Friday the 13th is a reminder that the number 13 is not considered unlucky everywhere. In fact, different cultures associate bad luck with a variety of numbers, often for reasons rooted in language, religion, mythology and local traditions.
Here’s a look at some of the world’s most widely recognized unlucky numbers, along with a map showing how these superstitions vary from country to country.
East and Southeast Asia
China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam
- Number 4: Widely considered unlucky because its pronunciation resembles the word for «death.» This association is known as tetraphobia. In Mandarin, the number is pronounced sì, while in Japanese and Korean it is pronounced shi. Some hotels, hospitals and high-rise buildings skip the fourth floor or avoid using the number in room assignments.
- Number 9 (Japan): Sometimes considered unlucky because one of its pronunciations, ku, sounds like the Japanese word for suffering or agony.
- Number 7 (China, Thailand and Vietnam): In some traditions, the seventh lunar month is associated with ghosts and the spirit world. Known in Chinese culture as the Ghost Month, it is a time when certain activities are traditionally avoided.
Western countries
U.S., U.K., Canada and parts of Europe
- Number 13: Associated with triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13. One popular explanation traces the superstition to the Last Supper, where Judas Iscariot was the 13th guest. Another comes from Norse mythology, in which Loki arrives as the 13th guest at a banquet. Friday the 13th is widely regarded as an unlucky day, and some buildings omit the 13th floor.
- Number 666: Known as the «number of the beast» in the Book of Revelation in the Christian Bible. In contrast, in contemporary Chinese internet slang, 666 is often used to express admiration or describe something impressive.
Italy
- Number 17: Traditionally considered Italy’s most unlucky number. Written in Roman numerals as XVII, it can be rearranged to form VIXI, a Latin expression meaning «I have lived,» which is associated with death. Friday the 17th, rather than Friday the 13th, is considered particularly inauspicious.
Afghanistan
- Number 39: Widely avoided in certain contexts, including vehicle license plates, phone numbers and addresses. The superstition is associated with the expression morda-gow («dead cow»), which also carries derogatory slang connotations related to pimping.
India
- Number 8: In some astrological and religious traditions, the number is associated with Shani (Saturn). Its influence is sometimes linked to hardship, relationship difficulties and unexpected setbacks.
Spain, Greece and parts of Latin America
- Tuesday the 13th: Considered unlucky in Spain, Greece and several Spanish-speaking countries, rather than Friday the 13th. The association is partly linked to Tuesday’s connection with Mars, the Roman god of war, and the belief that the day is therefore inauspicious.
