How to Say Years in English

Saying years in English can be confusing because the rules change depending on the year. In this short video, you will learn the simple patterns native speakers follow, with clear examples for each one. Before 2000, we usually say the year in two parts. For example, 1956 is nineteen fifty-six, and 1823 is eighteen twenty-three. If the year ends with zero zero, we use hundred, so 1400 is fourteen hundred. For whole centuries, we add the and an s, so the period from 1400 to 1499 is the fourteen hundreds. If there is a zero in the middle, we say oh, so 1708 is seventeen oh eight. After 2000, we usually read years like normal numbers, such as two thousand and four or two thousand and nine. From 2010, both ways are correct, so 2016 can be two thousand and sixteen or twenty sixteen, and 2024 can be two thousand and twenty-four or twenty twenty-four. These rules are useful for history, birthdays, news, travel and exams. Watch the video, repeat each example out loud and practice saying important years from your own life. Soon you will say any year naturally and correctly.