Numbers in words: ten thousands, hundred thousands and billions

Build and read big numbers: five-digit numbers, a hundred thousand, and numbers past the million.

📖 Start here: read the steps of the “Lesson” in order (1, 2, 3 …) and answer each question. Then continue with “Practice”.

  • UK: Year 5
  • France: grade 4
  • Germany: grade 3
  • Iran: grade 4
  • Afghanistan: grade 3
  • Palestine: grade 3
Guide

Big numbers are read in groups of three digits. The ones group, the thousands group and the million group, then the billion group.

In 23 506 the 2 is 2 ten thousands and the 3 is 3 thousands. We say: twenty-three thousand, five hundred and six.

If a place has nothing, we write 0 so that every digit stays in its own place. 23 506 has 0 tens.

Ten ten-thousands make one hundred thousand: 100 000. A thousand millions make a billion.