Text tokens can correspond to whole words, parts of words or punctuation. The exact split depends on the tokenizer and language. Some models also represent other media with token-based units.
A practical example
A short sentence can contain more tokens than words because a word may be split into several pieces.
What to remember
Do not treat a token limit as an exact word limit. Input and output allowances can be separate, and product interfaces may impose additional limits.
Put it into practice
Use the answer-checking guide to keep evidence and uncertainty visible when working with AI.