Bank account and phone number pronunciation

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Is it true that when pronouncing a bank account and a phone number the ''0'' is usually pronounced as ''oh'' and not as ''zero''?
My phone number is 055 76004

 

[GoesStation]

Most people do so, most of the time.

 

[Yankee]

It varies with the individual. I usually use "zero", especially over the phone.

 

[Rachel Adams]

I meant in British English.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yankee's answer goes for British people, too.

I'd say the split is around 50/50.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hello.

Is it true that when pronouncing a bank account and a phone number the ''0'' is usually pronounced as ''oh'' and not as ''zero''?

My phone number is 055 76004.

Like Yankee, I'd probably use "zero" over the phone for clarity. If I'm speaking to someone face-to-face, I'd probably use "oh".

 

[jutfrank]

I always say oh for phone numbers and always zero for bank account numbers.

I'd be slightly surprised if I learnt that the majority of people use oh for bank account numbers.

 

[emsr2d2]

There are two 0s in my bank account number and I always use "oh" for them (again, unless I'm on the phone).

 

[Rachel Adams]

I always say oh for phone numbers and always zero for bank account numbers.

I'd be slightly surprised if I learnt that the majority of people use oh for bank account numbers.

My disctionary says the digit 0 is pronounced as ''oh'' when saying a bank account, telephone number, etc and and as ''zero'' in scientific contexts. It's Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

 

[Rover_KE]

As you can see from the above answers, your dictionary doesn't speak for every native English-speaker.

 

[jutfrank]

My disctionary says the digit 0 is pronounced as ''oh'' when saying a bank account

I can't imagine how that dictionary could have data to support that claim.

Anyway, the aim of the dictionary is to tell you how native speakers could use the word oh. The point is that if you hear the word oh when someone is reading out their bank account number, the person means 'zero'.

Learner dictionaries are designed to give practical advice, not to tell you what to say. (That's a teacher's job!)

 

[Tdol]

My disctionary says the digit 0 is pronounced as ''oh'' when saying a bank account, telephone number, etc and and as ''zero'' in scientific contexts. It's Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

I would do that, but it's not an absolute rule.