2010 - How do you say it, 'twenty-ten' or 'two-thousand ten'? - The year 2010 is here, but how do you pronounce it? Do you say "twenty ten" or "two-thousand ten"? It's up to you, of course, but you may notice people moving back and forth among various choices in the way they say the year for awhile before they settle on a preferred pronunciation.
One theory has it that because we pronounced the first ten years of the millennium "two-thousand one, two-thousand eight, etc." we may begin 2010 saying it that way at first. Then, the theory goes, as the year wears on, we will change over to "twenty ten."
If you look back to the olden days of the twentieth century, we pronounced the years "nineteen ninety-nine." This would lend support to the "twenty ten" model.
Another way of looking at it is by syllable count. "Two-thousand and ten" = 5 syllables. "Two thousand ten" = 4 syllables. "Twenty ten" = 3 syllables. This theory claims that people will eventually use the quickest and easiest way to say the year. If this proves true, you can count on people saying "Twenty ten" soon and "Twenty eleven" perhaps more easily a year from now.
Comment: What way do you pronounce 2010 right now? What ways have you heard it pronounced? What way do you think you'll pronounce 2010 in the future--will you change the way you say it, do you think? Do you not care how it's pronounced as long as you make it through all 365 days of it? Let us know your thoughts in the Comment Section!
In the meantime, have a very happy 2010 - however you pronounce it!
Examiner.com Jan 1, 2010.
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