elf
eleven
The cardinal number that follows ten and comes before twelve; the numeral 11.
EXAMPLE
Eine Fußballmannschaft besteht aus elf Spielern.
A football team consists of eleven players.
elf
eleven
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Meanings
elf
eleven o'clock
Refers to the time 11 o'clock, both in the morning and in the evening.
EXAMPLE
Der Zug fährt pünktlich um elf ab.
The train departs on time at eleven.
Usage tips
Number or time?
To distinguish between the number and the time, pay attention to the context. The preposition 'um' (at) almost always indicates the time. The question is also crucial: 'Wie viele?' (how many?) asks about the number, while 'Wie spät?' (what time?) or 'Wann?' (when?) asks about the time.
EXAMPLE
Wie viele Personen kommen? – Wir sind elf.
How many people are coming? – There are eleven of us.
Context: football
In football, the number 'elf' (eleven) has a special meaning. A team is often called 'die Elf' (the eleven), and a penalty kick is called 'der Elfmeter' because it is taken from eleven meters away.
EXAMPLE
Die deutsche Elf hat das Spiel gestern gewonnen.
The German eleven won the game yesterday.
Typical collocations
When 'elf' (eleven) indicates a time, it is often combined with prepositions such as 'um' (at, exactly), 'gegen' (around), or adverbs such as 'kurz vor/nach' (shortly before/after). The phrase 'Punkt elf' means 'exactly at 11 o'clock'.
EXAMPLE
Wir treffen uns gegen elf am Bahnhof.
We are meeting at the station around eleven.
In real life
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