Thread: Couple of questions

How do you pronounce "1900s" or "1800s" etc?
I know that, for example, "1910s" is pronounced "nineteen tens, "1920s" - "nineteen twenties" etc.

And what about an expression "to do something just for the heck of it"? Does it mean "to do something without any reason/purpose"?

Thanks in advance.

Originally Posted by Vadim84

How do you pronounce "1900s" or "1800s" etc?

I guess you don't mean the nineteen hundreds (any year between 1900 -2000), but the first decade of the 1900s. Actually that is a known problem in the english language, there is no standard way to name the first decade. So people say "the double o's" "the first years of 20th century"... hmm any more suggestions?

Originally Posted by Vadim84

And what about an expression "to do something just for the heck of it"? Does it mean "to do something without any reason/purpose"?
Thanks in advance.

Yes! That is what it means! "Do it, just because we can do it." "Do it for the fun of it!". they all mean the same thing.

1901...........nineteen oh one.
1902...........nineteen oh two
1903...........nineteen oh three.
etc.,

The decade between the nineties and the twenties doesn't have a name.

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

Originally Posted by Vadim84

How do you pronounce "1900s" or "1800s" etc?

I guess you don't mean the nineteen hundreds (any year between 1900 -2000), but the first decade of the 1900s.

Yep, you hit the nail on the head, right in the bull's-eye etc. That was exactly what I meant

Actually that is a known problem in the english language, there is no standard way to name the first decade. So people say "the double o's" "the first years of 20th century"... hmm any more suggestions

Then I would say "the first decade of the nineteen hundreds (or of the nineteenth century)"

Yes! That is what it means! "Do it, just because we can do it." "Do it for the fun of it!". they all mean the same thing.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by DDT

1901...........nineteen oh one.
1902...........nineteen oh two
1903...........nineteen oh three.

Yes, I know that, thanks.

Originally Posted by scotcher

The decade between the nineties and the twenties doesn't have a name.

Hm... You mean the decade between the nineties of one century and the... hm... "tens" (1910-1919) of the following century (eg 1900-1909)? Or even two decades between the nineties and the twenties (eg 1900-1919), and they both don't have names, eh?


Ok, guys, thanks for your help and stay tuned for more questions (if I can come up with some )

Originally Posted by Vadim84

Then I would say "the first decade of the nineteen hundreds (or of the nineteenth century)"

The nineteenth century is from 1800 to 1899.
The twentieth century is from 1900 to 1999.
We are now in the twenty first century 2000-2099.

Originally Posted by Vadim84

Actually that is a known problem in the english language, there is no standard way to name the first decade. So people say "the double o's" "the first years of 20th century"... hmm any more suggestions

Then I would say "the first decade of the nineteen hundreds (or of the nineteenth century)"

No, you wouldn't say "the first decade of the nineteenth century" because that would mean 1800-1809. If you want to say "the ___ century" you have to go 10 up. For example, the 19th century is the 1800s, the 20th century is the 1900s, and the 21st century is the 2000s. This is because the years 1 AD - 99 AD were the 1st century. Then the years 100-199 were the 2nd and so on.

Originally Posted by Vadim84

Yes! That is what it means! "Do it, just because we can do it." "Do it for the fun of it!". they all mean the same thing.

Thank you.

If you want a more emphatic, but vulgar, way of saying this, there is "to do something for the hell of it" or (this is a very reginal thing, only I and my friends use this) "to do something for sh*ts and giggles"

Hope that all helps!

Actually I have used, "In the nineteen tens" and been understood, believe it or not.

Well, I think "nineteen tens" is understood as 1900-1909, where as "the nineteen teens" is understood to be 1910-1919.

Originally Posted by kwatts59

The nineteenth century is from 1800 to 1899.
The twentieth century is from 1900 to 1999.
We are now in the twenty first century 2000-2099.

No, you wouldn't say "the first decade of the nineteenth century" because that would mean 1800-1809. If you want to say "the ___ century" you have to go 10 up. For example, the 19th century is the 1800s, the 20th century is the 1900s, and the 21st century is the 2000s. This is because the years 1 AD - 99 AD were the 1st century. Then the years 100-199 were the 2nd and so on.

Oops! Yes, of course, I know that. It was just a slip of the tongue. Sorry for confusing you, guys.

Hope that all helps!

Yes, certainly, that all helped me, thanks

Well, I think "nineteen tens" is understood as 1900-1909, where as "the nineteen teens" is understood to be 1910-1919.

Thanks, I've made a mental note.


I have another дурацкий вопрос
Can I use the word "guys" if the group of people to whom I address contains not only men, but also women?


Edited:
Oh, I got it. My dictionary says:
"Americans sometimes address a group of people, whether they are male or female, as guys or you guys. (INFORMAL)"

I have never actually heard anyone say " in the nineteen teens" ..........but if I did I would understand.

Originally Posted by Vadim84

I have another дурацкий вопрос
Can I use the word "guys" if the group of people to whom I address contains not only men, but also women?
Edited:
Oh, I got it. My dictionary says:
"Americans sometimes address a group of people, whether they are male or female, as guys or you guys. (INFORMAL)"

Some feminist women might freak out over that though, but you don't find too many of them around

Yeah, it's not very PC (politicaly correct), but we still use it all the time.

I even use "dude" when adressing a woman. Haven't been slapped once!

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

I even use "dude" when adressing a woman. Haven't been slapped once!

Everything happens for the first time someday, sooner or later

Now, could somebody tell me what the word "yay" means, please? I know it's a difficult question

Originally Posted by Vadim84

Now, could somebody tell me what the word "yay" means, please? I know it's a difficult question

"yay" is short for "hooray"

точнее - Ура!

I heard a name once for the decade from 00-09, pronounced like "nots," though I don't know how to spell it. There's another way to say it, but it doesn't come to mind readily... stupid English.

To do something for the heck of it means to do something merely for the sake of doing it, just because the thing you're doing is somehow appealing or worth doing in and of itself. For example, "I'm learning Chinese for the heck of it" would mean that you're learning Chinese just because you want to and it's rewarding, not because, say, you're about to move to China.

Originally Posted by token_287

I heard a name once for the decade from 00-09, pronounced like "nots," though I don't know how to spell it. There's another way to say it, but it doesn't come to mind readily... stupid English.

The word you're looking for is naught, meaning "zero" or "nothing," depending on the context. There is no proper way to make a plural of it, so I suppose "naughts" would work well enough.

In the USA some people will say "ot" I don't know how it is spelt. It could be an abrieviation for the word "nought" , I don't know. I have heard it for example 1909 "nineteen ot nine" and especially for bullet calibres such as 30-06 "thirty ot six".

Also for years such as 1909 etc. you will sometimes hear "ninteen hundred and nine"