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
When telling the time in the evening, sechs can informally stand for 18:00 in the twelve-hour format. Achtzehn states the hour unambiguously in the twenty-four-hour format and is especially suitable for official time information. An addition such as abends makes sechs clear.
achtzehn
Auf der Einladung steht als Beginn achtzehn Uhr.
The invitation lists the start time as 6:00 p.m.
sechs
Wir treffen uns heute Abend um sechs Uhr vor dem Kino.
We are meeting in front of the cinema at six this evening.
In real life
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