Table of Contents
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Introduction to Numbers
Long before numbers were invented, a unique mark was made on each item being counted.
This was a complex system for writing large numbers.
People realized that there was a need to adopt a standard system of counting.
This is how numbers came into existence.
In this Cuemath video, you will learn the primary components in Base Ten Blocks which is a hands-on way to understand number concepts.
Numbers In Words
Counting Numbers in Words
Numbers in words refer to the numbers written in alphabetical form.
A specific word is used to refer to each number.
For example, look at the following list of numerals and words accompanying each one of them.
You can observe in the above example that the numbers from 1 to 10 are written using specific words.
The words for the numbers from 11 to 20 are different from the words for other numbers.
Now that you have learnt counting numbers in words from 1 to 20, let's learn the words for the numbers 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100.
Using these words, you can learn the words for other larger numbers.
How to Write Numbers in Words?
To write a number in words in English, you should know the place value of each digit in the number.
The Indian place value chart is used to find the value of each digit in a number based on its position.
In order to read and write numbers, we use the following Place Value Chart.
In this chart, the nine places are grouped into four periods: Ones, Thousands, Lakhs and Crores.
Starting from the right, the first period is ones, consisting of three place values: ones, tens and hundreds.
The second period is thousands, consisting of two place values: thousands and ten thousands.
The third period is lakhs, consisting of two place values: lakhs and ten lakhs.
The fourth period is crores, consisting of two place values: crores and ten crores.
While reading a number, all the digits in the same period are read together along with the name of the period, except the ones period.
Let's try out reading a large number.
Jagat owns a huge farm.
He sold his entire wheat harvest for Rs. 384756182.
Let us try to read this big number, "384756182", using the Indian numeral system.
First, we will place it in the Indian place value chart.
Starting from the right-most number, this number represents the ones digit.
It is easy to read any large number if we place the number in the place value chart of the Indian numeral system.
Therefore, the number is "Thirty eight crore forty seven lakh fifty six thousand one hundred and eighty two".

- While reading a number, read from left to right.
- Read the number in each period and say the name of the period after each number in the period.
- While reading a number, skip the period containing zeros at all the places.
- Separate the period using commas while writing a number.
Try this simple simulation to practice numbers in words.
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Conversion of Numbers in Words
Example 1 |
Sally loves to collect bindis of different kinds.
Can you count the number of packets of bindis she has collected?
How many bindis does she have in total?
Write all the numbers in words in English.
Solution:
Sally has seven packets of bindis with her.
Each packet has ten bindis.
Thus, she has seventy bindis in all.
\(\therefore\) Sally has seven packets of bindis and seventy bindis in all. |
Example 2 |
Jack and Ginny are playing a game where one has to throw a bangle on a chart containing red and green dots.
Each red dot is equal to 10 points and each green dot is equal to 1 point.
Ginny threw the bangle on the chart.
Can you count the points scored by her? What is the number in words?
Solution:
The number of dots inside the bangle and the resulting points are:
Dots | ![]() |
![]() |
---|---|---|
Points | 40 | 4 |
\(\therefore\) Ginny scored forty-four points. |
Example 3 |
Given below is a grid with some numbers.
Take a piece of paper and copy this grid of numbers.
Can you find the numbers given in the chart below?
Color these numbers in your grid. Use the colors mentioned in the chart.
Solution:
Let’s colour the numbers in green first.
We will write the numeric values of each number given in words.
Numerical Numbers in Words | Numerals |
---|---|
One hundred forty | 140 |
Two hundred two | 202 |
Two hundred sixty one | 261 |
Eight hundred | 800 |
Now, we will write the numeric values of each number to be coloured in red.
Numerical Numbers in Words | Numerals |
---|---|
Fifty four | 54 |
Sixty | 60 |
One hundred ninety five | 195 |
Five hundred fifty five | 555 |
Now, we will write the numeric values of each number to be coloured in yellow.
Numerical Numbers in Words | Numerals |
---|---|
Four hundred forty five | 445 |
Sixteen | 16 |
One hundred fifty nine | 159 |
Six hundred eighty five | 685 |

- The number 40 in words is written as forty not fourty.
- To write a number in words, first read the number and write the number name as you say it.
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Practice Questions
Here are few activities for you to practice. Select/Type your answer and click the "Check Answer" button to see the result.
Maths Olympiad Sample Papers
IMO (International Maths Olympiad) is a competitive exam in Mathematics conducted annually for school students. It encourages children to develop their math solving skills from a competition perspective.
You can download the FREE grade-wise sample papers from below:
- IMO Sample Paper Class 1
- IMO Sample Paper Class 2
- IMO Sample Paper Class 3
- IMO Sample Paper Class 4
- IMO Sample Paper Class 5
- IMO Sample Paper Class 6
- IMO Sample Paper Class 7
- IMO Sample Paper Class 8
- IMO Sample Paper Class 9
- IMO Sample Paper Class 10
To know more about the Maths Olympiad you can click here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How do you write numbers in words?
While writing numbers in words in English, we arrange the numbers into periods with the help of commas.
Starting from left, write the name of the period after each number in the period and skip the period containing zeros at all the places.
2. How do you write the amount of money in words?
The amount of money in words is written just as we write the numbers in words.
In addition to this, we need to add the suffix "rupees".
3. How do you spell 13?
The number 13 in words is written as "thirteen".