Just One Tenth Call
Toronto "The 6ix” or “TO”
Most pronounce the city as “To-RON-to”
In a random sampling
of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 864 Toronto voters, as many as
three quarters say they refer to the city most often as “Toronto” (75%), rather
than “TO” (10%) or “The 6ix” (7%). A similar proportion say they use another
term most often (8%).
Using “The 6ix” to
describe Toronto is characteristic of the youngest (13%), in mid income groups
($60K to $80K - 11%) and among those who commute by bicycle (15%).
Using the term “TO”
is common to mid age groups (35 to 44 and 55 to 64 - 14% each), the least and
most wealthy (13% each) and in Etobicoke (16%).
Use of Toronto is
characteristic of the oldest (82%), the wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 77%), in
East York (83%), among the best educated (79%) and Olivia Chow voters (83%).
Most pronounce each syllable of
“Toronto”
Among those who use
the full name “Toronto” when discussing the city, the majority pronounce each
syllable (To-RON-To - 70%), while about a quarter use the shorter, two syllable
version known to most citizens (Tronnah - 24%). Fewer than a tenth don’t offer
an opinion (6%).
Using the shorter
two syllable pronunciation is common to the youngest (38%), the wealthy ($80K
to $100K - 33%), in North York (29%), those with some college (29%) and Doug
Ford voters from the last election (30%).
“We will have to
repeat this poll in a year or two to see if the term “The 6ix” has gained any
traction, or, indeed, has survived at all. But for now, “Toronto” is what
people call the city, with a brief nod to the classic “TO”” said Forum Research
President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.
