0
Geoyo Posted 13 years ago
Vocabulary

Announcing the score

In a game of association football, when the score is 2-0, how would the commentator announce it? "The score is two-nil", is that how you say it? Or "The score is two to nil"? And what about the score "0", do you say zero, nil or nothing? I think I've heard all three, but I'm not sure, and I'm also interested in AmE vs. BrE. Is it true that Americans say "nothing" and British say "nil"?
  

Top answer

In BrE it is most often "two-nil". "two-nothing" is also sometimes used. "two-zero" is rarely used for football.

— GPY

  • In BrE it is most often "two-nil".
  • "two-nothing" is also sometimes used.
  • "two-zero" is rarely used for football.
  • "two to nil" is uncommon.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

5 Answers
0
In BrE it is most often "two-nil". "two-nothing" is also sometimes used. "two-zero" is rarely used for football. "two to nil" is uncommon.
0
0
Thank you GPY, it was of large use. Maybe someone from the US can tell if "nothing" is more often used there than "nil". I remember watching baseball games, and if I recall the announcer only ever used "nothing", as in, "Red Sox two, Yankees nothing". I wonder if "zero" or "nil" are also appropriate in that case.
0
0
American sportscasters do not use "nil," but "nothing" and "zero" would be used.
0
0
Thank you, that's so interesting. Another thing, you used the word "sportscaster", it is new to me. Is it more appropriate than "commentator"?

And does it depend on the type of sports? I've heard "nothing" in the context of baseball, what about american football and soccer? Do they also use "nothing" in these sports when one team has zero points?
0
0
Bump... I am really interested in these questions, it would be awesome if someone from the US could answer them Emotion: smile
0

Related Questions