Slang terms using numbers are very common in informal English. Numbers can be used to signify different meanings based on the context. In the opening paragraphs, we’ll look at some common questions around slang numbers and provide quick answers.
What are some examples of slang using numbers?
Here are some common slang uses of numbers:
- 420 – Marijuana or cannabis culture
- 69 – Simultaneous oral sex
- 2 Girls 1 Cup – Shock video with disturbing content
- 404 – Not found error message
- 101 – Introduction or basics
- 411 – Information or gossip
- 666 – The devil or evil
- 7-Eleven – Convenience store chain
- 42 – Meaning of life from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
- 10-4 – Radio communication for message received
Why are numbers used in slang?
There are a few reasons why numbers are commonly used in slang:
- Numbers are short and easy to say
- Numbers are memorable and stand out
- Numbers can represent dates, times, ages, or other specifics
- Numbers can have symbolic meanings
- Numbers from popular culture get adopted into slang
- Numbers can act as a kind of code
When did using numbers as slang originate?
Using numbers as slang has been around for a very long time. Some examples:
- The phrase “Cloud 7” was used to mean blissful back in the 1700s.
- “86” meant to reject or get rid of something as far back as the 1930s.
- Students in the 1940s used “4-1-1” to ask for information or gossip.
- In the 1960s, “10-4” emerged as CB radio slang for message received.
- The slang meaning of “420” originated in the 1970s associated with a group of California high school students.
As you can see, numbers have been used in slang for generations. The practice really took off in the 20th century and continues to thrive today with newer terms like “404” entering the lexicon.
What are some number slang terms related to sports?
Numbers play an important role in sports, so there is extensive slang related to statistics and scores including:
- A “triple double” in basketball refers to a player getting double digit numbers in three stat categories in one game, like points, rebounds, and assists.
- “90s club” refers to a baseball player hitting 90+ mph on their fastball.
- “3-pointer” is a shot made from beyond the arc in basketball.
- A “safety” in American football is when a player is tackled in their own end zone resulting in 2 points.
- “8th inning guy” refers to a late relief pitcher in baseball.
- “Plus/minus” tracks how much better or worse a team performs when a player is on the ice in hockey.
These are just a few examples. Virtually every sport has numerical slang terms related to stats, scores, positions, and more.
What are some slang phrases with numbers?
In addition to single numbers, there are many common slang phrases that incorporate numbers, such as:
- 24/7 – Constantly, all the time
- 5-0 – Police
- 10-4 Good Buddy – Trucker CB radio slang for affirmative
- Two shakes of a lamb’s tail – Quickly, fast
- A Series of Tubes – Referring humorously to the internet
- 21 Questions – Interrogation game to guess something
- Cloud 9 – State of bliss or elation
Colorful number phrases like these add flair to the English language. Entire slang languages like Leetspeak also rely heavily on substituting numbers for letters.
What are some slang words for specific numbers?
| Number | Slang Terms |
|---|---|
| 0 | Zero, nil, zilch, nada, aught |
| 1 | One, ace |
| 2 | Two, deuce, seconds |
| 3 | Three, trey |
| 4 | Four, quatro |
| 5 | Five, fin, fiver |
| 6 | Six, sixer |
| 7 | Seven, lucky seven |
| 8 | Eight, eighter |
| 9 | Nine, niner |
As shown in the table above, most numbers have various informal synonyms in addition to their formal name. This numerical slang exists both for brevity and as a type of in-group code in different contexts.
Additional examples
- 10 can mean perfect, as in scoring a “10” or “dime” for an attractive person.
- 11 refers to the 11th letter of the alphabet “K,” shorthand for “OK”.
- 12 often means the police (from the TV show Hawaii Five-O).
- 13 can mean misfortune, related to superstition around the number.
- 21 when used in a card game can indicate a “Blackjack” hand.
How do number slang terms develop?
There are a few common pathways for creating number slang:
- Numbers that already signify something take on a slang meaning related to that significance. For example, 69 referring to the sexual position.
- Pop culture introduces numbers that get adopted into slang. Like 42 meaning “the answer to life, the universe, and everything” from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
- Group traditions pass down numbers relevant to that subculture. Such as 420 among marijuana enthusiasts coming from an urban legend about a police code.
