Number names

This article is about the structure of number names and the naming of numbers in the decimal system .

The structure of number names

The example of the number four hundred twenty-seven thousand five hundred thirty- four (427,534) shows the graded structure of the number names. What is striking is the systematic reversal of the tens and units in the German language , which, for example, only occurs in English from 13 to 19.

Zero to nine

The values of the decimal digits are: zero , one , two , three , four , five , six , seven , eight , nine . The name zero always stands alone; The entire naming system is based on the other nine number names. Except for the seven, all of these numerals are monosyllabic.

ten

From the ancient Germanic word * tehun, which is related to ancient Greek deka (δεκα) and Latin decem , today's word ten has developed from ancient high German zehan .

Eleven and twelve as exceptions

Eleven and twelve from Gothic ainlif and twalif with the suffix -lif (= "that goes beyond ") means one over and two over , i.e. one or two more than the ten.

These exceptions also exist in all other Germanic languages, for example English (eleven, twelve) or Dutch (elf, twaalf) . Here one notices the earlier approach for a number system based on twelve numbers. See also dozen (= 12), shock (five dozen = 60) and the bulk (twelve dozen = 144).

Thirteen to nineteen

In contrast to the numbers over twenty, in which the units and tens are combined with an “and” (seven and twenty), this is not the case with the numbers from thirteen to nineteen . For the numbers sixteen and seventeen , the units digit is pronounced and written in abbreviated form (“sixteen” instead of “sixteen” and “seventeen” instead of “seventeen”).

Twenty to ninety nine

Twenty : from Gothic twai tigjus (= "two ten units"), later twai tig. This form of formation continues up to ninety, whereby the final syllables of the six and the seven are partly shortened ("sixty" instead of "sixty" and "seventy" instead of "seventy"). An exception is the use of " thirty " (instead of "thirty"). The unit of units is named first ("twenty-five"). In the case of the one, this is shortened ("forty-one").

Other languages

In some languages remnants of a vigesimal system are still preserved: For example, in French (in France and Canada) this series is only built up to 60 according to this pattern. This is followed by "sixty-and-ten" (soixante-dix), "four-times-twenty" (quatre-vingts) and "four-times-twenty-and-ten" (quatre-vingt-dix). In Belgian French, however, there are the numerals septante and nonante for 70 and 90, and in Swiss French there are also huitante and octante for 80. Danish uses the vigesimal system for numbers from 50 to 90; for example, 60 in Danish is tres (indstyve), i.e. H. "Three-by-twenty", or 50, means halvtreds (indstyve), i.e. H. "Half three-by-twenty" (for "2.5 × 20").

In contrast to the German language, in some other languages , such as Russian, Ukrainian, English, Swedish or French, the unit of ten comes first (e.g. twenty-five in English ). Other languages in which single and tens names are ranked as in German are Dutch, Danish, Luxembourgish, Slovenian and Arabic. Both variants are possible in Czech, i.e. H. “Twenty and One” or “Twenty One”; The same is true in Norwegian, where the order corresponding to German or Danish has been officially replaced by law by the order corresponding to English or Swedish, but is still common in the spoken language.

Hundreds

Hundred : from Gothic hunda and Latin centum. Originally only used as a plural word, that is, only from two hundred. The first hundred was completed in Middle High German by the numeral zehen-zec / ic, zehent-, zên-zic ("ten"). Nowadays either the hundred or the simple hundred, i.e. one hundred, is used. To express a multiple of a hundred, a single-digit number is placed in front of the hundred . So the number name for three times a hundred is three hundred. If the multiple of a hundred is greater than 9, you switch to a thousand.

For the special number range from 1100 to 1999, actually already in the subsequent thousands, there are, however, the terms eleven hundred, twelve hundred to nineteen hundred in German - and similarly in various other languages - which are mainly used for years and occasionally in slang . In contrast to German, this is often continued in English up to numerical values of 9999.

Thousands

Thousand : from Gothic thusundi. In the Indo-European language area, no uniform designation has developed for numbers over one hundred. The root word “thousand” occurs only in the Germanic, Slavic and Baltic language areas, while in Romance the name is derived from Latin mille and in Greek from χιλιοι.

