How to say "0" in English

Counting numbers is one of the first lessons you learn when learning a new language. Most of the time, the counting starts from the number "1", however, the number “0” is also important. Unlike the other numbers in the English language, it has several words to describe it.

To help you use the best word in the right context, here’s a quick and easy guide on how to say "0" in English:

When to say “oh”

• In spoken English, the number “0” is often read as the letter "o", often spelled “oh”. This is especially true when “0” is included with a list of other numbers. This is most commonly used with phone numbers.

Example:
The number 0198 is pronounced; “oh one nine eight”

In the James Bond films, his agent name is “007”, which is pronounced “double “oh” seven.”

• The letter "o" ("oh") is also used in spoken English as the name of the number 0 when saying times in the 24 hour clock.

  

Example:
Let’s meet at 08:00 hours is said; lets meet at "oh eight hundred hours”

When to say “zero”

• "Zero" is a word mostly used in math and science. (When you are measuring something) If you are a fan of science like Chase, you will probably find yourself using this word quite a bit!

Example:

"Visitors train with Space Adventures for several months before spending a few days in zero gravity."

"The temperature today is below zero degrees."

When to say "nought"

Nought is very similar to the word "zero"  and is another mathematical word for "0". It is mostly used in American English. It is often said when talking about percentages.

You may have  heard of the game "noughts and crosses". This is a game in which the players try to make a line of three noughts or crosses between vertical and horizontal lines.

Example:

The sentence "There is a 0.5% chance of rain today" would be pronounced as "there is a nought point five percent chance of rain today"

"To win the game noughts and crosses, you ned to get three noughts in a row.

When to say “nil”

• "Nil "means “nothing” or a “quality of no importance”.  In the UK, “nil” is used to describe scores.

Example:

Leyton Orient won last week’s football match against York City by “two goals to nil”.

I hope that this has given you a clearer guide on how to say "0" in English. If you need more help, try these exercises to help you practice: 

The final score was five - _________ to Manchester United

“We are staing in hotel room 503…..” (Spoken)

There is ________ chance of rain today.

I can count in Spanish from ________ to twenty

My great grandmother was born in 1907. (Spoken)

The exact figure is _____.75%

Find the answers in our English activities answer key and see how you did!