Short scale vs long scale number names
Modern English and Arabic use the short scale, while French, German and Spanish use the long scale, so billion means different things.
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How to use it
- Enter number name.
- The result appears straight away and updates as you edit.
- Copy the result, or copy a link that keeps the same values to share it.
How it is calculated
In the short scale the n-th name is 10^(3n+3); in the long scale it is 10^(6n), with n = 1 for million, 2 for billion, 3 for trillion. The long scale calls 10^(6n+3) an -illiard, such as milliard.
Example
Inputs: Number name = Billion. Result: Value in the short scale: 10⁹; Long-scale name for the short-scale value: milliard; Short-scale name for the long-scale value: trillion.
Limits and caveats
- Arabic names past trillion are transliterations and rarely used.
- In some older Arabic texts بليون means 10¹² on the long scale, so check the context.
Questions about this tool
Is a milliard the same as a billion?
In the short scale used by modern English and Arabic, a billion is 10⁹, the same as a milliard. In the long scale a billion is 10¹².
Why do numbers change when translating French milliard?
French milliard equals English billion (10⁹), and French billion equals English trillion (10¹²).
When did Britain switch to the short scale?
The British government officially adopted the short scale in 1974, and it is now standard in English.