human_numbers adds the method #to_english to the Float and Integer classes, as well as the method #to_french to the Integer class, for converting numbers to natural language strings. It can convert numbers either to cardinals (one, two, three) or ordinals (first, second, third). It works with numbers whose absolute value is less than 10^33.
To install from RubyGems:
gem install human_numbers
To install from a copy of this repository:
rake install
require 'human_numbers'
puts 1.to_english # 'one'
puts -1.to_english # 'negative one'
puts 1.to_english :ordinal # 'first'
puts 1.to_english :cardinal # 'one'
puts 1.21.to_english # 'one point twenty-one'
puts 1.21.to_english :ordinal # 'one point twenty-first'
puts 1.to_french(:ordinal, :masculine) # 'premier'
puts 1.to_french(:ordinal, :feminine) # 'première'