desítky

Desítky are Czech noun in the plural that function as an indefinite quantifier meaning tens or dozens. They are used to express a large, approximate number without giving a precise count, for example in statements about people, money, time or objects.

Grammatically, desítky is often followed by a noun in the genitive plural. Common collocations include desítky lidí (tens of people), desítky milionů (tens of millions), desítky let (decades). The construction signals that the exact figure is not important or not known, while still conveying that the amount is substantial. In some contexts, the phrase can be strengthened with modifiers such as "přes desítky" or "desítky až stovek."

Etymology and nuance: the word derives from deset (ten) with the suffix -tka to form desítka, from which desítky is the plural. The usage of desítky often appears in journalism, statistics, and everyday speech to convey scale without precision. It contrasts with precise numbers (kolik desítek lidí exact numbers) and with larger, more specific terms like stovky or tisíce.

See also: numbers in Czech, desítka, množné číslo, genitiv. Desítky multiplication of tens is a conceptual unit rather than a fixed numeral, allowing speakers to indicate growth, uncertainty, or general magnitude efficiently.