TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
Y2K PROBLEM [5 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2006-01-18
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- General Vocabulary
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- Year 2000
1, record 1, English, Year%202000
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
- Y2K 2, record 1, English, Y2K
correct
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Y2K refers to the problem many computer systems may encounter in handling dates from the new millennium. 3, record 1, English, - Year%202000
Record 1, Key term(s)
- y2000
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Vocabulaire général
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- an 2000
1, record 1, French, an%202000
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
- A2K 2, record 1, French, A2K
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
L'Office de la langue française et l'Organisation internationale de normalisation stipulent que c'est un usage abusif que d'employer le symbole k pour les dates en français. 3, record 1, French, - an%202000
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2004-09-02
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Computer Mathematics
- Computer Programs and Programming
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- two-digit year format 1, record 2, English, two%2Ddigit%20year%20format
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- 2-digit date 2, record 2, English, 2%2Ddigit%20date
- 2-digit year 2, record 2, English, 2%2Ddigit%20year
- two-digit date convention 2, record 2, English, two%2Ddigit%20date%20convention
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A format that provides a year date as two digits only to represent a year within a specific century. The two high-order digits of the year are truncated; for example 1995 is represented as 95. 1, record 2, English, - two%2Ddigit%20year%20format
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
The [Y2K] problem arises from a simple, yet egregious error. Back in the early 1960's computer programmers creating the first electronic computing systems made a decision to minimize memory processor usage by designating the year as a two-digit function rather than a four-digit function. 3, record 2, English, - two%2Ddigit%20year%20format
Record 2, Key term(s)
- two-digit date
- two-digit year
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Mathématiques informatiques
- Programmes et programmation (Informatique)
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- format de date à deux chiffres
1, record 2, French, format%20de%20date%20%C3%A0%20deux%20chiffres
masculine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- format de date à 2 chiffres 1, record 2, French, format%20de%20date%20%C3%A0%202%20chiffres
masculine noun
- date codée sur deux chiffres 1, record 2, French, date%20cod%C3%A9e%20sur%20deux%20chiffres
feminine noun
- date à 2 chiffres 1, record 2, French, date%20%C3%A0%202%20chiffres
feminine noun
- année à 2 chiffres 1, record 2, French, ann%C3%A9e%20%C3%A0%202%20chiffres
feminine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Format de date qui utilise deux caractères seulement pour représenter l'année, donc sans spécifier le siècle (ex. 98 à la place de 1998). 1, record 2, French, - format%20de%20date%20%C3%A0%20deux%20chiffres
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Le problème du changement de date à l'an 2000 découle de l'utilisation habituelle de champs de dates à deux chiffres seulement. Cette façon de faire avait été adoptée dans le passé pour préserver l'espace disque et l'espace mémoire, alors coûteux. Les spécialistes du développement de programmes n'avaient pas prévu, apparemment, que les applications s'étendent au-delà de l'an 2000. Or, avec ce type de programmes, assez nombreux, l'an 2000 sera interprété comme «00», ce qui faussera les calculs ou les rendra méconnaissables. 2, record 2, French, - format%20de%20date%20%C3%A0%20deux%20chiffres
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2004-09-02
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Computer Programs and Programming
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- two-digit field 1, record 3, English, two%2Ddigit%20field
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- two-digit year storage 2, record 3, English, two%2Ddigit%20year%20storage
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
The [Y2K] problem arises from a simple, yet egregious error. Back in the early 1960's computer programmers creating the first electronic computing systems made a decision to minimize memory processor usage by designating the year as a two-digit function rather than a four-digit function. 3, record 3, English, - two%2Ddigit%20field
Record 3, Key term(s)
- two digit field
- two digit year storage
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Programmes et programmation (Informatique)
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- champ de date à deux chiffres
1, record 3, French, champ%20de%20date%20%C3%A0%20deux%20chiffres
masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Le problème du changement de date à l'an 2000 découle de l'utilisation habituelle de champs de dates à deux chiffres seulement. Cette façon de faire avait été adoptée dans le passé pour préserver l'espace disque et l'espace mémoire, alors coûteux. Les spécialistes du développement de programmes n'avaient pas prévu, apparemment, que les applications s'étendent au-delà de l'an 2000. Or, avec ce type de programmes, assez nombreux, l'an 2000 sera interprété comme «00», ce qui faussera les calculs ou les rendra méconnaissables. 1, record 3, French, - champ%20de%20date%20%C3%A0%20deux%20chiffres
