Read, listen, and have fun with English numbers
read the whole number
12 = twelve
How do you say 2.75 in English?
Read Decimals in English
Read the whole number, say point, then read every digit after the decimal point while exploring tenths, hundredths, and thousandths.
Short answer
How do you read a decimal in English?
Read the whole number before the decimal point, say point, and then read each digit after the point separately. For example, 2.75 is two point seven five, and 0.05 is zero point zero five. Zeros after the point must be spoken.
2whole
.
7tenths5hundredths
After point, read one digit at a time.
FOLLOW THE DOT
Read a decimal aloud.
Decimal2.75Say ittwo point seven five
COMMON DECIMALS
Keep every zero after the point.
| Decimal | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| 0.1 | zero point one | |
| 0.25 | zero point two five | |
| 0.05 | zero point zero five | |
| 0.75 | zero point seven five | |
| 1.5 | one point five | |
| 2.75 | two point seven five | |
| 3.14 | three point one four | |
| 10.01 | ten point zero one | |
| 12.34 | twelve point three four | |
| 20.5 | twenty point five | |
| 100.25 | one hundred point two five | |
| 0.125 | zero point one two five |
READ ONE STEP AT A TIME
Four steps make decimals easy.
The decimal point is a pause that tells us to switch to one digit at a time.
say point
12. = twelve point
one digit at a time
.34 = point three four
keep the zero
0.05 = zero point zero five
FIVE-QUESTION PRACTICE
How do you say this decimal?
Question 1/5
Practice complete—well done!
0/5
QUICK ANSWERS
Three quick answers about decimals.
How do you say 0.5?
Say zero point five. In everyday speech, point five may also be heard when the meaning is clear.
Are 0.5 and 0.05 read the same way?
No. 0.5 is zero point five, while 0.05 is zero point zero five. The zero changes the place value.
Do prices use the same reading rule?
Prices usually use currency words. For example, $2.50 is two dollars fifty, not usually two point five zero dollars.