Where bingo calls come from
In the UK and Ireland, callers have long used rhymes and nicknames for numbers. They add humor and make the numbers easier to hear in a noisy hall. Many of these calls are decades old.
Well-known calls
- 1: Kelly's eye
- 11: Legs eleven
- 13: Unlucky for some
- 21: Key of the door
- 22: Two little ducks
- 66: Clickety click
- 88: Two fat ladies
- 90: Top of the shop
Ready to play? Make custom word or number bingo cards and print them free.
Make bingo cardsHow to use them
Say the nickname first, then the plain number, for example 'Legs eleven, number 11.' That keeps the game playful while making sure everyone can mark their card.
Make your own
Invent calls for your own group, such as a teacher's room number or a friend's birthday. Custom calls quickly become a running joke, and they make the game feel like yours.