Home ❯ All Definitions ❯ Unit ❯ Kilo (k) Unit Definition
Kilo (k) Unit Definition
Kilo is a decimal SI unit prefix in the metric system denoting multiplication by one thousand (103). The prefix kilo is derived from the Greek word chilioi (χίλιοι), meaning thousand. It is represented by the prefix kilo or the symbol k.
Overview
It was originally adopted by Antoine Lavoisier's research group in 1795 and introduced into the metric system in France with its establishment in 1799. In 19th century English it was sometimes spelled chilio, in line with a puristic opinion by Thomas Young.
Examples
1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 grams (g)
1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m)
1 kilojoule (kJ) = 1000 joules (J)
1 kiloliter (kL) = 1000 liters (L)
1 kilobaud (kBd) = 1000 baud (Bd)
1 kilohertz (kHz) = 1000 hertz (Hz)
1 kilobit (kb) = 1000 bits (b)
1 kilobyte (kB) = 1000 bytes (B)
1 kiloohm is (kΩ) = 1000 ohms (Ω)
1 kilosecond (ks) = 1000 seconds (s)
By extension, currencies are also sometimes preceded by the prefix kilo:
1 kiloeuro (k€) = 1000 euros
1 kilodollar (k$) = 1000 dollars
SI Prefixes
Here is a table of the SI prefixes and some of their properties:
Name & Symbol |
Base 10 |
Decimal |
English Word |
Adoption |
|
Short Scale |
Long Scale |
||||
Quetta (Q) | 1030 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Nonillion |
Quintillion |
2022 |
Ronna (R) | 1027 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Octillion |
2022 |
|
Yotta (Y) | 1024 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Septillion |
Quadrillion |
1991 |
Zetta (Z) | 1021 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Sextillion |
Trilliard |
1991 |
Exa (E) | 1018 |
1,000,000,000,000,000,000 |
Quintillion |
Trillion |
1975 |
Peta (P) | 1015 |
1,000,000,000,000,000 |
Quadrillion |
Billiard |
1975 |
Tera (T) | 1012 |
1,000,000,000,000 |
Trillion |
Billion |
1960 |
Giga (G) | 109 |
1,000,000,000 |
Billion |
Milliard |
1960 |
Mega (M) | 106 |
1,000,000 |
Million |
1873 |
|
Kilo (k) | 103 |
1,000 |
Thousand |
1795 |
|
Hecto (h) | 102 |
100 |
Hundred |
1795 |
|
Deca (da) | 101 |
10 |
Ten |
1795 |
|
One (1) | 100 |
1 |
One |
- |
|
Deci (d) | 10-1 |
0.1 |
Tenth |
1795 |
|
Centi (c) | 10-2 |
0.01 |
Hundredth |
1795 |
|
Milli (m) | 10-3 |
0.001 |
Thousandth |
1795 |
|
Micro (µ) | 10-6 |
0.000001 |
Millionth |
1873 |
|
Nano (n) | 10-9 |
0.000000001 |
Billionth |
Milliardth |
1960 |
Pico (p) | 10-12 |
0.000000000001 |
Trillionth |
Billionth |
1960 |
Femto (f) | 10-15 |
0.000000000000001 |
Quadrillionth |
Billiardth |
1964 |
Atto (a) | 10-18 |
0.000000000000000001 |
Quintillionth |
Trillionth |
1964 |
Zepto (z) | 10-21 |
0.000000000000000000001 |
Sextillionth |
Trilliardth |
1991 |
Yocto (y) | 10-24 |
0.000000000000000000000001 |
Septillionth |
Quadrillionth |
1991 |
Ronto (r) | 10-27 |
0.000000000000000000000000001 |
Octillionth |
2022 |
|
Quecto (q) | 10-30 |
0.000000000000000000000000000001 |
Nonillionth |
Quintillionth |
2022 |
Other Prefix Unit Definitions
- Atto (a)
- Centi (c)
- Deca (da)
- Deci (d)
- Deka (da)
- Exa (E)
- Exbi (Ei)
- Femto (f)
- Gibi (Gi)
- Giga (G)
- Hecto (h)
- Kibi (Ki)
- Kilo (k)
- Mebi (Mi)
- Mega (M)
- Micro (µ)
- Milli (m)
- Nano (n)
- One (1)
- Pebi (Pi)
- Peta (P)
- Pico (p)
- Qubi (Qi)
- Quecto (q)
- Quetta (Q)
- Robi (Ri)
- Ronna (R)
- Ronto (r)
- Tebi (Ti)
- Tera (T)
- Yobi (Yi)
- Yocto (y)
- Yotta (Y)
- Zebi (Zi)
- Zepto (z)
- Zetta (Z)
Convert to Another Prefix Unit
Related Definitions
Disclaimer
Though every effort has been made to test this unit converter, we are not to be held liable for any special, incidental, indirect or consequential damages or monetary losses of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use of any of the converter tools and information sourced from this website. This unit converter is provided as a service to you, please use at your own risk. Do not use calculations for anything where loss of life, money, property, etc could result from inaccurate unit conversions.
For more information: please see our full disclaimer.
Sources
“Kilo-.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Mar. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilo-.