Slang – Zillion.
An extremely large number. A zillion isn’t a real number – it’s a vague, made-up way of saying “a huge amount”, usually as an exaggeration.
Zillion rhymes with million, billion and trillion – which are real (and very large) numbers. We usually say a zillion or zillions of: “There were zillions of people at the concert.”
More Made-Up Big Numbers:
- Bazillion
- Gazillion
- Jillion
- Kajillion
- Squillion – especially popular in British and Australian English.
Related Articles:
- Everything but the kitchen sink (idiom) – almost everything imaginable.
- Learn how to use numbers in English
- Humongous (slang) – very big.
Example:
- “He’s such a shopaholic. He must have bought a zillion things today!”
In the News
Spotted in the newsFlea on Super Bowl halftime shows: “There [are] a zillion things that could go wrong and ruin the sound…”sports.yahoo.comWhat is slang?
Slang is very informal language. It’s usually spoken rather than written, and is often used by a particular group of people or in a particular place. Slang changes over time, and using it well is a great way to sound more natural when speaking English.
Frequently Asked Questions
An extremely large but unspecified number. It is not a real number.
No. It is informal slang used to exaggerate, like “gazillion” or “squillion”.
Test Yourself
What is FunkyEnglish?
FunkyEnglish is a website that helps you improve your English. We offer quick lessons that teach idioms, slang, phrasal verbs and more. Visit our homepage to see our latest articles, or use the menu to find specific content!
