To an outsider, a Tambola caller sounds like they're speaking in code. "Kelly's eye, number one!" "Two little ducks, twenty-two!" "Top of the shop, ninety!" It's a secret language passed down through generations of players — colourful, funny, and surprisingly meaningful. Here's the story behind the secret language of Tambola number calling, and what those mysterious phrases actually mean.
Where Did the Nicknames Come From?
The tradition began not in India, but in the bingo halls and military camps of early-20th-century Britain. Callers needed a way to make repetitive number-calling more entertaining — and to ensure numbers were heard clearly in noisy rooms. So they invented rhymes, jokes, and visual descriptions for each number. The nicknames stuck, travelled with the game to India, and became part of how Tambola is played here to this day.
The Three Types of Nicknames
Decode the language and you'll find the nicknames fall into three categories:
1. Rhymes
The simplest type — a word or phrase that rhymes with the number. "Cup of tea" for 3 (rhymes with "three"), "Knock at the door" for 4, "Garden gate" for 8. These are easy to remember and roll off the tongue.
2. Visual Descriptions
These describe what the digits look like. "Two little ducks" for 22 (the 2s look like ducks). "Legs eleven" for 11 (two vertical lines look like legs). "Two fat ladies" for 88 (the curvy 8s). "One little duck" for 2. Once you see them, you can't unsee them.
3. Cultural References
These point to history, places, or popular culture. "Kelly's eye" for 1 (possibly referring to outlaw Ned Kelly). "Doctor's orders" for 9 (a WWII army laxative pill numbered 9). "Half century" for 50 (a cricket reference, especially beloved in India). "Top of the shop" for 90 (the highest number on the board).
The Most Famous Ones
Some nicknames have become legendary. Here are the ones every seasoned player knows:
- 1 — Kelly's Eye
- 7 — Lucky Seven
- 11 — Legs Eleven
- 22 — Two Little Ducks
- 50 — Half Century
- 66 — Clickety Click
- 88 — Two Fat Ladies
- 90 — Top of the Shop
(We've catalogued the complete list of all 90 nicknames if you want to learn them all.)
Why the Tradition Survives
In an age of automated online number calling, you might think these nicknames would fade. But they persist because they add something a plain number never can — personality, humour, and a sense of occasion. A caller who says "two fat ladies, eighty-eight!" turns a simple number into a moment. The nicknames transform Tambola from a mechanical exercise into a performance, a shared joke, a tradition the whole room participates in.
Should You Use Them?
If you're hosting, absolutely — but read your room. At a lively kitty party or family gathering, the nicknames add wonderful flavour and laughter. At a fast-paced office game where everyone wants to finish in 20 minutes, plain numbers keep things moving. The best callers know when to lean into the theatre and when to keep it crisp. (Our host guide covers calling style in more depth.)
A Language Worth Preserving
The secret language of Tambola is a small, joyful piece of living history — British music-hall humour, kept alive at Indian gatherings a century later and thousands of miles away. Every time someone calls "two little ducks," they're speaking a language that connects them to generations of players across the world. That's worth keeping alive.
Want to become a great caller? Learn the full number calling guide, browse all 90 nicknames, or host your own game with free online Tambola.