A million and a billion

Million : from Latin mille (= thousand) and -one (enlarging suffix ); so actually "great thousand". The million is the square of the thousand.

The billion is the third power of a thousand or a thousand million.

Trillion, Billiards and Beyond

From a billion onwards, the -illion and -illion scheme is repeated . The prefixes are derived from Latin : Bi- for 2 ( trillion and billiards ), Tri- for 3, Quadri- for 4, Quinti- (also: Quinqui-) for 5 and so on. So give powers to the Million: a bi llion is 1,000,000 ² , a tri llion is 1,000,000 ³ , a Quadri llion is 1,000,000 ⁴ and so on. A quadrillion is a thousand trillion. The same scheme can be applied to trillions, quadrillions, and so on. This system is known as the Long Scale . It goes back to Nicolas Chuquet and Jaques Peletier du Mans .

Digit sequence	Number name	prefix			suffix	power	10 ^N.
Digit sequence	Number name	One	Tens	Hundreds	suffix	power	10 ^N.
1	one					Million ^0.0	= 10 ⁰
10	ten					Million ^1/6	= 10 ¹
100	Hundred					Million ^1/3	= 10 ²
1,000	thousand					Million ^0.5	= 10 ³
10,000	Ten thousand					Million ^2/3	= 10 ⁴
100,000	A hundred thousand					Million ^5/6	= 10 ⁵
1,000,000	million	Mi			-llion	Million ^1.0	= 10 ⁶
1,000,000,000	billion	Mi			-lliarde	Million ^1.5	= 10 ⁹
1,000,000,000,000	trillion	bi-			-llion	Million ^2.0	= 10 ¹²
1,000,000,000,000,000	Billiards	bi-			-lliarde	Million ^2.5	= 10 ¹⁵
1,000,000,000,000,000,000	Trillion	Tri-			-llion	Million ^3.0	= 10 ¹⁸
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Trillion	Tri-			-lliarde	Million ^3.5	= 10 ²¹
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Quadrillion	Quadri-			-llion	Million ^4.0	= 10 ²⁴
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Quadrillion	Quadri-			-lliarde	Million ^4.5	= 10 ²⁷
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Quintillion or Quinquillion	Quinti- or quinqui-			-llion	Million ^5.0	= 10 ³⁰
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Quintillion or quinquilliard	Quinti- or quinqui-			-lliarde	Million ^5.5	= 10 ³³
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Sextillion	Sexti-			-llion	Million ^6.0	= 10 ³⁶
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Sextillion	Sexti-			-lliarde	Million ^6.5	= 10 ³⁹
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Septillion	Septi-			-llion	Million ^7.0	= 10 ⁴²
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Septilliard	Septi-			-lliarde	Million ^7.5	= 10 ⁴⁵
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Octillion	Octi-			-llion	Million ^8.0	= 10 ⁴⁸
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Octilliard	Octi-			-lliarde	Million ^8.5	= 10 ⁵¹
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Nonillion	Noni			-llion	Million ^9.0	= 10 ⁵⁴
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Nonilliard	Noni			-lliarde	Million ^9.5	= 10 ⁵⁷
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Decillion		Deci-		-llion	Million ^10.0	= 10 ⁶⁰
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Decillion		Deci-		-lliarde	Million ^10.5	= 10 ⁶³
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Undezillion	U.N-	-dec-		-llion	Million ^11.0	= 10 ⁶⁶
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Undecillion	U.N-	-dec-		-lliarde	Million ^11.5	= 10 ⁶⁹
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Dodecillion or Duodecillion	Do- or duo	-dec-		-llion	Million ^12.0	= 10 ⁷²
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Dodecilliard or duodecilliard	Do- or duo	-dec-		-lliarde	Million ^12.5	= 10 ⁷⁵
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Tredezillion	Tre-	-dec-		-llion	Million ^13.0	= 10 ⁷⁸
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Tredecillion	Tre-	-dec-		-lliarde	Million ^13.5	= 10 ⁸¹
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Quattuordezillion	Quattuor	-dec-		-llion	Million ^14.0	= 10 ⁸⁴
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Quattuordecilliard	Quattuor	-dec-		-lliarde	Million ^14.5	= 10 ⁸⁷
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Quindezillion	Quin-	-dec-		-llion	Million ^15.0	= 10 ⁹⁰
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Quindecillion	Quin-	-dec-		-lliarde	Million ^15.5	= 10 ⁹³
1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000	Sedezillion or sex decillion	Se or sex	-dec-		-llion	Million ^16.0	= 10 ⁹⁶
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Three-decillion or sex decillion	Se or sex	-dec-		-lliarde	Million ^16.5	= 10 ⁹⁹
