---
name: "number"
section: "6"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/number"
---

# number(6)

convert Arabic numerals to English

## NAME

**number** – convert Arabic numerals to English

## SYNOPSIS

**number** \[**-l**\] \[*#* *...*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **number** utility prints the English equivalent of the number to the standard output, with each 10^3 magnitude displayed on a separate line. If no argument is specified, **number** reads lines from the standard input.

The options are as follows:

- **-l**

  Display the number on a single line.

## BUGS

Although **number** understand fractions, it does not understand exponents.