# Names for playing card numbers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 21, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-playing-card-numbers/486873 "2009-02-21T18:16:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-playing-card-numbers/486873/41 "2009-02-24T07:51:22Z")
My grandfather, cribbage player extraordinaire, always called a 5 a “pedro”. Wikipedia backs that up. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@Mister\_Owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Owl)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-playing-card-numbers/486873/42 "2009-02-24T14:43:05Z")
I used to play poker with a group that referred to the “8” card as “dog nuts.” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-playing-card-numbers/486873/43 "2009-02-24T14:51:57Z")
> [@Mister\_Owl](#): > > I used to play poker with a group that referred to the “8” card as “dog nuts.” I often call doughnuts (and donuts) dognuts because that’s how my mind works. It’s like when I see “car wash” I think “car mash” because this one time the sign guy either didn’t have a “w” or else he didn’t realize what he had done. Anyway, do you suppose the 8 looking like two donuts has anything to do with that? Or is there some other connection beyond the guy being weird like me? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-playing-card-numbers/486873/44 "2009-02-24T17:50:36Z")
> [@MC\_E](#): > > They do, even though you were not aware of it. Imagine that. > > [Curse of Scotland - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_scotland) Hmm, nice cite.🆒 Do you have a similar list for craps points? I know Snakeyes, Little Joe, and Boxcars, but there’s likely more. Q.E.D.? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-playing-card-numbers/486873/45 "2009-02-24T17:57:46Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > My grandfather, cribbage player extraordinaire, always called a 5 a “pedro”. Wikipedia backs that up. From the All Fours-family game of the same name, no doubt, where 5 of trump and the 5 of the same-color suit were top trumps, each called a “pedro.” I’ve heard the 9 called “niner” but I suppose that’s not exclusive to cards. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-playing-card-numbers/486873/46 "2009-02-24T18:27:34Z")
> [@Duke](#): > > I’ve heard the 9 called “niner” but I suppose that’s not exclusive to cards. “Niner” is the official phonetic pronunciation of “9” (used in, for example, air traffic control) to avoid confusion with “five”. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-playing-card-numbers/486873/47 "2009-02-24T21:21:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Jacks: cowboys, knights Jacks aren’t cowboys. Kings are cowboys. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/names-for-playing-card-numbers/486873.md?page=2)