NationStates Jolt Archive

We had the twenties, the thirties, the forties, the fifties, the sixties, the seventies, the eighties, the nineties and now... the norties? It really just doesn’t go; I don't want to have it called "the turn of the century" because it’s just too long. So what do we call this decade?

I like the sound of "the naughties".

"Let's forget it ever happened"

the aughts

Back in the decade from 1900-1909, they called it the "aught-ies," as in "nineteen aught eight" for 1908. But "aught" has fallen into relative disuse now so that may not be such a great idea for 2000-2009.

The "ohs" is probably the next best option, even though it carries a negative connotation. Same with the "zeros." The "owies"?

Many possible things


The Second Dark Ages

Pre-World War Three

Decade of Colodia :D

The decade of cowardly liberal halfwits telling us we can't blow Islamic militants apart for being violent dangeous gits?

How about: the zeros?
By the way: How about the next decades: the tenths? or what?

The zeros, hmm, sounds alright.

The zeros, hmm, sounds alright.
I don´t assume that you can help me in my language with a name for it, though?

I don´t assume that you can help me in my language with a name for it, though?

How do you mean?

How about "the twenty-hundreds"? We call the decade 1900-10 the nineteen hundreds, after all.

How do you mean?
Well: I don´t know whether you have the expression in English: He is a zero. I don´t know.
But to call a decade like that would sound well: negative in my language.
But well: It seems to be a pretty shity decade anyway!

Well: I don´t know whether you have the expression in English: He is a zero. I don´t know.
But to call a decade like that would sound well: negative in my language.
But well: It seems to be a pretty shity decade anyway!

We do, in a sense. It is a negative.

Perhaps the 2-thousands?

The decade of cowardly liberal halfwits telling us we can't blow Islamic militants apart for being violent dangeous gits?

Isn't it weird no matter how many you shoot, blow up and arrest they'll still be those masses out there that hate you. I wonder why...

How about "the twenty-hundreds"? We call the decade 1900-10 the nineteen hundreds, after all.
I think that is confusing: at least for me: That sounds rather like nineteen century, which was after all between 1801-1900. I think such a name rather refers backward and not forward and confuses things. We are after all in the first decade of the 21 rst century and the third millenium.

Well: I don´t know whether you have the expression in English: He is a zero. I don´t know.
But to call a decade like that would sound well: negative in my language.
But well: It seems to be a pretty shity decade anyway!

And what might be your original language?

(Hehe, I have a sneaking suspicion i might be able to help here)

How about "the twenty-hundreds"? We call the decade 1900-10 the nineteen hundreds, after all.

Even better!

And what might be your original language?
(Hehe, I have a sneaking suspicion i might be able to help here)

Its not French though. I think you are speaking that (le zero)?
But my native tongue is German.

Isn't it weird no matter how many you shoot, blow up and arrest they'll still be those masses out there that hate you. I wonder why...

Perhaps. But that can be cured by applying sufficient force. And hey, I'm not after all of them, just the kind that take people hostage, deliberately attack civilians, that sort of thing.

Its not French though. I think you are speaking that (le zero)?
But my native tongue is German.

Oh, i was thinking French...

But zero is English as well which is my native language. I don't speak German unfortunately.

How about,

Shitty and oppressive.

Oh, i was thinking French...

But zero is English as well which is my native language.
Well, you are visible as an Australian, so that was clear.

However back to the topic: the zeros are for me at least better than the twenty-hundres because thats the way we say 20th century!

I know that it is different in English but I still find that confusing. It is rather referring backword to the 20th century and not forward. It is after all the first decade of the 21rst century.

The Decade of Failed Democracy

Well, you are visible as an Australian, so that was clear.

However back to the topic: the zeros are for me at least better than the twenty-hundres because thats the way we say 20th century!

I know that it is different in English but I still find that confusing. It is rather referring backword to the 20th century and not forward. It is after all the first decade of the 21rst century.

I can see how its confusing, but hey, that's English. Many native speakers can barely use it properly, haha :D

I just call 'em the "Oh's".

I had to decide what to call this decade before it rolled around and stuck with it since 1999. It just sounds funny to me :)

I can see how its confusing, but hey, that's English. Many native speakers can barely use it properly, haha :D
But it is nice to see that you can´t really agree on a name for the first decade of the 21rst century either.

My daughter: Daddy, why can't I find the year 2000 to 2009 in the internet? It's all been erased off of existance!
Me: Sweetie, there was no year 2000-2009, it's all a myth! Now be quiet and listen to the Imperialist Republican Convention as our Emperor George W. Bush declares war on the future 89th state of America, Indonesia!

