Just One Tenth Call Toronto "The 6ix” or “TO”

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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.