Translation of milliard

Robert F.C1Kwiziq community member

Translation of milliard

Until 1974 the English of translation of 'un milliard' would have been one thousand million (otherwise known in English as 'a milliard'), an English billion being one million million. The Americans being more inclined to exaggeration used Billion to mean 1,000 million, this has now been generally accepted throughout the world. see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billion for more background

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Robert, 

In France, 1 milliard has 9 zeros -

1 000 000 000

which I believe is the equivalent to a UK billion, nowadays.

See the article I found which reiterates this -

http://www.plainenglish.co.uk/campaigning/past-campaigns/budget/how-much-is-a-billion.html

 

Elizabeth B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

The Plain English article actually states that the UK government now uses the American version of billion. So I think that, at the very least, the lesson should provide the figure alongside the word, to avoid confusion. Especially as there are other lessons where US English has been used e.g. I live on rue Pasteur (British English is I live in rue Pasteur), and center rather than centre.

Elizabeth B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

The Plain English article actually states that the UK government now uses the American version of billion. So I think that, at the very least, the lesson should provide the figure alongside the word, to avoid confusion. Especially as there are other lessons where US English has been used e.g. I live on rue Pasteur (British English is I live in rue Pasteur), and center rather than centre.

Robert F. asked:

Translation of milliard

Until 1974 the English of translation of 'un milliard' would have been one thousand million (otherwise known in English as 'a milliard'), an English billion being one million million. The Americans being more inclined to exaggeration used Billion to mean 1,000 million, this has now been generally accepted throughout the world. see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billion for more background

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