Buzz
While the number 13 is notoriously linked to bad luck, it’s just one of many digits feared across cultures. Superstitions, linguistic quirks, or historical incidents have led to various numbers being avoided and labeled as unlucky.
1039.
In Afghanistan, particularly in Kabul, the number 39 is shunned due to the infamous “curse of 39.” Legend has it that a pimp once drove a car with 39 on its license plate and resided at an address containing the same number. Some attribute the aversion to an ancient calculation system known as abjad. While the exact origins remain unclear, the number has earned a notorious reputation.
Afghans steer clear of the number 39 on vehicle plates, phone numbers, and house addresses. For example, a car worth $12,000 might sell for just $7,000 if its plate bears the number 39. Owners of such plates often hire calligraphers to alter the 9 to resemble an 8. Those with 39 in their phone numbers conceal it when making calls, and some even receive inquiries about prostitution. Individuals aged 39 avoid admitting their age, preferring to say they are one year away from 40.
90888. 888 888
Bulgarian mobile operator Mobitel deactivated the phone number 0888 888 888 after three of its users died within a decade. The first owner, Vladimir Grashnov, the company’s former CEO, passed away in 2001. Officially, his death was attributed to cancer, though rumors suggest he was poisoned by a competitor.
The number was subsequently assigned to drug kingpin Konstantin Dimitrov, who was killed in the Netherlands while overseeing his smuggling operations. The assassination was orchestrated by rival Russian drug cartels.
The third individual to possess the number was Konstantin Dishliev, a drug trafficker and estate manager. He was killed outside a restaurant in Sofia, Bulgaria, shortly after police seized £130 million worth of his narcotics.
Following his death, Mobitel deactivated the line permanently, ensuring it was never reassigned to another user.
811.
Our numerical system allows for unique dates and times, such as 11/11/11 and 11:11, composed of a single repeating digit. While these sequences hold no inherent meaning, many people attribute superstitious significance to them.
For instance, the time “11:11” stands out more than other times on a clock, making it more memorable when you glance at it. This has led to the “11:11 phenomenon,” where people mistakenly believe they frequently check the time at 11:11. This concept inspired the movie 11/11/11, which premiered on November 11, 2011.
Conspiracy theorists often incorporate the number 11 into their far-fetched theories about events like the Kennedy assassination or the September 11 attacks. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center resembled a massive number 11. The attacks occurred on 9/11, and 9 + 1 + 1 equals 11. September 11 was the 254th day of 2001, and 2 + 5 + 4 also sums to 11. The first plane to hit the towers was Flight 11, which had 11 crew members and 92 passengers—9 + 2 again equals 11. Both New York City and Afghanistan have 11 letters in their names.
717.
In Italy, the number 17 is regarded as unlucky. It represents death because its Roman numeral form, “XVII,” can be rearranged to spell “VIXI,” meaning “I lived,” a phrase commonly inscribed on ancient Roman graves. Additionally, its association with the biblical great flood, which started on February 17 (one of the few specific dates mentioned in the Bible), adds to its ominous reputation. In la smorfia, a dream interpretation system, 17 signifies bad luck.
Many Italian hotels omit room number 17, and certain Alitalia flights skip row 17. If the 17th day of the month lands on a Friday, it’s deemed particularly unlucky. When November 17 (which coincides with the Day of the Dead) falls on a Friday, the entire month is referred to as the Month of the Deceased.
6250.
In China, the number 250 is viewed as an insult. In Mandarin, it’s pronounced “er bai wu,” which translates to “imbecile.” Other pronunciations, like “liang bai wu” or “er bai wu shi,” carry no negative connotations.
The number’s use as an insult may trace back to ancient China. During the era of copper coins, 1,000 coins were a standard unit of measurement. Half of that amount (500) denoted something or someone of lesser value, and half of 500 (250) referred to something or someone extremely inferior.
In China, the number is so widely avoided that Gulfstream Aerospace renamed its Gulfstream G250, a midsize business jet, to the G280. The company’s senior vice president explained that the new number was more culturally acceptable in certain regions.
587.
