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When Americans talk about “below 0”, they must be talking Celsius, correct? Is it common to use that term even though they use Fahrenheit for everything else?

BuyMyBitcoins 4y ago
Updated to be “below freezing”. As an American who learned both systems and uses both in different contexts, I didn’t realize I was thinking of 0°C when I wrote it. I’m glad you caught this.
_8j50 4y ago
No,it is farenheit always. Below 32 is freezing but below 0 is more freezing
bluejekyll 4y ago
Yes. It’s common to use that term in the US, and it means Fahrenheit. 32°F is not all that cold, but below 0, that represents a warning that it’s dangerous to go outside without proper cold weather protection.
kjs3 4y ago
Why would we use Celsius here and nowhere else? Not that it makes any sense, but we're talking Farenheit here.
maxerickson 4y ago
No, not really. It's used as another threshold. It was -4 F on my drive in to work Tuesday, which is well below average temperatures here, but not particularly notable. (I realize that in this case the other poster changed their phrasing)
runnerup 4y ago
It depends on the region. In the southern states, the terminology is much more loose. "Freezing" just means "below 55F". "Below zero" can mean anything under 32F, it's very ambiguous (some use this correctly, some do not). Usually if it's actually below freezing, people will be very excitedly telling you about the frost they saw on the grass in the morning! Northern states differentiate between ("below zero" / "negative temperatures") vs. "below freezing". Actually some northern states often omit the "below" in "below freezing" and just say "it's freezing" and people will correct you if its 35F and you use "its freezing outside" to colloquially mean that you personally feel its very cold outside: "It's above freezing actually, not much ice to worry about." In the northern states, if it's -40F outside people's eyes will turn into daggers as they tell you, "It's dangerously cold outside right now. Are you sure you need to go out? Take this extra clothing/blanket/etc. Is your cell phone charged? Will your car have trouble making it? I can drive you."
cableshaft 4y ago
No, if I say "below zero", I mean below zero Fahrenheit. For below zero Celsius I'd just say "below freezing", which I know as 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Zero degrees Celsius is no big deal. I do long walks with my dogs out in it regularly, and often don't even wear a hat or gloves. Zero degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerous and I try not to be out in it long. It got down to -33 degrees F after wind chill yesterday. That might be the coldest temperature I remember experiencing around here. Except for a couple brief moments herding one of my dogs back inside since he stupidly takes his time out there even in this cold until his paws get too cold, I didn't go out in it at all.

BuyMyBitcoins 4y ago

Updated to be “below freezing”. As an American who learned both systems and uses both in different contexts, I didn’t realize I was thinking of 0°C when I wrote it. I’m glad you caught this.

_8j50 4y ago

No,it is farenheit always. Below 32 is freezing but below 0 is more freezing

bluejekyll 4y ago

Yes. It’s common to use that term in the US, and it means Fahrenheit. 32°F is not all that cold, but below 0, that represents a warning that it’s dangerous to go outside without proper cold weather protection.

kjs3 4y ago

Why would we use Celsius here and nowhere else? Not that it makes any sense, but we're talking Farenheit here.

maxerickson 4y ago

No, not really. It's used as another threshold. It was -4 F on my drive in to work Tuesday, which is well below average temperatures here, but not particularly notable. (I realize that in this case the other poster changed their phrasing)

runnerup 4y ago

It depends on the region. In the southern states, the terminology is much more loose. "Freezing" just means "below 55F". "Below zero" can mean anything under 32F, it's very ambiguous (some use this correctly, some do not). Usually if it's actually below freezing, people will be very excitedly telling you about the frost they saw on the grass in the morning! Northern states differentiate between ("below zero" / "negative temperatures") vs. "below freezing". Actually some northern states often omit the "below" in "below freezing" and just say "it's freezing" and people will correct you if its 35F and you use "its freezing outside" to colloquially mean that you personally feel its very cold outside: "It's above freezing actually, not much ice to worry about." In the northern states, if it's -40F outside people's eyes will turn into daggers as they tell you, "It's dangerously cold outside right now. Are you sure you need to go out? Take this extra clothing/blanket/etc. Is your cell phone charged? Will your car have trouble making it? I can drive you."

cableshaft 4y ago

No, if I say "below zero", I mean below zero Fahrenheit. For below zero Celsius I'd just say "below freezing", which I know as 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Zero degrees Celsius is no big deal. I do long walks with my dogs out in it regularly, and often don't even wear a hat or gloves. Zero degrees Fahrenheit can be dangerous and I try not to be out in it long. It got down to -33 degrees F after wind chill yesterday. That might be the coldest temperature I remember experiencing around here. Except for a couple brief moments herding one of my dogs back inside since he stupidly takes his time out there even in this cold until his paws get too cold, I didn't go out in it at all.