kilkunastu

Kilkunastu is a Polish numeral indicating an approximate quantity around a dozen to a little more, typically understood as a range of about 12 to 19. It is used when the speaker or writer does not require an exact count but wants to convey a small, but not tiny, group.

Usage of kilkunastu occurs mainly with nouns in the genitive plural, especially masculine personal or mixed-gender groups. Examples include kilkunastu uczestników (about a dozen participants) or kilkunastu świadków (about a dozen witnesses). The term is common in both written and spoken Polish and can appear in journalism, reports, or narrative prose. It contrasts with kilkanaście, which is the base form for describing the same approximate range, and with kilkadziesiąt, which denotes tens rather than a dozen-odd amount.

Etymology and form: kilkunastu is the oblique/genitive plural form of kilkanaście, meaning “a dozen or so.” The form changes to agree with the noun it modifies, reflecting Polish noun–numeral concord.

Relation to other numerals: Kilkunastu sits between kilka (a few) and kilkanaście (a dozen or so) in nuance, and it is narrower in scope than kilkadziesiąt (tens). It is ideal for conveying impressionistic counts without committing to a precise number.

See also: Kilkanaście; Polish numeral system; Polish grammar.