Puluhan

Puluhan is an Indonesian term used to indicate a quantity in the tens range, typically more than ten but fewer than a hundred, without specifying an exact count. It is commonly used to express approximate numbers in everyday language, for example in phrases like puluhan orang, puluhan juta, or puluhan kilometer. The word conveys a rough scale rather than a precise figure, and its exact value can vary depending on context.

In mathematics and counting, puluhan refers to the tens place in the base-10 number system. Numbers from 10 to 99 have a nonzero tens digit, which determines how many tens are represented (for instance, the number 57 contains five tens, or 50). In ordinary speech, puluhan also functions as a way to estimate quantities, similar to saying “tens of …” in English. It is often contrasted with other approximate ranges such as ratusan (hundreds) or ribuan (thousands), and is less formal than giving a precise number.

Etymology and usage notes: puluhan derives from puluh, meaning ten, with the suffix -an to form a noun indicating a plural or collective quantity of tens. It is flexible and can pair with various nouns to express rough scales, such as puluhan orang (dozens of people), puluhan juta (tens of millions), or puluhan kilometer (tens of kilometers). In formal writing, it is common to specify a narrower range if precision is required.