In Australian cricket, the number 87 is known as the “cricket devil’s number.” It’s thought that batsmen are particularly prone to being dismissed after scoring 87 runs. This number is also 13 runs short of 100, a milestone every batsman strives to achieve.
This superstition originated in December 1929 when 10-year-old Keith Miller watched a match featuring Don Bradman, arguably the greatest batsman of all time. Bradman scored 87 runs before being dismissed by Harry “Bull” Alexander. Years later, when Miller played for the Australian team, his teammate Ian Johnson was also dismissed at 87. Recalling Bradman’s dismissal, Miller developed a dislike for the number. From then on, Miller and Johnson would tease each other whenever a batsman reached 87.
While this might seem like a trivial coincidence to base a superstition on, the reality is even more absurd. Years later, Miller revisited the details of the 1929 match and discovered that Bradman was actually dismissed on the 89th bowl, not the 87th.
4111.
Beyond Australian cricket, the number 111 is considered unlucky in the sport globally. Known as a Nelson, it’s named after the famed British admiral Horatio Nelson. Some believe it symbolizes Nelson’s missing eye, arm, and leg, though he actually had two intact legs. Others argue it represents his three major naval victories at Copenhagen, the Nile, and Trafalgar. Alternatively, 111 is thought to resemble an empty wicket, adding to its unlucky reputation.
A popular superstition suggests that if a team scores 111 runs, all players except the batsman should lift one leg off the ground to avoid losing the next ball. This belief was popularized by umpire David Shepherd, who was known to hop or jump during matches.
During a match between South Africa and Australia on November 11, 2011, at exactly 11:11 AM, South Africa required 111 runs to win. Fans were encouraged to raise one leg for a full minute. The tactic seemed to work, as South Africa emerged victorious.
1191.
While connections between numbers and disasters are purely coincidental, they can still be eerie. Since the 1960s, five different aircraft with the flight number 191 have been involved in crashes.
The most catastrophic air disaster in U.S. history was American Airlines Flight 191, which crashed at Chicago O’Hare Airport in 1979, resulting in 273 fatalities. In 1967, the experimental X-15 Flight 191 also crashed, claiming the life of its pilot. No other X-15 flights have experienced such incidents.
In 1972, Prin Air Flight 191 crashed at Mercedita Airport in Puerto Rico. Delta Airlines Flight 191 met a similar fate in 1985 at Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, killing 137 people. In 2012, JetBlue Airways Flight 191 made an emergency landing in Texas after the pilot began acting erratically midflight and had to be restrained by passengers.
Delta and American Airlines have retired the use of flight number 191.
226. (And 8)
In India, the number 26 is considered unlucky. The devastating 2001 Gujarat earthquake, which claimed 20,000 lives, occurred on January 26. The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, responsible for approximately 230,000 deaths worldwide, struck on December 26. On May 26, 2007, multiple bombs exploded in Guwahati, a city in northeastern India. The 2008 Ahmedabad bombings took place on July 26, followed by the Mumbai terrorist attacks on November 26.
According to numerology, adding 2 and 6 results in 8, a number associated with destruction, misfortune, and adversity. Numerologists recommend avoiding the eighth day of any month for weddings or other auspicious events. However, 8 can also symbolize success, but only if the individual puts in significant effort and perseverance.
37.
While many cultures view 7 as a lucky number, in China, it symbolizes abandonment, anger, or death. The seventh month of the Chinese calendar, known as “The Ghost Month,” is believed to be when spirits roam freely. However, some see it as a neutral time since their Valentine’s Day is celebrated on July 7 (7/7).
The apophenia linked to the number 11 also applies to 7, especially concerning airplane crashes. In 2014, planes crashed in Ukraine, Mali, and Taiwan within seven days, starting on July 17. Flight MH17 was shot down at 17:17 in eastern Ukraine. The plane, a Boeing 777, had been in service for 17 years (07/17/1997–07/17/2014). An Indian military helicopter crashed at 17:00, killing seven people. On 07/07, a Vietnamese Mi-171 helicopter crashed at 7:37. An ATR 72 crashed in Taiwan on 07/23, and Air Algerie Flight AH5017, a Boeing 717, crashed on 7/24. The year’s most infamous aviation disaster was the disappearance of Malaysian Airways Flight MH370.