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2002-06-19
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Chronology
- Spacecraft
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- end-of-week rollover
1, record 4, English, end%2Dof%2Dweek%20rollover
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
- end-of-week roll over 2, record 4, English, end%2Dof%2Dweek%20roll%20over
correct
- EOW rollover 3, record 4, English, EOW%20rollover
correct
- EOW roll-over 4, record 4, English, EOW%20roll%2Dover
correct
- EOW roll over 2, record 4, English, EOW%20roll%20over
correct
- week number rollover 5, record 4, English, week%20number%20rollover
correct
- clock roll-over 6, record 4, English, clock%20roll%2Dover
correct
- Z-count roll-over 7, record 4, English, Z%2Dcount%20roll%2Dover
correct
- end of week rollover 8, record 4, English, end%20of%20week%20rollover
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The GPS EOW rollover occurs every 1,024 weeks -- about once every 20 years. The GPS system calculates time by counting the number of weeks since January 6, 1980 -- up to a maximum of 1,023 weeks. At midnight between August 21-22, 1999, the GPS week "counter" will roll back to zero weeks. DOD says this will not create problems for the GPS satellites or DOD’s GPS ground control center, but it could present a problem for consumers who use older GPS receivers and related applications. That’s because after August 21, 1999, receivers could process satellite data incorrectly and display inaccurate information. 6, record 4, English, - end%2Dof%2Dweek%20rollover
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Users of the Global Positioning System(GPS) should note that GPS does not have a Y2K problem. However, a clock overflow problem, called the "Z-count roll-over" does exist and is sometimes erroneously labeled as a Y2K problem. This clock roll-over occurs every 1, 024 weeks; the first roll-over having occurred Aug. 21, 1999. 7, record 4, English, - end%2Dof%2Dweek%20rollover
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 3 CONT
The fleet of orbiting Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites experienced what officials termed "End of Week" rollover of the spacecraft’s internal clock mechanisms at 13 seconds before 8 p.m. ET Saturday. 9, record 4, English, - end%2Dof%2Dweek%20rollover
Record 4, Key term(s)
- end-of-week roll-over
- Z-count rollover
- Z-count roll over
- end of week roll-over
- end of week roll over
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Chronologie
- Engins spatiaux
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- remise à zéro
1, record 4, French, remise%20%C3%A0%20z%C3%A9ro
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
- remise à zéro de fin de semaine 2, record 4, French, remise%20%C3%A0%20z%C3%A9ro%20de%20fin%20de%20semaine
feminine noun
- remise à zéro EOW 2, record 4, French, remise%20%C3%A0%20z%C3%A9ro%20EOW
feminine noun
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[...] les récepteurs GPS subiront également la remise à zéro d'un compteur de semaines initialisé il y a 20 ans, phénomène baptisé «End of Week rollover» (EOW). La base de temps du système de positionnement utilise en effet un compteur, lancé le 6 janvier 1980, qui passera le 21 août 1999 à minuit de la semaine 1023 à la semaine 0000. 3, record 4, French, - remise%20%C3%A0%20z%C3%A9ro
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Le ministère des Pêches et des Océans rappelle à tous les navigateurs et les plaisanciers que le système de positionnement mondial par satellite (GPS) subira une remise à zéro «de fin de semaine» (EOW) à minuit, le 21 août 1999, temps universel. [...] Le système GPS permet aux utilisateurs équipés de récepteurs GPS de déterminer de façon continue leur position géographique. Ce système comptabilise les semaines depuis le 6 janvier 1980 et peut en compter jusqu'à un maximum de 1024. Par conséquent, à minuit, le 21 août, l'horloge interne du système sera remise à zéro. 2, record 4, French, - remise%20%C3%A0%20z%C3%A9ro
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 2000-03-07
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Titles of Monographs
- Industries - General
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- Ready for Year 2000 -- a Practical Guide for Small and Medium-sized Businesses
1, record 5, English, Ready%20for%20Year%202000%20%2D%2D%20a%20Practical%20Guide%20for%20Small%20and%20Medium%2Dsized%20Businesses
correct, Canada
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Ottawa : Industry Canada, 1999. Abstract :"This booklet provides an overview of the problem and guidance--for CGAs and for small and medium-sized enterprises--on how to develop and manage a Y2K remediation plan. "--Page 3. 1, record 5, English, - Ready%20for%20Year%202000%20%2D%2D%20a%20Practical%20Guide%20for%20Small%20and%20Medium%2Dsized%20Businesses
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Titres de monographies
- Industries - Généralités
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- Objectif 2000 -- un guide pratique pour les PME [petites et moyennes entreprises]
1, record 5, French, Objectif%202000%20%2D%2D%20un%20guide%20pratique%20pour%20les%20PME%20%5Bpetites%20et%20moyennes%20entreprises%5D
correct, Canada
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Ottawa : Industrie Canada, 1999. 1, record 5, French, - Objectif%202000%20%2D%2D%20un%20guide%20pratique%20pour%20les%20PME%20%5Bpetites%20et%20moyennes%20entreprises%5D
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