- Leetspeak and other codes use number substitutions for letters that become slang themselves. For instance substituting 4 for “A” and 3 for “E”.
- Numbers get altered or inverted to mean related concepts. Like how 413 comes to mean “unlucky” playing off the superstition around 13.
Over time, some number slang crosses over from specific groups into the mainstream. While other terms remain insider slang never widely adopted outside their original context.
What are some numerical slang terms from the internet and texting?
The internet and text messaging have contributed many numerical slang terms, some examples include:
- 404 – Page Not Found error message
- 101 – Introductory overview of a topic
- 143 – I love you shorthand based on the number of letters in each word
- 411 – Information based on the telephone directory assistance number
- 831 or 8 – Letters used to mean “Hate” based on their position in the alphabet
- 2DAY – Spelling of “today” with numbers
- BI2 – Shorthand for “Back in two” using numbers and letters
- W8 – “Wait” spelled with the numb3r 8
- 🙂 or 🙂 – Emoticon for a smiley face
With limited characters, numbers make useful substitutes and shortcuts online. Emoticons also rely heavily on symbols created from numbers and punctuation.
Leetspeak
One codified slang system using numbers online is known as Leetspeak or “1337speak.” It uses number and symbol substitutions for the English alphabet such as:
| Letter | Leetspeak Symbol |
|---|---|
| A | 4 |
| B | I3 |
| C | ( |
| D | )> |
| E | 3 |
| F | |= |
| G | 6 |
| H | #- |
| I | 1 |
| J | ,_| |
Leetspeak was popularized by hackers and online gamers in the early days of the internet but persists today on forums and message boards, especially with tech-savvy users.
What slang uses do specific numbers have?
Some of the most common slang meanings for individual numbers include:
0
- Zero, meaning devoid of worth or nothing
- Zilch or nada, emphasizing nothing or emptiness
- Aught, an archaic term for zero now used in slang
1
- Ace, meaning excellence or expert skill
- One, used for emphasis like “that one thing…”
- First place or the best
2
- Deuce, often used in card games but migrated as slang for two
- Couple or pair, as in “a couple of drinks”
- Twice, or doubly – like “two times as much”
3
- Trey, a slang card term for a three now used more broadly
- Third place finish or ranking
- Good things come in threes
4
- Four-bagger meaning a home run in baseball
- Quatro or quad meaning four, from Spanish/Latin roots
- Four-twenty, associated with marijuana
5
- Fiver or fin meaning five dollar bill
- High five, the celebratory hand slap
- Nickname for law enforcement (from Hawaii Five-O)
And so on for each number, with diverse slang terms and uses. Even large numbers like million (mil), billion (bil) and trillion (tri) have numeric shorthand in slang.
What slang uses numbers for people or relationships?
Numbers get applied to people and relationships in slang as well, including:
- 10 – A perfect partner or “dime” based on scoring them a 10/10
- 6 – Significant other or partner, as in “my 6”
- 1UP – One who provides an advantage or leg up
- 007 – Mysterious secret agent type
- 24/7 – Constantly available and attentive partner
- 2G1C – Shock video title implying bizarre relationship
- 3RD – Cheating on a partner by with a 3rd person
Numbers and math terms also lend themselves to rating attractiveness on a scale, or signaling how close or committed a relationship is.
Conclusion
In summary, numbers are ubiquitous in English slang terminology and represent a creative linguistic phenomenon. Slang allows numbers to take on additional meanings separate from their mathematical purposes. Through pop culture, codes, convenience, and symbolism, certain numbers become shorthand with different slang definitions based on context.
Examining how and why numeric slang develops provides insight into the evolution of language, especially informal dialects. The meanings of specific numbers also reveal what holds significance in society during different eras. From sports stats to internet communication, numbers underpin key aspects of culture that get reflected in slang.
Numeric slang provides in-group identity, allows taboo subjects to be referenced discretely, and adds color to everyday vocabulary. Numbers have been woven into the slang lexicon for generations and will likely continue developing new meanings and uses in the future.