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Sept decillion	Septum	-dec-		-llion	Million ^17.0	= 10 ¹⁰²
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Sept decillion	Septum	-dec-		-lliarde	Million ^17.5	= 10 ¹⁰⁵
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000	Dodevigintillion or Duodevigintillion	Do-de- or Duo-de-	-viginti-		-llion	Million ^18.0	= 10 ¹⁰⁸
The number 1 followed by 111 zeros	Dodevigintilliarde or duodevigintilliarde	Do-de- or Duo-de-	-viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^18.5	= 10 ¹¹¹
The number 1 followed by 114 zeros	Undevigintillion	Un-de-	-viginti-		-llion	Million ^19.0	= 10 ¹¹⁴
The number 1 followed by 117 zeros	Undevigintilliard	Un-de-	-viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^19.5	= 10 ¹¹⁷
The number 1 followed by 120 zeros	Vigintillion		Viginti-		-llion	Million ^20.0	= 10 ¹²⁰
The number 1 followed by 123 zeros	Vigintilliard		Viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^20.5	= 10 ¹²³
The number 1 followed by 126 zeros	Unvigintillion	U.N-	-viginti-		-llion	Million ^21.0	= 10 ¹²⁶
The number 1 followed by 129 zeros	Unvigintillion	U.N-	-viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^21.5	= 10 ¹²⁹
The number 1 followed by 132 zeros	Dovigintillion or Duovigintillion	Do- or duo	-viginti-		-llion	Million ^22.0	= 10 ¹³²
The number 1 followed by 135 zeros	Dovigintilliard or duovigintilliard	Do- or duo	-viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^22.5	= 10 ¹³⁵
The number 1 followed by 138 zeros	Tresvigintillion	Tre-	-viginti-		-llion	Million ^23.0	= 10 ¹³⁸
The number 1 followed by 141 zeros	Tresvigintilliard	Tre-	-viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^23.5	= 10 ¹⁴¹
The number 1 followed by 144 zeros	Quattuorvigintillion	Quattuor	-viginti-		-llion	Million ^24.0	= 10 ¹⁴⁴
The number 1 followed by 147 zeros	Quattuorvigintilliarde	Quattuor	-viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^24.5	= 10 ¹⁴⁷
The number 1 followed by 150 zeros	Quinvigintillion	Quin-	-viginti-		-llion	Million ^25.0	= 10 ¹⁵⁰
The number 1 followed by 153 zeros	Quinvigintilliard	Quin-	-viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^25.5	= 10 ¹⁵³
The number 1 followed by 156 zeros	Sevigintillion or Sexvigintillion	Se or sex	-viginti-		-llion	Million ^26.0	= 10 ¹⁵⁶
The number 1 followed by 159 zeros	Sevigintillion or Sexvigintillion	Se or sex	-viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^26.5	= 10 ¹⁵⁹
The number 1 followed by 162 zeros	Septenvigintillion	Septum	-viginti-		-llion	Million ^27.0	= 10 ¹⁶²
The number 1 followed by 165 zeros	Septal vigintilliard	Septum	-viginti-		-lliarde	Million ^27.5	= 10 ¹⁶⁵
The number 1 followed by 168 zeros	Dodetrigintillion or duodetrigintillion	Do-de- or Duo-de-	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^28.0	= 10 ¹⁶⁸
The number 1 followed by 171 zeros	Dodetrigintilliard or duodetrigintilliard	Do-de- or Duo-de-	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^28.5	= 10 ¹⁷¹
The number 1 followed by 174 zeros	Undetrigintillion	Un-de-	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^29.0	= 10 ¹⁷⁴
The number 1 followed by 177 zeros	Undetrigintillion	Un-de-	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^29.5	= 10 ¹⁷⁷
The number 1 followed by 180 zeros	Trigintillion		Triginti-		-llion	Million ^30.0	= 10 ¹⁸⁰
The number 1 followed by 183 zeros	Trigintillion		Triginti-		-lliarde	Million ^30.5	= 10 ¹⁸³
The number 1 followed by 186 zeros	Untrigintillion	U.N-	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^31.0	= 10 ¹⁸⁶
The number 1 followed by 189 zeros	Lower trigintillion	U.N-	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^31.5	= 10 ¹⁸⁹
The number 1 followed by 192 zeros	Dotrigintillion or Duotrigintillion	Do- or duo	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^32.0	= 10 ¹⁹²
The number 1 followed by 195 zeros	Dotrigintilliard or Duotrigintilliard	Do- or duo	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^32.5	= 10 ¹⁹⁵
The number 1 followed by 198 zeros	Tretrigintillion	Tre-	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^33.0	= 10 ¹⁹⁸
The number 1 followed by 201 zeros	Tretrigintilliard	Tre-	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^33.5	= ^10,201
The number 1 followed by 204 zeros	Quattuortrigintillion	Quattuor	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^34.0	= 10 ²⁰⁴
