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I am from the USA and whenever I travel to Europe (Poland, Germany, England, Scotland, etc.) I never quite grasp whether 24h is used for all purposes, or just "

I am from the USA and whenever I travel to Europe (Poland, Germany, England, Scotland, etc.) I never quite grasp whether 24h is used for all purposes, or just "official" purposes (like train schedules) while casual conversation remains 12h. I wonder if the young/old divide you described is prevalent in most places. I assume some people (perhaps older people) wear analog 12h wrist watches, and wouldn't translate to 24h after looking at it to answer a random question "what time is it?"

ajuc 6y ago
When I was young (in 90s) everybody used 18 and 6 wieczorem (in the evening) interchangeably, like 50% - 50% split. Now I almost never hear "6 wieczorem" it's always 18. I think I haven't heard it used this year in Polish. Lots of people use analog clocks but they just say 18 when looking at 6.
- hunter2_ 6y ago
  Interesting! It sounds like maybe there are more people doing +12 mental math (reading analog clocks in 24h places) than people doing -12 mental math (Americans trying to read 24h times) even though the USA is always the "weird" one.
AnssiH 6y ago
That probably indeed varies a lot by location and demographic. In my experience in Finland, casual spoken discussion is usually 12h but written is 24h. The xx:xx format always means 24h, whether written or spoken. When referring to a precise minute 24h is common even when spoken - "train leaves at sixteen thirty-four" - the 12h alternative is "train leaves at four past half five" or "twenty-six to five". Notably, one would never say "four thirty-four" as that refers to 04:34 (24h). Also, 12h is used when casually written with letters - e.g. it would be "meet you at three" / "nähdään kolmelta", not "meet you at fifteen" / "nähdään viideltätoista".
- briandear 6y ago
  > In my experience in Finland, casual spoken discussion is usually 12h but written is 24h. The xx:xx format always means 24h, whether written or spoken. My exact experience in France as well. “Six heure du matin” for example.

ajuc 6y ago

When I was young (in 90s) everybody used 18 and 6 wieczorem (in the evening) interchangeably, like 50% - 50% split. Now I almost never hear "6 wieczorem" it's always 18. I think I haven't heard it used this year in Polish. Lots of people use analog clocks but they just say 18 when looking at 6.

hunter2_ 6y ago
Interesting! It sounds like maybe there are more people doing +12 mental math (reading analog clocks in 24h places) than people doing -12 mental math (Americans trying to read 24h times) even though the USA is always the "weird" one.

AnssiH 6y ago

That probably indeed varies a lot by location and demographic. In my experience in Finland, casual spoken discussion is usually 12h but written is 24h. The xx:xx format always means 24h, whether written or spoken. When referring to a precise minute 24h is common even when spoken - "train leaves at sixteen thirty-four" - the 12h alternative is "train leaves at four past half five" or "twenty-six to five". Notably, one would never say "four thirty-four" as that refers to 04:34 (24h). Also, 12h is used when casually written with letters - e.g. it would be "meet you at three" / "nähdään kolmelta", not "meet you at fifteen" / "nähdään viideltätoista".

briandear 6y ago
> In my experience in Finland, casual spoken discussion is usually 12h but written is 24h. The xx:xx format always means 24h, whether written or spoken. My exact experience in France as well. “Six heure du matin” for example.