How Do Americans Say Numbers (in terms of money)?

[Sir Topham Hatt]

Had a discussion today at work.

 

I am aware a lot of Americans say "twenty five hundred" meaning 2500 - "two thousand five hundred" but is that only used when the thousand has numbers with it?  As in, 2100, 2200 but not when you want to say the number 2000?  Because you can't say "twenty hundred" surely? 😛

 

Further more, when do Americans start using "thousand" ?

Will someone say "ninety five hundred" meaning 9500 - nine thousand five hundred?

Or is the change over between "hundred" (when describing numbers in the thousand range) and "thousand" set at a lower value?

And why do Americans not use "thousand" for lower values, like 2500?

 

Hope I've been able to explain this enough to understand?

[+BudMan MVC]

You would say 10 thousand, and anything over that would be whatever thousand.

 

like 2500?  What would you say 2.5 thousand? Or 2000 and 500 hundred.. that is longer to say and 2.5 thousand sounds weird But if like 2000 you might say 2 grand, or if 20000 you might say 20 grand.  But that is when specifically talking about money..   You wouldn't say for example I had 20 grand of bricks delivered unless you were talking about how much they cost.  Not the actual number of bricks.  K is used as well,  Cost me 2 k to get my car fixed, etc.

 

Only when you get into the millions would you say that like 1.2 million.

[cork1958]

As far as a dollar amount like $2500, I would usually say 2 thousand 500. Helps to clarify when talking to someone else, IMO, especially when talking to a younger person. They tend to look at you like what the heck is 25 hundred!

[Jim K Global Moderator]

Yeah, 2000, 3000, 4000, etc is # thousand

 

2500 is 25 hundred.

 

Some random number like 2543, I would say twenty-five hundred and forty three.  But, 2003 would be two thousand and three.  

 

11500 ... Eleven thousand and five hundred

 

11534 ... Eleven thousand, five hundred and thirty four.

 

Guess it depends on what pops out of the mouth.  

[Jason S. Global Moderator]

for me, it's all about how it rolls off my tongue. i wouldnt say "10 hundred" for 1000, but i would say "11 hundred" for 1100. It's just faster and more casual to say something like "twenty five hundred" instead of "two thousand, five hundred."

 

that said, if i were trying to emphasize an amount, especially w/ currency, i would be more likely to sound out the entire amount.