In the USA, zero is commonly called zero, nought, and naught.
Here's a breakdown of common names for the number 0 in English, based on the provided reference:
| Name | Usage in the USA |
|---|---|
| Zero | Common |
| Nought | Less Common |
| Naught | Less Common |
| Nil | Less Common |
While the primary term is "zero," other names such as "nought" and "naught" are also used, although less frequently. The term "nil" is often encountered in the context of sports scores but is not a common general-purpose name for the number zero in the USA.
Practical Insights:
- Zero: This is the most common and universally understood term for the numerical value.
- Nought/Naught: These terms are less commonly used in everyday American English. They are more likely to be heard in British English or in older texts.
- Nil: This is usually reserved for very specific contexts, such as scores in sports games. It is not as commonly used to refer to zero in regular mathematical contexts.
Examples:
- "The temperature is zero degrees Celsius."
- "The final score was two to nought." (Though this is more common outside of the USA)
- "The experiment yielded naught." (Less common in the USA)
In summary, while other terms exist, "zero" is the predominant name for the number 0 in the USA.
