desiatka

Desiatka is a term used in Slovak and related languages that literally denotes a set of ten or the number ten. It is formed from the stem desiat (ten) plus the suffix -ka, which in Slovak commonly creates a unit or collection. The meaning is primarily quantitative.

In everyday use, desiatka refers to a group or batch of ten items, people, or units: for example, desiatka ľudí means ten people, desiatka minút means ten minutes, or a desiatka čísel in a list of ten numbers. It can also denote a top-ten list or a rating of ten on a 1–10 scale.

In numerical and educational contexts, desiatka appears as shorthand for the digit ten in phrases and counting. In some contexts, it may indicate a decade or ten-year period, though that usage is less common.

As a proper noun, desiatka is used as the name of various informal groups, clubs, or events in Slovakia and nearby regions. These uses are specific to branding or tradition and are independent of the everyday meaning.

In related Slavic languages, cognates exist but differ in form and usage: Czech uses deset rather than desiatka, while other languages employ their own terms for ten.