The number 1 followed by 207 zeros	Quattuortrigintilliard	Quattuor	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^34.5	= 10 ²⁰⁷
The number 1 followed by 210 zeros	Quintrigintillion	Quin-	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^35.0	= 10 ²¹⁰
The number 1 followed by 213 zeros	Quintrigintilliard	Quin-	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^35.5	= 10 ²¹³
The number 1 followed by 216 zeros	Setrigintillion or sex trigintillion	Se or sex	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^36.0	= 10 ²¹⁶
The number 1 followed by 219 zeros	Setrigintillion or sex trigintillion	Se or sex	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^36.5	= 10 ²¹⁹
The number 1 followed by 222 zeros	Septentrigintillion	Septum	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^37.0	= 10 ²²²
The number 1 followed by 225 zeros	Sept trigintillion	Septum	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^37.5	= 10 ²²⁵
The number 1 followed by 228 zeros	Octotrigintillion	Octo-	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^38.0	= 10 ²²⁸
The number 1 followed by 231 zeros	Octotrigintilliard	Octo-	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^38.5	= 10 ²³¹
The number 1 followed by 234 zeros	Novemtrigintillion	November	-trigint-		-llion	Million ^39.0	= 10 ²³⁴
The number 1 followed by 237 zeros	November trigintillion	November	-trigint-		-lliarde	Million ^39.5	= 10 ²³⁷
The number 1 followed by 240 zeros	Quadragintillion		Quadraginti-		-llion	Million ^40.0	= 10 ²⁴⁰
The number 1 followed by 243 zeros	Quadragintillion		Quadraginti-		-lliarde	Million ^40.5	= 10 ²⁴³
The number 1 followed by 246 zeros	Unquadragintillion	U.N-	-quadragint-		-llion	Million ^41.0	= 10 ²⁴⁶
The number 1 followed by 249 zeros	Unquadragintilliard	U.N-	-quadragint-		-lliarde	Million ^41.5	= 10 ²⁴⁹
The number 1 followed by 252 zeros	Doquadragintillion or Duoquadragintillion	Do- or duo	-quadragint-		-llion	Million ^42.0	= 10 ²⁵²
The number 1 followed by 255 zeros	Doquadragintilliard or Duoquadragintilliard	Do- or duo	-quadragint-		-lliarde	Million ^42.5	= 10 ²⁵⁵
The number 1 followed by 258 zeros	Trequadragintillion	Tre-	-quadragint-		-llion	Million ^43.0	= 10 ²⁵⁸
The number 1 followed by 261 zeros	Trequadragintilliard	Tre-	-quadragint-		-lliarde	Million ^43.5	= 10 ²⁶¹
The number 1 followed by 264 zeros	Quattuorquadragintillion	Quattuor	-quadragint-		-llion	Million ^44.0	= 10 ²⁶⁴
The number 1 followed by 267 zeros	Quattuorquadragintilliard	Quattuor	-quadragint-		-lliarde	Million ^44.5	= 10 ²⁶⁷
The number 1 followed by 270 zeros	Quinquadragintillion	Quin-	-quadragint-		-llion	Million ^45.0	= 10 ²⁷⁰
The number 1 followed by 273 zeros	Quinquadragintilliard	Quin-	-quadragint-		-lliarde	Million ^45.5	= 10 ²⁷³
The number 1 followed by 276 zeros	Sequadragintillion or sex quadragintillion	Se or sex	-quadragint-		-llion	Million ^46.0	= 10 ²⁷⁶
The number 1 followed by 279 zeros	Sequadragintilliard or Sex Quadragintilliard	Se or sex	-quadragint-		-lliarde	Million ^46.5	= 10 ²⁷⁹
The number 1 followed by 282 zeros	Septa quadragintillion	Septum	-quadragint-		-llion	Million ^47.0	= 10 ²⁸²
The number 1 followed by 285 zeros	Septa quadragintilliard	Septum	-quadragint-		-lliarde	Million ^47.5	= 10 ²⁸⁵
The number 1 followed by 288 zeros	Octoquadragintillion	Octo-	-quadragint-		-llion	Million ^48.0	= 10 ²⁸⁸
The number 1 followed by 291 zeros	Octoquadragintilliard	Octo-	-quadragint-		-lliarde	Million ^48.5	= 10 ²⁹¹
The number 1 followed by 294 zeros	Novemquadragintillion	November	-quadragint-		-llion	Million ^49.0	= 10 ²⁹⁴
The number 1 followed by 297 zeros	Novemquadragintilliard	November	-quadragint-		-lliarde	Million ^49.5	= 10 ²⁹⁷
The number 1 followed by 300 zeros	Quinquagintillion		Quinquaginti-		-llion	Million ^50.0	= ^10,300
The number 1 followed by 303 zeros	Quinquagintilliard		Quinquaginti-		-lliarde	Million ^50.5	= 10 ³⁰³
The number 1 followed by 600 zeros	Centillion			Centi-	-llion	Million ^100.0	= 10 ⁶⁰⁰
The number 1 followed by 603 zeros	Centillion			Centi-	-lliarde	Million ^100.5	= 10 ⁶⁰³
The number 1 followed by 900 zeros	Quinquagintillion		Quinquaginti-	Centi-	-llion	Million ^150.0	= ^10,900
The number 1 followed by 903 zeros	Quinquaginti trillion		Quinquaginti-	Centi-	-lliarde	Million ^150.5	= 10 ⁹⁰³
The number 1 followed by 1200 zeros	Dozen of millions			Dozen	-llion	Million ^200.0	= 10 ¹²⁰⁰
The number 1 followed by 1203 zeros	Dozen billion			Dozen	-lliarde	Million ^200.5	= 10 ¹²⁰³

