2012

[rosa87]

Hi,

Recently, I have come across with people reading 2012 as "twenty, twelve". I was wondering if this is correct. I always read it as "two thousand twelve".

Thank you

[emsr2d2]

Hi,

Recently, I have come across with people reading 2012 as "twenty, twelve". I was wondering if this is correct. I always read it as "two thousand twelve".

Thank you

You'll hear "two thousand and twelve" (BrE, I don't know if this is used in AmE), "two thousand twelve" (AmE, never used in BrE) and "twenty twelve". I don't know if the latter is used in AmE but it's become even more prevalent since the subject of the London Olympics has been talked about so much. For some reason the "two thousand and twelve Olympics" doesn't sound as neat as the "twenty twelve Olympics" or, as it's known here, "London twenty twelve".

We didn't say the years this way in the UK until 2010 (ie we never said "twenty oh eight" etc). I have heard people using "twenty ten" - that may be because there was a film (sequel to 2001 A Space Odyssey) by the same name and that was officially referred to as "twenty ten". I don't think "twenty eleven" was as popular though.

[Tdol]

You'll hear both being used.

[rosa87]

Thank you! It was of great help for me.

[bhaisahab]

You'll hear "two thousand and twelve" (BrE, I don't know if this is used in AmE), "two thousand twelve" (AmE, never used in BrE) and "twenty twelve". I don't know if the latter is used in AmE but it's become even more prevalent since the subject of the London Olympics has been talked about so much. For some reason the "two thousand and twelve Olympics" doesn't sound as neat as the "twenty twelve Olympics" or, as it's known here, "London twenty twelve".

We didn't say the years this way in the UK until 2010 (ie we never said "twenty oh eight" etc). I have heard people using "twenty ten" - that may be because there was a film (sequel to 2001 A Space Odyssey) by the same name and that was officially referred to as "twenty ten". I don't think "twenty eleven" was as popular though.

I was horrified to hear somebody on BBC Radio 4 say "That was in twenty oh seven".
This was yesterday.

[david11]

I was horrified to hear somebody on BBC Radio 4 say "That was in twenty oh seven".
This was yesterday.

I had heard Indian medias saying "twenty oh nine" during general election which was held in 2009.

[5jj]

I was horrified to hear somebody on BBC Radio 4 say "That was in twenty oh seven".
This was yesterday.

I'd horrify you; I say "oh seven" (without the 'twenty) in informal conversation. Within my family, I even say "ought seven", a conscious reminder of the way my grandfather used to speak of the years of the first decade of the twentieth century.

[SoothingDave]

"Twenty twelve" is the way I hear it most often here in the US. As stated above, no one would said it like this for years before 2010.

[emsr2d2]

I'd horrify you; I say "oh seven" (without the 'twenty) in informal conversation. Within my family, I even say "ought seven", a conscious reminder of the way my grandfather used to speak of the years of the first decade of the twentieth century.

You've pointed out something I completely neglected - I too say "oh five, oh six, oh seven" etc without the "twenty" but I wouldn't say them with the "twenty".