Why do you say the letter "O" when you mean the digit "0"? (feddit.org)

submitted 4 days ago by SatyrSack@feddit.org to c/AskUSA@discuss.online

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Examples:

One oh two Main Street
Four oh seven PM
Biology one oh one
Eight six seven, five three oh nine
Four oh four: Not found

Not just a US thing, so I hope this is okay to ask here. I have just never encountered this is any language other than English. Is it simply that O and 0 look similar, and that "oh" has fewer syllables than "zero"? I have not heard a good explanation from coworkers who I've asked.

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[-] Drusas@fedia.io 2 points 3 days ago

Language evolves pretty quickly. Do you still live in Japan? You hear 'maru' a lot in recent years. I agree in regards to saying 'rei' versus 'zero'.

[-] tanisnikana@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Nah, I've been in Oregon since I moved here. My English is pretty good now though; I pass as a native English speaker now, and generally don't let people think otherwise. Once in a long while I'll hear people shit talking me for being trans in Japanese, but not often (it usually happens in English, sadly).

[-] Drusas@fedia.io 2 points 2 days ago

I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully your neighbors will become more tolerant with time.

this post was submitted on 13 Dec 2024

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