Work through the examples below, then open Fraction Calculator to check your own numbers and practice the skill.
The numerator and denominator
A fraction such as 3/5 contains a numerator (3) above the line and a denominator (5) below it. The denominator names how many equal parts make one whole. The numerator counts how many parts you have.
Read common denominators using familiar words: halves (2), thirds (3), quarters or fourths (4), fifths (5), eighths (8), and tenths (10). When the numerator is greater than one, the denominator name is usually plural.
Pronunciation chart
| Fraction | How to read it |
|---|---|
| 1/2 | One half |
| 2/3 | Two thirds |
| 3/4 | Three quarters |
| 5/8 | Five eighths |
| 7/10 | Seven tenths |
| 11/100 | Eleven hundredths |
In technical instructions you may also hear “three over four,” especially when reading an equation aloud. In school explanations, “three quarters” describes the part-of-a-whole meaning more clearly.
Reading improper fractions and mixed numbers
An improper fraction has a numerator at least as large as its denominator. Read 7/4 as “seven quarters.” Since 7 ÷ 4 = 1 remainder 3, it can also be written 1 3/4, read “one and three quarters.”
For mixed numbers, say the whole part, then “and,” then the fraction: 2 1/4 is “two and one quarter.” In mathematical writing, 2 1/4 is not the same as 21/4.
Fractions, decimals and percentages
Many common fractions have familiar decimal forms: 1/2 = 0.5 = 50%; 1/4 = 0.25 = 25%; 3/4 = 0.75 = 75%; and 1/8 = 0.125 = 12.5%.
Others repeat: 1/3 = 0.333… . The dots mean the 3 continues indefinitely; it is not exactly 0.33. Keep the fraction when an exact value is needed, and only round at the final step.
Practice with answers
Read these aloud: 4/7, 9/2 and 3 2/5. Convert 9/2 to a mixed number.
Answers: “Four sevenths,” “nine halves,” and “three and two fifths.” Since 9 ÷ 2 = 4 remainder 1, 9/2 = 4 1/2. Check equivalent fractions using the Fraction Calculator.
Mistakes to avoid
A denominator represents equal parts, not the number of items being counted in a different-sized whole. Also be careful with arithmetic: 1/2 + 1/3 does not equal 2/5; first use a common denominator, 3/6 + 2/6 = 5/6. Practice the rules separately from pronunciation.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say 1/2?
“One half,” or simply “a half” in normal speech.
How do you read 5/4?
“Five quarters” or “five fourths.” It is also one and one quarter.
What is a mixed number?
A mixed number combines a whole number and a proper fraction, such as 2 1/4, read as “two and one quarter.”
Use Fraction Calculator to verify a new example, then try the related practice activities.