Difference between Europe and the USA

Since the 17th century there have been two different conventions for names of large numbers above the million, which also use identical number names for completely different numbers. In practice, this often leads to misunderstandings:

The original long-scale system described in this article, attested since the 15th century, is the recognized reference system. The numbers from one million onwards are called million - billion - trillion - trillion - trillion -… , whereby each number is 1000 times larger than the previous one.

In the short-scale system , the trillion is only 1,000 times a million. Then 1000 times a trillion is the trillion and so on. The prefixes correspond to the powers of the number 1000, but the Latin meaning of the prefix is always 1 less than the power: a bi llion is 1000 ³ , a tri llion 1000 ⁴ . This system became common in some countries from the 17th century .

The long-scale system was to be used consistently around the world at the suggestion of the 9th Conference of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures in 1948. After France also switched from the short-scale system that had been in use until then, the long-scale system was used throughout Europe for a short time. However, as a result of the influence of the USA and the international media, there is increasing deviation from it. Virtually all English speaking countries including the UK no longer use it; in Canada it is only used in the French-speaking part, in South Africa only by Afrikaans speakers.

The short-scale system is officially used in the United States, but is now common in the rest of the English-speaking countries. It is also used in Puerto Rico, Brazil and Turkey, although the word milyar for billion (10 ⁹ ) is firmly anchored in Turkish usage . The British English has adapted the American language. In US English there are no names ending in -arde (billion, billiard ...); they are rarely used in British English. More about the origin of this system can be found in the article Billion . Perhaps because of the possible misunderstandings, these large number names beyond the billion are also rather rare in everyday language in the English-speaking world, usually one prefers to use constructions like a thousand million millions.

