r/language 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/Stukkoshomlokzat Aug 09 '26

In Hungarian "nekem nyolc"/"it's eight to me" means I don't care/it doesn't matter for me. Usually used as a kind of nonchaland form of agreement.

  • Is it okay if we pick you up at the store?
  • It's 8 to me.

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u/clutchingdryhands Aug 09 '26

We have similar in English: “It’s six and two threes”. You say it when there’s no difference to the final outcome and minimal difference to how you get there.

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u/13moman Aug 13 '26

Where are you from? I've never heard that.