01
der Fünfer
fiver
A coin or banknote worth five currency units, especially five euros.
example
Hast du einen Fünfer für den Parkautomaten?
Do you have a fiver for the parking meter?
der Fünfer
fiver
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word formation
'Fünfer' (fiver/five) is derived from the number 'fünf' (five). The ending '-er' turns the number into a noun that refers to something connected with that number.
EXAMPLE
Gib mir bitte einen Zehner, dann bekommst du zwei Fünfer zurück.
Give me a tenner, please, and you'll get two fivers back.
Register: colloquial
The word 'Fünfer' (fiver/five) is used mainly in colloquial language in all its meanings. It is a short, everyday form for 'Fünf-Euro-Schein' (five-euro note), 'Note 5' (grade 5), or 'Linie 5' (line 5).
EXAMPLE
Ich nehme immer den Fünfer zur Arbeit.
I always take the five to work.
Context clue
The context makes it clear which meaning is intended. If it is about money and paying, it means a coin or banknote. In connection with school and grades, it is a school grade. With means of transport, it refers to a bus or train/tram line.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe nur noch einen Fünfer im Portemonnaie.
I only have a fiver left in my wallet.
Typical collocations
In the context of school grades, 'Fünfer' (grade five) is often used with verbs like 'bekommen' (to get), 'kriegen' (to get), or 'schreiben' (to get/write on a test).
EXAMPLE
Ich habe hart gelernt, um keinen Fünfer zu bekommen.
I studied hard so I wouldn't get a grade five.
Compare with
Fünfer vs fünf
five
'fünf' and 'der Fünfer' are both connected to the number 5. 'fünf' is the normal number word: you say 'fünf Minuten' (five minutes), 'fünf Euro' (five euros), or 'Note fünf' (grade five). 'der Fünfer' is a noun and needs an article. It can refer to a five-euro note, the grade 5, or also a number such as a bus line. The words can be confused because both point to the same number. In practice: if you are simply naming a quantity, use 'fünf'. If you mean a specific thing with the number 5, 'der Fünfer' often fits.
Fünfer
Kannst du mir einen Fünfer wechseln?
Can you change a fiver for me?
fünf
Für den Kuchen brauchen wir fünf Eier.
We need five eggs for the cake.
In real life
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