01
achtzehn
eighteen
The cardinal number that follows seventeen and comes before nineteen; the number 18.
example
In Deutschland ist man mit achtzehn Jahren volljährig.
In Germany, you come of age at eighteen.
achtzehn
eighteen
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The number 'achtzehn' (eighteen) follows the typical pattern for numbers from 13 to 19 in German: it is formed from the ones digit ('acht' = eight) and 'zehn' (ten).
EXAMPLE
Das Buch hat nur achtzehn Seiten.
The book has only eighteen pages.
Cultural context
The number 18 is especially important in Germany because at eighteen you reach legal adulthood. That means you are allowed to vote, drive a car, and have full legal capacity to conduct business.
EXAMPLE
Endlich achtzehn! Jetzt kann ich meinen Führerschein machen.
Finally eighteen! Now I can get my driver's license.
Use for time
In the 24-hour system, 'achtzehn Uhr' is used for 18:00, or 6 p.m. This is common in formal contexts such as timetables or official appointments.
EXAMPLE
Der Zug nach München fährt um achtzehn Uhr am Gleis fünf ab.
The train to Munich departs at eighteen hundred from platform five.
Compare with
achtzehn vs sechs
six
'sechs' and 'achtzehn' are numbers, but they refer to very different quantities. 'sechs' means 6, while 'achtzehn' means 18. They can be confused especially when listening, because numbers are spoken quickly and both often occur in everyday life in times, prices, or numbers. With 'achtzehn', it is important that it consists of 'acht' and 'zehn'. 'sechs' is short and has no ending like '-zehn'.
achtzehn
Am Abend fahren achtzehn Personen mit dem Bus zum Hotel.
In the evening, eighteen people take the bus to the hotel.
sechs
In der Schule bilden wir sechs Gruppen für die Vorbereitung.
At school, we form six groups for the preparation.
In real life
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