1,000 mBTC = 1 BTC = 1 XBT.
mBTC is pronounced "embit" and 1,000 mBTC is pronounced "one thousand embits". Currently, one embit is worth about one dollar.
Problem solved.
So you decide how to pronounce it and the next poster says thats the wrong way to pronounce it. See how silly this is.
A bitcoin is a bitcoin is a bitcoin. Every you granny can get her teeth round that.
Do you wanna start talking microbitcoins to your gran, or even you mom? Conversation killer right there.
in Europe (at least in the Netherlands, but i'm pretty sure this counts for most of Europe) we use milli, centi, kilo, micro, etc. in everyday live.
All our food is measured and labeled in grams, kilograms, centiliters, etc. Even something as simple as cooking requirs basic knowledge of SI units. Why would it be hard to use the same system for bitcoin?
Maybe Americans will have a hard time, but that's their problem for using sticks, thumbs, stones and feet to measure things.