Nomenclature for numbers from 1,000,000

Numerals with a value of 1,000,000 or more are named according to the system of Nicolas Chuquet according to Latin prefixes. The numerical word million is an exception . This is derived from the Latin mille (1000). The non-combination prefixes, i.e. prefixes that do not appear in combination with other prefixes (apart from the formation of prefixes with a value of over 999), are derived from Latin ordinal numbers. The combination prefixes are derived from Latin cardinal numbers.

One (non-combination prefixes):
1 - mi
2 - bi
3 - tri
4 - quadri
5 - quinti
6 - sexti
7 - septi
8 - octi
9 - noni

One (combination prefixes):
1 - un
2 - duo
3 - tre (s)
4 - quattuor
5 - quin
6 - se (x)
7 - septe (m) (n)
8 - octo
9 - nove (m) ( n)

Tens:
10 - (n) deci
20 - (m) (s) viginti
30 - (n) (s) triginta
40 - (n) (s) quadraginta
50 - (n) (s) quinquaginta
60 - (n) sexaginta
70 - (n) septuaginta
80 - (m) (x) octoginta
90 - nonaginta

Hundreds:
100 - (n) (x) (s) zenti
200 - (n) duzenti
300 - (n) (s) trezenti
400 - (n) (s) quadringenti
500 - (n) (s) quingenti
600 - ( n) seszenti
700 - (n) septingenti
800 - (m) (x) oktingenti
900 - nongenti

The prefixes can be combined in this order : ones + tens + hundreds.

For example, if a tens or hundreds prefix is preceded by an M in brackets, this means that this M should be added to the units prefix when combined with a units prefix, in which this M in brackets is also included (the bracketed M in the tens or hundreds prefix is omitted). - This also applies to all other letters in brackets.

Examples:

Tre s -zenti
Septe m -oktoginta-centi
Se x centi

In order to create a numeric word from these prefixes, the ending -llion must be added. The number formed corresponds to 10 ⁶ⁿ (n stands for the value of the prefix formed; e.g. trescenti- = 103). If you add the ending -lliarde to the prefix (according to Jacques Peletier du Mans ), the number of zeros is 3 zeros larger than the number of zeros in the numerical word with the ending -llion.

Example:

Centillion = 10 ^100⋅6 = 10 ⁶⁰⁰
Centillion = 10 ^{600 + 3}

If you use a tens prefix without combining it with a hundreds prefix, you have to replace the ending -a (if available) with -i.

Example:

Triginta → triginti- → Trigintillion (10 ^{30 * 6} = 10 ¹⁸⁰ ).

From 6000 zeros

John Horton Conway and Allan Wechsler have proposed an extension of the above system to represent a number with 6000 and more zeros:

To form the number word with the value 10 ⁶⁰⁰⁰ ,

the exponent is taken (6000),
this is divided by 6 (1000),
the quotient is divided into groups of three (1_000).
- "Mi-" is the non-combination prefix for a single 1.
- "Lli-" is the distance for the next group of three.
- “Ni-” stands for thousands (as a placeholder; if it stands alone, then without a specific number).
- "-Llion" is the ending so that the prefix becomes a number.

The numeral for 10 ⁶⁰⁰⁰ is therefore: Millinillion.

Further examples
Surname	Number of zeros	Number of zeros
Mi-lli-ni-llion	1,000 × 6	6,000
Mi-lli-ni-lli-ni-llion	1,000,000 × 6	6,000,000
Noni-lli-nove-nonaginta-nongenti-llion	9999 × 6	59,994
Okti-lli-okto-oktoginta-oktingenti-llion	8888 × 6	53,328
Quinti-lli-quin-quinquaginta-quingenti-llion	5555 × 6	33,330
Quindezi-lli-quingenti-lli-ni-lli-mi-llion	15,500,000,001 × 6	93,000,000,006

Synonyms

Sex decillion = sedezillion
Novemdezillion = Novendezillion
Quinquillion = quintillion

According to Nicolas Chuquet's system , the following prefixes can be derived from (late) Latin numerals:

