How to Say "Revenue" Correctly in English (What Non-Native Speakers Get Wrong)
The correct terms are "revenue" (US) or "turnover" (UK), never a literal translation like "figure of business." How non-native speakers get this wrong.
, 2 min read, Sales English
Key takeaways
- The two correct terms are "revenue" (American English) and "turnover" (British English). Both are correct depending on your audience.
- Never translate literally from your native term for this concept; phrases like "figure of business" or "business figure" don't work in English.
- "Revenue" and "profit" aren't synonyms: revenue is total sales, profit is what's left after expenses.
The correct term is "revenue" in American English, or "turnover" in British English. Both are accepted; the choice mostly depends on the market or reader you're writing for. Non-native speakers translating directly from their own language often reach for something that sounds plausible but isn't real English.
The two correct translations
- "Revenue": the standard term in American English and the most widely understood internationally. "The company's revenue grew by 15% last year."
- "Turnover": commonly used in British English with the same meaning. "Annual turnover reached £2 million."
If you're not sure which English your audience uses, "revenue" is the safer choice: it's understood everywhere, including in the UK, whereas "turnover" reads as exclusively British.
The mistake to never make
Never translate this literally as "figure of business" or "business figure." These phrases don't exist in English in this sense and would immediately read as an awkward translation to a native ear.
Common phrases around revenue
- "Annual revenue": yearly revenue total
- "Revenue growth": the increase in revenue over time
- "Revenue target": a revenue goal
- "Top-line revenue": gross revenue (as opposed to profit, the "bottom line")
- "Recurring revenue": revenue that repeats predictably (common in SaaS)
Don't confuse it with "profit"
A frequent mix-up: "revenue" is not "profit." Revenue is total sales, before subtracting expenses. Profit (or net income) is what's left afterward. Saying "our revenue is $500K" and "our profit is $500K" mean completely different things, and confusing the two in a presentation to an investor or English-speaking client is a mistake that's noticed immediately.
A full example
"Our revenue grew from $2M to $3.5M last year, with a profit margin of 20%."
The takeaway
| Concept | English |
|---|---|
| Total sales | Revenue (US) / Turnover (UK) |
| Yearly total sales | Annual revenue |
| Growth in that total | Revenue growth |
| What's left after expenses | Profit / Net income |
Default to "revenue": it's the most universally understood term for this concept in business English.
Frequently asked questions
- Should you say 'revenue' or 'turnover'?
- "Revenue" is standard in American English and widely understood everywhere. "Turnover" is more common in British English. Default to "revenue" if you don't know your audience's market.
- How do you say 'annual revenue'?
- "Annual revenue" is the standard phrase. "Yearly revenue" is also said, but "annual revenue" is more common in financial reporting.
- What's the difference between 'revenue' and 'income'?
- "Revenue" is total sales before expenses. "Income" (or "net income") is what remains after subtracting costs, closer to profit.