Maths
Number Names
Learning Objectives
- Write numbers 1 to 50 as words (number names).
- Match a number to its word name.
- Read number names and write the correct numeral.
- Spell number names correctly.
- Use number names in simple sentences.
Let Us Begin!
Sita has 5 apples. We write the number as 5. We can also write it as a word: five. Every number has a name!
When we write a cheque at the bank, we write the amount in words. When we read a storybook, numbers are written as words. Learning number names helps us read and write numbers in both ways.
Numbers 1 to 10 and Their Names
| Number | Name | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | one | 6 | six |
| 2 | two | 7 | seven |
| 3 | three | 8 | eight |
| 4 | four | 9 | nine |
| 5 | five | 10 | ten |
These 10 names are special — you must learn them by heart! They do not follow any pattern.
Numbers 11 to 20 and Their Names
| Number | Name | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | eleven | 16 | sixteen |
| 12 | twelve | 17 | seventeen |
| 13 | thirteen | 18 | eighteen |
| 14 | fourteen | 19 | nineteen |
| 15 | fifteen | 20 | twenty |
Notice: eleven and twelve are special names. Thirteen to nineteen all end in "-teen". That is why we call them "teen numbers"!
Tens: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50
These are the "round" numbers — they end in zero. Learn their names:
| Number | Name | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | ten | 40 | forty |
| 20 | twenty | 50 | fifty |
| 30 | thirty |
Be careful! It is "forty" (NOT "fourty"). This is a common spelling mistake!
Numbers 21 to 50 — How to Write Their Names
For numbers 21 to 50, we combine the tens name and the ones name with a hyphen:
Pattern: Tens name + hyphen + ones name
21 = twenty-one 22 = twenty-two 23 = twenty-three
34 = thirty-four 45 = forty-five 50 = fifty
21 = twenty-one 22 = twenty-two 23 = twenty-three
34 = thirty-four 45 = forty-five 50 = fifty
Step-by-step worked example:
Write the number name of 37:
Step 1: The tens digit is 3 → thirty
Step 2: The ones digit is 7 → seven
Step 3: Combine: thirty-seven
Step 1: The tens digit is 3 → thirty
Step 2: The ones digit is 7 → seven
Step 3: Combine: thirty-seven
Write the number name of 48:
Step 1: The tens digit is 4 → forty
Step 2: The ones digit is 8 → eight
Step 3: Combine: forty-eight
Step 1: The tens digit is 4 → forty
Step 2: The ones digit is 8 → eight
Step 3: Combine: forty-eight
| Number | Name | Number | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | twenty-one | 36 | thirty-six |
| 25 | twenty-five | 42 | forty-two |
| 29 | twenty-nine | 47 | forty-seven |
| 30 | thirty | 50 | fifty |
Number Names in Daily Life
We use number names every day! Here are some examples from Indian life:
- Ravi has twelve colour pencils in his box.
- Meena's mother gave her twenty rupees to buy a notebook.
- There are thirty-five students in Arjun's class.
- Sita read fourteen pages of her storybook today.
- The bus number is forty-two.
Key Words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Number | A symbol we use to count: 1, 2, 3... |
| Number name | The word form of a number: one, two, three... |
| Numeral | The digit form of a number: 1, 2, 3... |
| Word form | Writing a number using letters, not digits |
| Hyphen (-) | The small line used between tens and ones names (twenty-one) |
⭐ Key Points to Remember
- Every number has a name written in words.
- Numbers 1 to 12 have special names — learn them by heart.
- Numbers 13 to 19 end in "-teen" (thirteen, fourteen...).
- Tens names: ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty.
- For 21–50, combine tens name + ones name with a hyphen.
- Spelling tip: It is "forty" (not "fourty") and "eight" (not "eigth").
- Always start with a capital letter when writing a number name at the start of a sentence.
Practice Questions
A. Fill in the Blanks
1. The number name of 7 is .
2. The number for "fifteen" is .
3. The number name of 12 is .
4. The number for "nineteen" is .
5. The number name of 20 is .
6. The number name of 34 is .
7. The number for "forty-six" is .
8. The number name of 50 is .
9. The number for "twenty-eight" is .
10. The number name of 11 is .
B. Choose the Correct Answer
1. What is the number name of 13?
2. Which number is "eleven"?
3. What is the number name of 18?
4. Which is the correct spelling?
5. What is the number for "thirty-nine"?
C. Short Answer
1. Write the number names for 4, 9, 16, and 25.
2. Arjun has fourteen pencils. Write 14 in words.
3. Write the numbers for: six, twelve, seventeen, forty-three.
4. Meena's mother gave her ₹35. Write thirty-five in numeral form.
5. Write a sentence using the number name "twenty-two".
D. True or False
1. The number name of 15 is "fiveteen".
2. "Twelve" means 12.
3. Numbers 13 to 19 all end in "-teen".
4. The correct spelling is "fourty".
5. "Twenty-five" means 25.
E. Match the Following
| Column A (Number) | Column B (Name) |
|---|---|
| 1. 14 | (a) thirty-two |
| 2. 32 | (b) eleven |
| 3. 11 | (c) forty-five |
| 4. 45 | (d) fourteen |
| 5. 50 | (e) fifty |
🎨 Activity: Number Name Sentences
Write 5 sentences about your school or family using number names. Here are some ideas:
- "I have six crayons in my pencil box."
- "My school has forty classrooms."
- "There are twelve months in a year."
Now write your own sentences!
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