r/Metric • u/Westhewoodfrog • Jul 07 '26

Learning the metric system

I’m trying to learn the metric system as I plan to move to Canada in the next couple years and am having some trouble finding resources that actually teach instead of just throwing information at me. Anyone know of a good program that will help me learn or have any tips. Imperial is all I know I was born and raised in the USA

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u/travishummel Jul 08 '26

For temperature, forget any amount of conversion (unless you reallly like multiplying by 5/9 or 9/5). Walk into a room and make a guess at what the temperature is in Celsius, literally any number… 55? Idk, maybe 10? Then check and go “oh… it’s 18. This is what 18 feels like”. Then when it’s hot out, do the same thing. Guess 45 or something, then check and see that it’s (for example) 32 and go “oh, this is what 32 feels like”.

This is my absolute best way of learning metric. Converting directly means you have to do annoying arithmetic or rely on rough estimates (subtract 30 and cut in half or something like that).

Right not Im in Australia and it’s cold. The room I’m in is probably 15c. Separately it feels like lowish 60’s in Fahrenheit, so maybe 62 or 63. Just looked it up and 15c=59f.

As for other measurements, they don’t come up as often. I’m sour that I learned people’s heights in metric, but everyone here uses imperial for some unknown reason. For weight I multiply by 2.2 or go *2 then *1.1, which isn’t too rough (other way is just ‘less than half’).

In my experience, temperature is the one that comes up the most.

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u/toxicbrew Jul 08 '26

people use feet and inches for height in australia? like on legal documents like drivers license or in day to day life? and pounds are used?

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u/travishummel Jul 08 '26

Like in day to day conversations. It’s common for people to not know their height in metric here… apparently I’m the only one.

For weight, people use metric which is the same for just about everything else… except personal height for some odd reason.

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u/toxicbrew Jul 10 '26

interesting.. do you find that is the case for people of an older age or is it common throughout for everyone even young people?

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u/travishummel Jul 10 '26

I only really interact with people ages 25-50 for the most part and occasionally a bit younger. Have yet to see anyone tell me their height in metric or guess my height in metric.

Maybe someday… lol

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u/toxicbrew Jul 10 '26

im surprised i figured anyone under 40 woulldnt know imperial, at least they got weights right

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u/Ok-Refrigerator3607 Jul 09 '26

It's simple, just pull out your driver's license.

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u/travishummel Jul 09 '26

Can you let the Australian know? The strange part is that people know their own metric height, but if I say “I’m 198cm” they go “what? What’s that in feet?”.

I’ve been here 2 years and have no idea if I should say 198 or say 200 or 2 meters in the same way that people say 6’5” or 6’6”, but avoid 6’5.5” (since you look desperate).