British people use multiple words to say zero, depending on the context. The most common are "zero," "nil," and "nought."
Common Ways to Say Zero in British English
Here's a breakdown of how British people might say zero in different situations:
- Zero: This is the most universally understood term, similar to its use in American English, and is used in many contexts such as mathematics, science, and general counting.
- Nil: In the context of sports scores, "nil" is the standard way of saying zero. For example, a football score of 2-0 would be "two-nil." According to the reference video, the phrase "nil n nil" is used.
- Nought: While not as common as "zero" in many contexts, "nought" is still used, particularly in mathematics, and when referring to the number specifically, or in contexts such as phone numbers.
Examples
Here are some practical examples:
| Context | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sports scores | Nil | The score was two-nil. |
| Mathematics | Zero/Nought | The answer is zero. / The temperature is below nought. |
| General counting | Zero | There are zero items left. |
| When specifically referring to the number zero | Zero/Nought | The number is nought/zero. |
Choosing the Right Word
The choice between "zero," "nil," and "nought" mostly depends on the context, as outlined above. Using "nil" for sports scores and "zero" or "nought" for mathematical or general scenarios is essential for sounding natural in British English.