"Let's forget it ever happened"

I'm voting for this one :p

I've always called it the naughties

I think that is confusing: at least for me: That sounds rather like nineteen century, which was after all between 1801-1900. I think such a name rather refers backward and not forward and confuses things. We are after all in the first decade of the 21 rst century and the third millenium.

"The nineteen-hundreds", in my mind, are 1900-1999 (as distinct from "the twentieth century" which is 1901-2000).

"The early nineteen-hundreds" could be used to refer to something from 1900 to somewhere between 1910 and 1925, and "pre-war" prefixed to indicate 1900-1914.

How about "the first decade of the Nth century"?

There was one crazy historian who actually said that the years between 700 and 1000 didn´t exists and that the rulers of that time - arranged together with the pope- just wanted to celebrate the thousand-year anniversary. And they said that the falsified documents to deny that fact.
Anyway: doesn´t quit fit to the european developments that all those years never happened.
In 700 the Franc empire just was at its begining: but in 843 it was divided into three parts: West (France); Middle (later was divided up), East (since 920 called regnum teutonicum - Germany). And the thing that the Pope crowned from 800 onwards all Franc kings - later kings of the East Franc Empire to the title of Roman Emperor.
Aside of the fact that the rise of Islam and the conquest of Spain by them all false in that period that according to this historian didn´t exist.
But on the other hand: in brings believe into question.
Pope Gregor actually cancelled 11 days (in September) in order for his calender reform. The julian calender was after all incorrect!

I've always called it the naughties
Lol! sounds like a Victoria's Secret lingerie promotion.

"The nineteen-hundreds", in my mind, are 1900-1999 (as distinct from "the twentieth century" which is 1901-2000).
Ok, in English that works. But for me it doesn´t sound good. Obviously you have a discussion about the name of the first decade of the 21rst century as well. It does seem to be a problem in many languages.

""The early nineteen-hundreds" could be used to refer to something from 1900 to somewhere between 1910 and 1925, and "pre-war" prefixed to indicate 1900-1914.
How about "the first decade of the Nth century"?
1900-1914 was indeed a kind of pre-war period. And 1919-39 a "between war"-period. That is how we refer to that time. And 1945-90 the Cold war period. And since 1990 we are in the post-cold-war period.
Well: and since 2001 in the terrorist period if you want to call it that way.
But I would differentiate about names for historic periods and the names you call decades. They should be neutral and not political: Like the twenties, thirties, fourties, fifties, e.g. The question however is: what about the first decade of a century? The zeros, the naughties, the twenty-hundres? And what about the second one: the tenths, the teens, the teenies?

Aside of the cold war period we in Germany use to refer to the time of 1945-90 as the post-war period. After all: It was up untill 1990 we didn´t have the opportunity to reunify. And the division was after all a result of World War II.

The nineteen-hundreds means 1900-1999.
1910-1919 is called, and 2010-2019 will be called, the teens.
1900-1909 may be the aughts, but that sound old and stuffy so we're not using it again.
2000-2009 will be the O's, or the zeros, doesn't it sound all cool and futuristic?
Sometime we're going to have to quite saying "two thousand nine" and just give it up to "twenty oh nine".

Lol! sounds like a Victoria's Secret lingerie promotion.
Actually, this was the winner of a 1999 Playboy poll on the same subject...
Kybernetia: How about "die Einsteller"? (Wouldn't it be nice if the pun was borne out and history were to smile on the latter part of this decade as one where jobs were actually created?)
"The first decade of the N th century"...meh, I don't know, Guvegrra, it doesn't really roll off the tongue, does it? May be we need to leave this one to our kids.

We had the twenties, the thirties, the forties, the fifties, the sixties, the seventies, the eighties, the nineties and now... the norties? It really just doesn’t go; I don't want to have it called "the turn of the century" because it’s just too long. So what do we call this decade?
Given 9-11 & the Bush agenda how about the Oh-Oh's?

"Let's forget it ever happened"

I don't know about that. Isn't it a little early to condemn the entire decade?

The Dark Ages?

The decade with no name!

I don't know about that. Isn't it a little early to condemn the entire decade?
It'll be half-way over in 4 months

"The first decade of the N th century"...meh, I don't know, Guvegrra, it doesn't really roll off the tongue, does it? May be we need to leave this one to our kids.

I know it doesn't, but I really don't like any of the alternatives. And I agree that our kids may have a better perspective (though if we don't like the 1900-1909 'aughties' then there's probably going to be an argument with our kids over what we and they eventually like to call this century's pioneering decade...