How to Say "Decimal Point" in Russian

десятичная запятая

desyatichnaya zapyataya

The English phrase 'decimal point' is translated into Russian as десятичная запятая (desyatichnaya zapyataya).

Meaning: the point used in English mathematics (noun)

What does it mean word for word?

The phrase десятичная запятая literally translates to 'decimal comma'.

While English uses a dot (decimal point), Russian uses a comma to separate the integer part from the fractional part of a number.

desyatichnaya zapyataya

English speakers often mistakenly say десятичная точка (decimal point) instead of the standard десятичная запятая (decimal comma).

While Russia uses the запятая for decimals, it uses a space or a dot as a thousands separator, which is the opposite of the US system.
The Russian word for comma запятая comes from a root meaning 'to stretch' or 'to tie together'.
Because Russian uses a comma, a single number like 1,5 can look like a list of two separate numbers to an English speaker. This can lead to major confusion in handwritten recipes or technical manuals.

Для числа 3.14 значение целой части равно 3, а значение десятичной части – 14 сотых. Десятичный разделитель – точка.
For the number 3.14, the value of the whole part is 3, and the value of the decimal part is 14 hundredths. The decimal point is represented by a dot.
Пожалуйста, запишите число 0.5 с использованием десятичной точки.
Please write the number 0.5 using a decimal point.
Цена товара составляет 29,99 рублей.
The price of the product is 29.99 rubles.
Средняя температура воздуха составила -7,2°C.
The average air temperature was -7.2°C.
В этом числе десятичная запятая стоит после единицы.
V etom chisle desyatichnaya zapyataya stoit posle yedinitsy.
In this number, the decimal point is after the one.
Забытая десятичная запятая может изменить результат.
Zabytaya desyatichnaya zapyataya mozhet izmenit' rezul'tat.
A forgotten decimal point can change the result.
Где в этом числе десятичная запятая?
Gde v etom chisle desyatichnaya zapyataya?
Where is the decimal point in this number?

Sources

⭐Share⭐ to appreciate human effort 🙏