18 - duodeviginti
19 - undeviginti
28 - duodetriginta
29 - undetriginta
38 - duodequadraginta
39 - undequadraginta
48 - duodequinquaginta
49 - undequinquaginta
58 - duodesexaginta
59 - undesexaginta
68 - duodeseptuaginta
69 -
78 - duodequinquaginta
- 79
- ductonaginta
89 - duodogonaginta
- 79 and 88 duodecenti
99 - undecenti

Abbreviations

The following abbreviations are valid in the German language:

Million = million
Mill. = Million / millionaire
Billion / Billion / Bill. = Billion
Bio./Bill. = Trillion
Brd./Bld. = Billiards

Compilation of the irregularities

First the hundreds, then the ones and then the tens.
The suffix “-zig” is used - and as an exception “-sig” for thirty - instead of “-teen”.
The number 10 means “ten” (instead of “only”).
The number 11 means “eleven” (instead of “oneteen”).
The number 12 means “twelve” (instead of “two”).
The number 20 means "twenty" (instead of "two").
In the case of a number composition with “one-”, the “s” is generally deleted (example “one hundred”).
In the case of a number composition with “six-”, the “s” in the two special cases “sixteen” and “sixty” is deleted and the letter combination “ch” is not spoken like “k”, but with the ego sound .
In the case of a number composition with “seven-”, the “en” is deleted in the two special cases “seventeen” and “seventy”.
Starting with the number 21, one and tens syllables are linked with “and” (example “twenty-one”).

Fractions

Fractional numbers are formed with the ordinal numbers and the suffix –el (third, quarter, fifth, etc.).

The terms one (instead of whole ) and second (instead of half ) are often only used in mathematical expressions.

Fractional numbers as adjectives can also be substantiated. Example: two twos are equal to one.

Myriads and Myriads

Myriameter stone on the old border between Austria and Venice in Pontebba

The Myriad stands for a number of 10,000 (ancient Greek μυριάς - myriás), plus the length unit Myriameter = 10,000 m. The plural myriads , on the other hand, denotes an uncountable set (μύριοι - mýrioi: innumerable, infinitely many).

Zig

The colloquial expression "zig" describes a number which - hence the term originates - from the range of numbers ending in "... zig", i.e. twenty to ninety-nine. The mostly spoken word suggests that the estimated number is subjectively perceived as high. Zig is more than about or a good dozen and less than close to a hundred.

At the beginning of the story of the famous trilogy The Lord of the Rings by the British writer JRR Tolkien , the hobbit Bilbo Baggins celebrates his fifty-first (111th) birthday.

Zillion

Due to numerical values that are no longer comprehensible , the word "zillion" was coined in English based on million, billion and probably also on number names such as decillion, undecillion, duodecillion etc., which is colloquially used for a huge but indefinite number and has no mathematical validity.

“Zillion” can be traced for the first time in 1944 with the journalist and writer Damon Runyan (1880–1946), but it can be found earlier with “Bazillion” (1939, NY Times), “Jillion” [ʤilljən] (1942) and “Squillion” (1943) ) similarly formed names for fictitious numbers of immeasurable sizes. Since then, the number of such English imaginary names, generally used jokingly or as jargon for large numbers, has increased greatly, even if none of these names has been as popular as “Zillion”. For example, there are now (in alphabetical order):

bajillion, bazillion, bizillion, brazillion (to Brazil = Brazil), dillion, fantillion, gadzillion, gagillion, gajillion, gazillion, godzillion (to Godzilla ), grillion, hojillion, jillion, kabillion, kajillion, kazadillion, kazillion robillion, skillion, squidillion, squillion, trazillion, umptillion ( umpteen = "zig").

In German, however, these terms can only be found in translations of Anglo-Saxon sources. The Donald Duck translator for Erika Fuchs , however, has Dagobert Ducks assets of 607 Tilli Onen, 386 zillion etc. and from 5 multiplujillion, impossibidillion 9, 7 fantasticatrillion and from 5 trillion quintiplitillion unptuplatillion multuplatillion impossibidillion fantasticatrillion dollars converted and with its neologisms of Fanta Tilli Arden , Fantastillions and Pimpillions reproduced.

Fictitious figures were placed in an original system, including by zoogol and gazoogol (new creations based on the the nine-year mathematician nephew Milton Sirotta coined in 1938 " googol " - so one with 100 zeros) from the Franco-American " pataphysicist " André Joyce in presentation by Michael Joseph Halm . ${\ displaystyle 10 ^ {100}}$

An allusion to the zillions is the album How to Be a… Zillionaire! from group ABC .

