Numbers in English: alternative names for “0”, other than zero
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When you start learning the numbers in English, you learn that “0” is zero, which is completely correct. However, we also have more names for this number, in certain situations. Read on, to find out more.
1. Phone Numbers
As part of a phone number, we say 0 literally the same as the letter “o”, instead of zero.
What’s your number?
o, seven, six, five, o, three, five, four….
2. Decimal Numbers
When we use decimal numbers, we say 0 as nought.
0.1 — nought point one
0.05 — nought point nought five
*Nought is pronounced like bought.
3. Sport
When the score is 0 in a football match, we say nil.
Score: 1–0
The score is one-nil
Note: this sometimes changes in different types of sport. In tennis, a score of 0 is called “love”.
I’m Mary, a British online English language tutor for adult learners.
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