thousand five hundred
• 10,000: ten thousand
Numbers in the thousands follow the same structure as hundreds. For example:
• 1,243: one thousand two hundred and forty-three.
Millions, Billions, etc.:
• For larger numbers, the same rules apply. Example: 3,000,000 is three million.
4. Fractions, Decimals, and Ordinal Numbers ﺍﻟﻜﺴﻮﺭ ﻭﺍﻷﻋﺪﺍﺩ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺮﻳﺔ ﻭﺍﻷﻋﺪﺍﺩ.
ﺍﻟﺘﺮﺗﻴﺒﻴﺔ
Fractions:
Fractions are common in both daily life and academic contexts.
• 1/2: one half
• 1/4: one quarter (or one-fourth)
• 3/4: three quarters
• 2/3: two-thirds
Decimals:ﺍﻷﻋﺪﺍﺩ ﺍﻟﻌﺸﺮﻳﺔ
Decimals are read as the whole number followed by the individual digits after the
decimal point:
• 2.5: two point five
• 3.14: three point one four
Ordinal Numbers:
Ordinal numbers are used to describe position or rank (e.g., first, second, third).
1. 1st: first
2. 2nd: second
3. 3rd: third
4. 4th: fourth
5. 10th: tenth
6. 21st: twenty-first
When writing out these numbers, we add suffixes such as "-st", "-nd", "-rd", and "-th".
5. Real-life Usage Examples
Telling Time:
• 3:15: "Three fifteen" or "quarter past three."
• 7:30: "Seven thirty" or "half past seven."
• 9:45: "Nine forty-five" or "quarter to ten."
Giving Prices:
• $5.99: "Five ninety-nine."
• £12.50: "Twelve pounds fifty."
Tip: Prices are usually pronounced without saying "dollars" or "pounds" every time.
Dates:
When saying dates, ordinal numbers are often used:
• March 5: "March fifth" or "the fifth of March."
• July 12, 1992: "July twelfth, nineteen ninety-two."
6. Practice Exercises
Matching Pronunciations: Match the numbers to the correct pronunciation:
o 13: (a) thirteen (b) thirty
o 50: (a) fifteen (b) fifty
o 80: (a) eighteen (b) eighty
