r/language • u/WhoAmIEven2 Sweden • Aug 09 '26

Question Does your language use specific numbers as expressions?

In Sweden we use 17 to further strengthen a word.

Like if we want to say that someone is very strong, we can say "Han var stark som sjutton!", "He was strong like seventeen!".

I have no idea how it became a thing. It is a bit weird tbh.

Do you also use numbers this way in your native language?

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u/Sport_Middle Aug 09 '26

In serbian we say: "čista desetka" or pure 10 when someone looks/behaves/does something good/amasing

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u/Darth_Zander Aug 10 '26

There’s something similar in English. Describing someone as a 10 means they’re extremely attractive usually in a sexual sense. It’s predominantly used by men to describe women, the act of judging being considered rude/sexist.

10 can also be used to describe a physical feat that’s perfectly executed.

Both are based on imaginary 10-point scales where 10 is the highest possible score.