I am a mathematics educator from Lithuania and I have recently realized that there is no separate word in our language for the word "numeral". To be more precise there is no term to describe the collection of symbols that uniquely identify a number. We only teach children the difference between a digit and a number. I believe that for this lack of terminology children are very likely to believe that a number is nothing more than a scribble on a piece of paper.
I have checked that in the English language the word "numeral" is used in two contexts:
- In linguistics to mean
a numeral (or number word) in the broadest sense is a word or phrase that describes a numerical quantity. Wikipedia on "Numeral" in linguistics
- In mathematics to mean a collection of symbols to uniquely identify a number. Wikipedia on Numeral system
My question: in your country and language, is there a dedicated word to express the idea "a collection of symbols to uniquely identify a number"? If so, could you please write that word and also add whether it differs from the word the linguists use to mean "a word that describes a numerical quantity"? If the answer is no, it would still be interesting to hear it.