How to read AD and BC?

[enthink]

Hello,

When you are reading a text aloud for other listeners and encounter the acronyms AD and BC, how should a native speaker normally read them?

1) "After Christ" and "before Christ"?

2) "ey-dee" and "bee-cee"

3) 1 or 2 (if this is the case, which is more common -- 1 or 2?)

4) Other way


Another related question:

Is AD ever read as "Anno Domini" by pupils in normal primary and secondary schools? If it is, how do you pronounce it? Which syllables are stressed?


Thank you very much.

 

[Barb_D]

I have always said "Ay-Dee" and "Bee-Cee."

However, I understand that CE, for common era, and BCE, for before common era, is becoming more popular. Those are said Cee-Ee, and Bee-Cee-Ee.

 

[SoothingDave]

Normally you would hear AD and BC pronounced just like pronouncing the individual letters.

To avoid offense to non-Christians, some academics use CE and BCE ("common era" and "before common era"), but I don't think the common person is aware of what "CE" is supposed to mean.

 

[enthink]

Thank you very much.

I assume you've never heard "Anno Domini", "after Christ" or "before Christ" used at a school in such a situation, then?

 

[Barb_D]

Not in school, no.

I'd be surprised if more than 50% of Americans could tell you want AD stands for, though most would get the "Before Christ" part right.

 

[Amal-30]

I'm not a teacher.

Anno domini are Latin words.

 

[Rover_KE]

I'm not a teacher.

Anno domini are Latin words.

Correct - meaning in the year of Our Lord.

It's ironic that CE (Common Era) also stands for Christian Era.

Rover

 

[Barb_D]

I never thought of that. Do people use it that way?

I will say that the few times I've tried to say "CE" instead of "AD," people have said "What's that?" and I've had to say "AD." When I explain why, it's usually met with eye rolling.

 

[SoothingDave]

Never mind, off topic.