The wonders of numbers in the Palestinian dialect: "Why is 60 for enemies and 1,000 for loved ones?"

January 7, 2026Last updated: January 30, 2026

2 min read

Bal-Filastini website – Welcome, everyone! As Palestinians, we have our own language, and we like to "spice up" our speech and give it a special flavor. One of the most distinctive features of the Palestinian dialect is our unusual way of using numbers.

For us, numbers are not just calculations and sums; they are expressions of our feelings! When we are angry, we come up with a number, and when we are happy, we jump to another number. Even when we want to exaggerate and embellish a story, we invent a new number. In this article, we will explore together why the number 60 has become the king of celebrations, why 1000 is reserved only for joyous occasions, and what is the story behind the "two hours" that have run out for us. Let's see how we have turned mathematics into "nonsense" and crazy stories.

1. Number (60): The king of insults and spirits with no return!

This number, praise be to God, is reserved for insults and abuse. Have you ever heard anyone say ,"Son of a 40-year-old dog"? Of course not! It's exclusively "son of a 60-year-old dog"or "son of a 60-year-old bitch." And even when you want to follow someone somewhere and don't want to see their face, you say to them: "Go to 60 Dahiya" or "With 60 Qala'a, you'll take off." The number 60 is the only one that satisfies your thirst when you're angry!

2. Numbers (100) and (1000): The duty of hospitality and welcome

When we have guests, 50 and 70 are not enough. We must say, "Welcome, welcome,"and "May you be blessed with good health." But when it comes to blessings, weddings, or recovery from illness, we raise the bar to 1,000. We say, "A thousand congratulations,"or "A thousand thanks to God for your safety." Try saying "100 congratulations" and you will feel it is incomplete and stingy; you need a thousand to complete the joy.

3. Number (10): Quality mark “Original”

When you want to describe a job well done or a delicious meal, you say: "10 out of 10." And even when you want someone to focus, you say, "Open your eyes 10 out of 10." The number 10 is our measure of perfection, and for example, if you give someone a 10, it means the news is true! To confirm that the news is not a lie.

4. Number (7): Number of dizziness and heavy sleep

Seven is a strange number, associated with fatigue and exaggeration. When you lose and overcome while searching for something, you say, "I've been around the block seven times." As for those who are asleep and unaware of the world, they are said to be "in the seventh sleep." If they were in the "sixth sleep," they could wake up, but the seventh is the end... Forget it! For example, "the seven are comfortable" is the standard response when meeting someone new and mentioning the name of their family or town.

5. Number (2): The longest period of time in history!

As for "two hours" in our case, it's a story in itself. You might be standing at the door for five minutes, but when you get impatient, you say, "I've been waiting for two hours!" And when you want someone to understand something and they don't get it, you say, "I've been explaining this to you for two hours!" The two hours we refer to are a unit of measurement for "impatience," not actual time.