# How should 2011 be pronounced? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 21, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122 "2011-02-21T16:01:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/21 "2011-02-21T21:44:23Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > By the time it drifts so far into the past that I can’t get away with that any more, I’ll be an old coot, and I can say “Back in 'ought eleven.” No, old coots will say “back in eleven.” “Aught” refers to the tens place in years before '10. > [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I predict everyone will completely switch by 2013, which is when we get two syllables after the 20 and everyone will be thoroughly sick of taking 10 minutes to give the date. Doesn’t “eleven” have at least as many syllables? ---
**Author:** ![Charley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@Charley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charley)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/22 "2011-02-21T21:44:44Z")
> [@Red\_Skeezix](#): > > There is a common convention when spelling out numbers that the ‘and’ signifies fractional bits goes to right of the decimal. When people say “two thousand and eleven” that translates to 2000.11. Is there? where is this? I’m not being snarky, I have genuinely never come across this as an idea. Needless to say I’m a two-thousand-and-eleven person, although I flirt with twenty-eleven occasionally. The presence or absence of that ‘and’ seems to me one of those linguistic distinguishers between US and UK/Australian etc natives. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/23 "2011-02-21T21:57:39Z")
> [@Red\_Skeezix](#): > > There is a common convention when spelling out numbers that the ‘and’ signifies fractional bits goes to right of the decimal. When people say “two thousand and eleven” that translates to 2000.11. If I tell someone that they owe me one hundred and ten dollars, I don’t expect to get to get one hundred dollars and ten cents from them… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/24 "2011-02-21T22:08:27Z")
Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, twenty-ten, twenty-eleven… ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/25 "2011-02-21T22:25:01Z")
The “and” is incorrect. It’s either Two Thousand, eleven or twenty-lebbum. Haven’t you ever written a check? One hundred, Ten dollars and 00/100 or One hundred and 10/100 ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/26 "2011-02-21T22:41:21Z")
So, 4 score and 7 years ago was actually eighty years and 7/10 of a year ago. But actually, that wouldn’t be 80 and seven (because the and operates as a decimal point), that would be 80 years + .07 years. So, I would just say that 4 score and 7 years equals 965.83 months (also known as 967 and 83 months). ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Credible](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a8b319/32.png) [@Justin\_Credible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Credible)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/27 "2011-02-22T00:30:16Z")
I’ve been saying Twenty-Eleven. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/28 "2011-02-22T02:33:24Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > No, old coots will say “back in eleven.” “Aught” refers to the tens place in years before '10. > > Doesn’t “eleven” have at least as many syllables? I don’t think so … not the way I say it! Two-thousand’n’leven. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/29 "2011-02-22T03:19:28Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I want twenty-eleven. I am in favor of twenty-eleven. However, I cannot make myself _say_ twenty-eleven. So I’m always saying two-thousand and eleven, even though it’s a mouthful. > > I predict everyone will completely switch by 2013, which is when we get two syllables after the 20 and everyone will be thoroughly sick of taking 10 minutes to give the date. This is me. I say two thousand eleven, even though I want to say twenty eleven, and should say twenty eleven. I hear twenty eleven in my mind and associate the sound with nine eleven, which I am so sick of hearing at this point I could retch. So naturally I blame the Republicans\*. 😉 When 2012 rolls in I won’t have a problem at all saying twenty twelve. - Seriously, I do. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/30 "2011-02-22T03:33:00Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’m pretty sure I say “two thousand _and_ eleven.” I voted for ‘two thousand eleven’ before noticed the missing ‘and’. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/31 "2011-02-22T03:37:52Z")
> [@Red\_Skeezix](#): > > There is a common convention when spelling out numbers that the ‘and’ signifies fractional bits goes to right of the decimal. When people say “two thousand and eleven” that translates to 2000.11. But i’m a strict twenty eleven person. Also when reading out long numbers I tend to group by two so: 4567345612891006 would be read “forty five sixty seven thirty four fifty six twelve eighty nine ten oh six”. Where I grew up (the UK) you NEVER used numbers greater than nine to describe a decimal. And you use the word ‘point’. What you described would be said ‘two thousand point one one’. Always. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/32 "2011-02-22T03:47:30Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > I had no idea this was even an issue. I think I say two thousand eleven, but apparently I should be throwing an “and” in there. Twenty eleven doesn’t sound right to my ears. I say “two thousand eleven,” no “and” necessary. BBC is forever saying “twenty eleven,” so I figure it’s a British thing. Other threads have gone into the “and” being chiefly British, with some regional variation in the US. My 7th-grade math teacher in Texas pounded the “and” into us, but no one else there ever used it, so it didn’t stick. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/33 "2011-02-22T04:12:03Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I say “two thousand eleven,” no “and” necessary. BBC is forever saying “twenty eleven,” so I figure it’s a British thing. Other threads have gone into the “and” being chiefly British, with some regional variation in the US. My 7th-grade math teacher in Texas pounded the “and” into us, but no one else there ever used it, so it didn’t stick. I suppose a math teacher could pound worse things into you… ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/34 "2011-02-22T04:14:18Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > I suppose a math teacher could pound worse things into you… She was such a cutie that none of us guys would have minded much if she had. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/35 "2011-02-22T04:32:51Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I say “two thousand eleven,” no “and” necessary. BBC is forever saying “twenty eleven,” so I figure it’s a British thing. Other threads have gone into the “and” being chiefly British, with some regional variation in the US. My 7th-grade math teacher in Texas pounded the “and” into us, but no one else there ever used it, so it didn’t stick. That’s so funny. I had a maths teacher (Geometry, I think?) who would grade you down for everything that class period if you put the “and” in. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/36 "2011-02-22T04:37:50Z")
I say either one, two thousand eleven or twenty eleven. I don’t care one way or the other, nor does anybody else I talk to. I called last year both ways, too. Two thousand ten or twenty ten. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/37 "2011-02-22T04:41:03Z")
At least saying “two thousand eleven” sounds like a plausible choice if you say the other, or it ought to. Pity the poor Thais, who in their language must always enunciate each number. For instance, it was never “nineteen ninety-one” but rather “year one thousand nine hundred ninety-one.” Etc. Always. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/38 "2011-02-22T09:46:36Z")
I prefer the traditional, Roman numeral way. So I pronounce it Mumumexie. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/39 "2011-02-22T10:58:53Z")
My personal rule was going to be to say “two thousand and…” right up to 2012, then switch to “twenty…” from 2013 onward. But with all the Mayan calendar nonsense being such a popular topic, I’ve gotten used to “twenty twelve” so I have shifted back one year. In any case, it remains “two thousand and eleven” for me. ---
**Author:** ![A.Gwilliam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ea5d25/32.png) [@A.Gwilliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.Gwilliam)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122/40 "2011-02-22T15:40:21Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > The “and” is incorrect. It’s either Two Thousand, eleven or twenty-lebbum. > > Haven’t you ever written a check? > One hundred, Ten dollars and 00/100 > or > One hundred and 10/100 You say tomayto, and I say tomahto…! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-should-2011-be-pronounced/572122.md?page=3)