Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

12-9

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.06 in modern English

Syllables: 12-9
IPA

0

Scrabble Score

0

Letters

2

Syllables

0

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An instance of a collision between a person and a subway train, such as a fall into the tracks; used by train conductors in the New York City Subway.

Example Sentences

"Whatever the reason, he found it easy to keep his emotions in check the first couple of times that he had a 12-9. Twelve-nine, in transit lingo, is a radio alert that someone has landed under a subway train."
"[…] In the parlance of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, 12-9s describe collisions between trains and people. […] In 2019, the M.T.A. recorded a hundred and ninety-five 12-9s, the highest number in at least a decade. About a third are fatal."

Etymology

Originally a radio call sign used by conductors.

Inflected Forms

12-9s (plural) twelve-nine (alternative)

Questions

What does 12-9 mean?: An instance of a collision between a person and a subway train, such as a fall into the tracks; used by train conductors in the New York City Subway.
Where does 12-9 come from?: Originally a radio call sign used by conductors.

How to pronounce 12-9

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