How Number Names Differ Across Languages (English, European, East Asian)

The way we count large numbers differs greatly across languages and cultures.

In East Asian systems, numbers are grouped by ten-thousands (10^4), whereas in English they are grouped by thousands (10^3).

Here’s how large numbers are named in multiple languages.

　

　

In continental European languages such as German, French, and Italian, the long scale is used. In this system, 10^9 is expressed as Milliarde / milliard / miliardo rather than billion, because in the long scale the word billion is reserved for 10^12.

　
The UK is said to have officially adopted the short scale in 1974, and today both British and American English use trillion = 10^12. Germany, France, and Italy, however, are still considered to officially retain the long scale in their national standards.

• English (short scale): trillion = 10^12
• German (long scale): Billion = 10^12
• French (long scale): billion = 10^12
• Italian (long scale): bilione (traditional) / trilione (modern) = 10^12

　

The way we name numbers reflects not only mathematics but also cultural history.

　

　

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