Pronunciation: [bˈɪli͡ən] (IPA) 
The word "billion" is spelled with two /l/ sounds. The first syllable "bil" is pronounced /ˈbɪl/, with a short "i" sound and a clear /l/ sound. The second syllable "lion" is pronounced /ˈlaɪən/, with a long "i" sound followed by a schwa sound and a final /n/ sound. This spelling is consistent with English conventions, which often use double letters to indicate the vowel sound is short, as in "mammal" or "fellow".
Billion is a number with the numerical representation of 1, followed by nine zeros, denoted as 1,000,000,000. It is a cardinal number that falls within the numerical system of millions and trillions. The term "billion" originates from the French word "bi-" meaning two and "-illion" referring to the Latin term "mil" or thousand. Hence, "billion" loosely translates to two multiplied by a million.
In modern usage, "billion" universally refers to one thousand million, especially in countries that adopt the short scale numerical system. Conversely, some countries, notably those that use the long scale system, interpret "billion" as one million million or 1,000,000,000,000. It is vital to consider the local context when interpreting the term.
The word "billion" has widespread application in various fields, including economics, astronomy, and demographics. Economically, it signifies a considerable sum or value, often associated with monetary figures, wealth, and large-scale financial transactions. In astronomy, "billion" is used to convey large numerical values in the study of celestial distances, masses, or cosmic events. Furthermore, in demographics or population studies, it can represent the approximate number of one billion individuals.
In summary, "billion" denotes the number 1,000,000,000 and is commonly used to express significant quantities, monetary figures, astronomical measurements, and demographic estimations. However, its interpretation may differ depending on the numerical system employed in a specific country or context.
A million of millions.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "billion" has its origins in French. It was coined in the 17th century by French mathematician Nicolas Chuquet and later popularized by French mathematician and astronomer Étienne de Silhouette.
In French, the word "billion" initially referred to a million million (1,000,000,000,000 or 10^12), which is also known as a "trillion" in the United States. This usage of the word "billion" in French still persists in some countries today, such as France and Belgium.
However, in the 19th century, English-speaking countries adopted a different system where "billion" denotes a thousand million (1,000,000,000 or 10^9). This difference in meaning between the French and English usage of "billion" caused some confusion, particularly in international contexts.
