Learn by heart how to read prices in English for better communication

Each country uses different currency units and the value of each currency also varies considerably. Therefore, have you fully grasped the proper rules for pronouncing prices in English yet? PREP will compile the techniques for stating numbers in English to help you communicate more effectively in the article below! Please check it out!

I. The importance of knowing how to say prices in English

Money is a topic that frequently comes up in our daily interactions. Mastering how to properly pronounce monetary amounts will help you communicate more naturally in many situations, such as when using food and beverage services, conducting leisure activities, exchanging information at work (especially in business fields), and more. 

Furthermore, money-related information often appears in the IELTS Listening Part 1 test, requiring candidates to comprehend and provide answers regarding numbers and prices in English. Hence, memorizing how to read prices in English will enhance not just your success in achieving a high band score in the Listening test but also your overall communication proficiency.

II. Common currency units and other vocabulary

Before learning how to read prices in English, students should strengthen some foundational knowledge regarding common monetary units as well as vocabulary for discussing money in English. Please refer to the tables below!

1. Common currency units 

2. Common English vocabulary related to money

III. How to write the monetary amount in English 

Before learning how to read monetary amounts in English, let’s dive into how to write numbers first! Having a clear grasp of writing methods will also support you in completing English Writing and Listening tasks related to prices more accurately!

IV. How to read prices in English

Here are the specific ways to pronounce prices in English. Mastering them will allow you to communicate with greater confidence. 

The first rule you need to remember is: add an "s" after the currency unit if the amount is greater than one. For example:

• $48: Forty-eight dollars
• £60: Sixty pounds 

It's important to note that the first rule only applies to some specific currency units below:

This rule does not apply to currency units such as Vietnam dong, Japanese yen or Chinese yuan.

1. Fixed amount of money

1.1. Integer amount

To read an integer amount, we read it like a cardinal number and then add the currency unit after it. For example:

• $500: “five hundred dollars”
• $123,456: “one hundred twenty-three thousand, four hundred and fifty-six dollars”
• 5000 VND: “five thousand Vietnamese dong” 

“One” is replaceable by “a”. For example:

• 125€ – A (one)  hundred and twenty-five euros. 
• 156¥ - A (one) hundred and fifty-six yuan.

1.2. Decimal number 

• To read prices with decimals, follow the typical way of reading decimal numbers. Then add the currency unit at the end or, more commonly, read the whole number portion followed by the currency unit + "and" + decimal portion + smaller currency unit. For example: $47.90: Forty-seven point nine dollars/ Forty-seven dollars and ninety cents. 
• Some special cases in reading monetary amounts with decimals that students should well understand: 

2. Reading method for the unclear monetary amount in English with “thousands of + dollar” and “millions of + currency”

V. Reading method for prices in English with common currency units 

For each individual currency unit, the reading method still follows general pronunciation rules, only differing in the currency term used. Below are some specific examples of how to read commonly used currency denominations that may be helpful for you to reference:

1. USD

USD is the currency of the United States, referred to as "dollar". The method for pronouncing USD prices follows the above rules for reading integer amounts and decimal amounts. For example:

• 598 USD ($598): Five hundred and ninety-eight dollars.
• 47.82 USD ($47.82): Forty-seven dollars and eighty-two cents

2. Euro

In European countries, amounts less than 1 EURO are referred to as "euro cent". For example:

• 52.93€: fifty two euros and ninety three cents or fifty two euros ninety-three. 
• 36.47€: Thirty-six euros and forty-seven cents or thirty-six euros forty-seven.

3. Pound

The currency unit in the UK is the pound sterling. If an amount is less than 1 pound, then pence - abbreviated as p and pronounced /pens/ - are used. For example:

• £140.25: One hundred and forty pounds and twenty-five pences.
• £85.60: Eighty-five pounds and sixty pence.

VI. Exercises on how to read prices in English (with answers)

Below are some practice exercises. Let’s check them out!

1. Write the transcription of the following prices in English

• 3,999,000 USD
• £98,000
• $2
• €8
• 6,394,836,000 CHF
• ¥83
• ¥741,596,648,000 
• ¥51,492,439,000 
• $4,258,000

Keys:

• Three million nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand US dollars.
• Ninety-eight thousand British pounds.
• Two dollars.
• Eight euros.
• Six billion three hundred and ninety-four million eight hundred and thirty-six thousand Swiss francs.
• Eighty-three yen.
• Seven hundred and forty-one billion five hundred and ninety-six million six hundred and forty-eight thousand Chinese yuans.
• Fifty-one billion four hundred and ninety-two million four hundred and thirty-nine thousand yen.
• Four million two hundred and fifty-eight thousand dollars.

2. Listening practice exercises on prices in English

To enhance listening speed, information retention, and the pronunciation of prices, test-takers should spend more time on listening practice. You can practice exercises involving dialogues that mention money in everyday context like supermarkets or stores or familiarizing yourself with IELTS Listening Part 1 tasks: completing price-related information. Remember to practice this section using comprehensive test questions and a detailed answer bank provided in PREP's Test Practice question bank!

VII. Start Your IELTS Journey 

These methods for reading prices in English have been compiled by PREP and if you want to learn the secrets to IELTS success? Explore these powerful resources :

• IELTS english language course: Mastering IELTS exam from zero to hero