diff --git a/src/pendulum/duration.py b/src/pendulum/duration.py
index d6cc0657d..5022e0424 100644
--- a/src/pendulum/duration.py
+++ b/src/pendulum/duration.py
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ def in_words(self, locale: str | None = None, separator: str = " ") -> str:
             count: int | str = 0
             if self.microseconds != 0:
                 unit = f"units.second.{loaded_locale.plural(0)}"
-                count = f"{abs(self.microseconds) / 1e6:.2f}"
+                count = f"{self.microseconds / 1e6:.2f}"
             else:
                 unit = f"units.microsecond.{loaded_locale.plural(0)}"
             translation = loaded_locale.translation(unit)
diff --git a/src/pendulum/interval.py b/src/pendulum/interval.py
index c5e0713a7..d2ab70fba 100644
--- a/src/pendulum/interval.py
+++ b/src/pendulum/interval.py
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ def in_words(self, locale: str | None = None, separator: str = " ") -> str:
             count: str | int = 0
             if abs(self.microseconds) > 0:
                 unit = f"units.second.{loaded_locale.plural(1)}"
-                count = f"{abs(self.microseconds) / 1e6:.2f}"
+                count = f"{self.microseconds / 1e6:.2f}"
             else:
                 unit = f"units.microsecond.{loaded_locale.plural(0)}"
 
diff --git a/tests/duration/test_in_words.py b/tests/duration/test_in_words.py
index 13982c33d..af6529e2f 100644
--- a/tests/duration/test_in_words.py
+++ b/tests/duration/test_in_words.py
@@ -65,6 +65,12 @@ def test_subseconds():
     assert pi.in_words() == "0.12 seconds"
 
 
+def test_negative_subseconds():
+    pi = pendulum.duration(microseconds=-123456)
+
+    assert pi.in_words() == "-0.12 seconds"
+
+
 def test_subseconds_with_seconds():
     pi = pendulum.duration(seconds=12, microseconds=123456)
     assert pi.in_words() == "12 seconds"
diff --git a/tests/interval/test_in_words.py b/tests/interval/test_in_words.py
index f60e20d04..2144877c5 100644
--- a/tests/interval/test_in_words.py
+++ b/tests/interval/test_in_words.py
@@ -56,6 +56,14 @@ def test_subseconds():
     assert interval.in_words() == "0.12 second"
 
 
+def test_negative_subseconds():
+    start_date = pendulum.datetime(2012, 1, 1)
+    interval = pendulum.interval(
+        start=start_date.add(microseconds=123456), end=start_date
+    )
+    assert interval.in_words() == "-0.12 second"
+
+
 def test_subseconds_with_seconds():
     start_date = pendulum.datetime(2012, 1, 1)
     interval = pendulum.interval(