Web links

Wiktionary: Overview of numbers - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Number names in USA and Europe

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d The phrase "from Gothic ..." is to be understood here as a short form of "from Germanic , related to Gothic ...".
↑ Uncle Dagobert and the big numbers. In: Bild der Wissenschaft 11/2019, p. 89.
^ According to Beate Hennig: Small Middle High German Dictionary. ISBN 978-3-484-10809-7 , p. 481.
↑ Decree No. 61-501 of 3 may 1961 relatif aux units de mesure. ( Memento of July 17, 2012 in the Internet Archive ). Journal officiel du 20 may 1961, PDF (French).
↑ HANSARD 1803-2005 - Protocols of the House. December 20, 1974 (PDF). Prime Minister Wilson (in translation):
The word “billion” is now used internationally to mean 1,000 million, and it would be confusing if British ministers used it in a different sense. I accept, however, that it could still be understood as 1 million million in this country and I will ask my colleagues not to leave any doubts as to the meaning if they use it.
^ John H. Conway, Richard Guy: The Book of Numbers. Springer, 1996, pp. 13-16 (In German: John Conway , Richard K. Guy : Zahlenzauber . 1st edition. Birkhäuser, 1997, ISBN 3-7643-5244-2 . ).
↑ sexdecillion. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary.
↑ novemdecillion. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary.
↑ Duden. German universal dictionary + derivation of Latin cardinal numbers.
↑ Table of Latin numerals. At: Arndt-Bruenner.de.
↑ Duden. German universal dictionary.
↑ Michael Quinion: A Zillion Troubles. At: WorldWideWords.org. (PDF), accessed on May 31, 2010.
^ André Joyce Fan Club. At: Tripod.com. English, accessed May 31, 2010.
↑ Michael Halm: trazillion. At: Tripod.com. English, accessed on May 31, 2010. See also:
Michael Joseph Halm: Merology. © Hierogamous Enterprises and
Michael Joseph Halm: Googology. © Hierogamous Enterprises, with terms like fugagoogol, gaggoogol, megafugagoogol or megafugafour.

[got-1] The phrase "from Gothic ..." is to be understood here as a short form of "from Germanic , related to Gothic ...".

[2] Uncle Dagobert and the big numbers. In: Bild der Wissenschaft 11/2019, p. 89.

[3] According to Beate Hennig: Small Middle High German Dictionary. ISBN 978-3-484-10809-7 , p. 481.

[4] Decree No. 61-501 of 3 may 1961 relatif aux units de mesure. ( Memento of July 17, 2012 in the Internet Archive ). Journal officiel du 20 may 1961, PDF (French).

[5] HANSARD 1803-2005 - Protocols of the House. December 20, 1974 (PDF). Prime Minister Wilson (in translation):
The word “billion” is now used internationally to mean 1,000 million, and it would be confusing if British ministers used it in a different sense. I accept, however, that it could still be understood as 1 million million in this country and I will ask my colleagues not to leave any doubts as to the meaning if they use it.

[6] John H. Conway, Richard Guy: The Book of Numbers. Springer, 1996, pp. 13-16 (In German: John Conway , Richard K. Guy : Zahlenzauber . 1st edition. Birkhäuser, 1997, ISBN 3-7643-5244-2 . ).

[7] sexdecillion. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary.

[8] novemdecillion. Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary.

[9] Duden. German universal dictionary + derivation of Latin cardinal numbers.

[10] Table of Latin numerals. At: Arndt-Bruenner.de.

[11] Duden. German universal dictionary.

[12] Michael Quinion: A Zillion Troubles. At: WorldWideWords.org. (PDF), accessed on May 31, 2010.

[13] André Joyce Fan Club. At: Tripod.com. English, accessed May 31, 2010.

[14] Michael Halm: trazillion. At: Tripod.com. English, accessed on May 31, 2010. See also:
Michael Joseph Halm: Merology. © Hierogamous Enterprises and
Michael Joseph Halm: Googology. © Hierogamous Enterprises, with terms like fugagoogol, gaggoogol, megafugagoogol or megafugafour.