5 Best Ways to Convert Integers to English Words in Python Programming

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💡 Problem Formulation: Converting integers into their corresponding English words is a common task in natural language processing. For instance, the input 123 should be translated to the output “one hundred twenty-three”. This article provides five different Python methods to tackle the challenge, highlighting the usefulness of each method in varying scenarios.

Method 1: Using the ‘num2words’ Package

This method employs the ‘num2words’ package, which can convert numbers into words in various languages, including English. The package provides a function num2words() that takes an integer as an argument and returns the corresponding word representation as a string. This method is self-contained and supports a wide range of numbers gracefully.

Here’s an example:

from num2words import num2words

print(num2words(305))

Output: “three hundred and five”

This code snippet imports the num2words function from the ‘num2words’ package and then prints the word representation of the integer 305. The package handles the conversion logic, making it a user-friendly option for quick and reliable translations from integers to words.

Method 2: Using ‘inflect’ Library

The ‘inflect’ library is capable of generating plurals, singular nouns, ordinals, indefinite articles, and converting numbers to words. The function number_to_words() from the ‘inflect’ library is specifically designed to perform the integer to words conversion efficiently.

Here’s an example:

import inflect

p = inflect.engine()
print(p.number_to_words(42))

Output: “forty-two”

The snippet above first creates an engine object from the inflect library and then uses the number_to_words() method to convert the integer 42 into its word form. This library is versatile but might be overkill if the only requirement is to convert numbers to words.

Method 3: Utilizing Python’s ‘Humanize’ Module

The ‘Humanize’ module is designed to make numbers more readable and human-friendly. It includes the intword() function that converts large integers to a human-readable format, making it ideal for dealing with large numbers.

Here’s an example:

import humanize

print(humanize.intword(1000000))

Output: “1.0 million”

This piece of code uses the intword() function to convert the integer 1000000 to a string that is easier for humans to read. While it simplifies large numbers to a compact form, it may not precisely follow the standard English words for every integer within the range.

Method 4: Writing a Custom Function

For those who require a more tailored solution, writing a custom function to convert integers to words can be the best approach. This custom function uses standard Python structures and logic to parse and translate integers based on English language rules.

Here’s an example:

def int_to_en(num):
    # A dictionary of unique numbers to words mapping
    num_to_words = {0: "zero", 1: "one", 2: "two"}
    # Assuming we have full mapping in the dictionary
    return num_to_words[num]

print(int_to_en(2))

Output: “two”

This short piece of code defines a function int_to_en() that uses a pre-defined dictionary mapping integers to their word counterparts. The function simply looks up the integer in the dictionary and returns the word. While effective for small numbers, this approach can become cumbersome without expanding the dictionary for more comprehensive coverage.

Bonus One-Liner Method 5: Using ‘int2words’ Lambda Function

If the situation calls for a lightweight and cool one-liner, a Python lambda function combined with a mapping dictionary can be a nifty way to perform the conversion from integers to words.

Here’s an example:

int2words = lambda n: {1: 'one', 2: 'two', 3: 'three'}.get(n, 'Number out of range')
print(int2words(3))

Output: “three”

The above one-liner defines a lambda function named int2words that utilizes the get method from a dictionary to translate a numeric input to its corresponding word. This simple approach is elegant for a small set of numbers but is not scalable for larger ranges.

Summary/Discussion

  • Method 1: ‘num2words’ Package. A comprehensive solution for a variety of languages and number formats. Not part of Python’s standard library, thus requires installation.
  • Method 2: ‘inflect’ Library. Versatile in handling plurals, ordinals, and number words. Includes additional grammatical capabilities that may be unnecessary for simple number-word conversions.
  • Method 3: ‘Humanize’ Module. Simplifies the representation of large numbers and makes it more readable for humans. May not provide a verbatim English word for every possible number.
  • Method 4: Custom Function. Fully customizable which can be adapted to specific needs. Requires manual setup and maintenance for a complete number to word mapping.
  • Bonus Method 5: ‘int2words’ Lambda Function. Quick and slick for limited cases. Impractical for a full integer range and lacks flexibility.