How to say the YEAR in English
Years are normally divided into two parts; the first two digits and the last two digits.
1984 is divided into 19 and 84 so you would say nineteen eighty-four.
- 1066 = ten sixty-six
- 1652 = sixteen fifty-two
- 1941 = nineteen forty-one
- 2017 = twenty seventeen
How to say the years after 2000
For the year 2000 you say (the year) two thousand.
For the years 2001 to 2010, the most common way of saying the year is two thousand and + number.
- 2001 = two thousand and one
- 2005 = two thousand and five
- 2008 = two thousand and eight
For the first years after 2010 you may hear two different alternatives.
2012 – Some people say
- two thousand and twelve while others say
- twenty twelve.
They are both used and both correct.
Years from the first decade of each century
When a year ends in a number between 01 and 09, for example 1705, then that last part is pronounced as the name of the letter O + number.
- 1508 = fifteen O eight
- 1709 = seventeen O nine
- 1901 = nineteen O one
When a year ends in 00 (e.g. 1600) then the year is said as the digits before 00 and then hundred.
- 1300 = thirteen hundred
- 1700 = seventeen hundred
- 1800 = eighteen hundred
When people refer to the entire century, an S is added to the end.
The 1500s = the fifteen hundreds (=1500-1599)
The 1800s = the eighteen hundreds (=1800-1899)
Of course you can also say the 16th century and 19th century.