In English, there are a few ways we could read out a year like 2012 - e.g.
"two thousand and twelve", "twenty twelve". Does the same thing exist in
Japanese, or is there only one way ever actually used by people?

Is there a way to shorten years? E.g. 2009 could be referred to as "oh nine"
in English.
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2018-10-11T05:47:38.893
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2021-10-04T16:07:48.197
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readings time
Different ways to read out the year
In Japanese, the year 2012 can be read as follows:

  1. せいれきにせんじゅうにねん
  2. にせんじゅうにねん
  3. へいせい にじゅうよねん
  4. にじゅうよねん

せいれき（西暦） being the Japanese term for the Western Calendar or Anno Domini and
へいせい（平成） being the name of the current era. Note that it's not very common to
say Option 4. The most common in my option would be Options 2 and 3. Option 1
is quite formal and not used in everyday conversation.

If the year in question _happens to be the first year of an era_ , e.g. 1989
then there would be two additional ways and one is:

> へいせいがんねん

がんねん（元年）meaning the first year of an era, as 1989 was the first year of
Heisei. Another way to call 1989 is:

> しょうわろくじゅうよねん

As it was also the 64th year of Showa Era.

Next May a new era will be born, so for example if it's named "AB Era", then
the year 2019 can be called,

> ABがんねん

But before that (until the end of April 2019), it will still be called

> へいせいさんじゅういちねん

As it will be the 31st year of Heisei next year.

**About shorter names**...I don't know any other than the options above.
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answer