01
fünfzehn
fifteen
The cardinal number that comes between fourteen and sixteen; the digit sequence 15.
example
Das Buch hat fünfzehn Kapitel.
The book has fifteen chapters.
fünfzehn
fifteen
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Meanings
Usage tips
Number structure
The number 'fünfzehn' (fifteen) follows the pattern for the numbers 13 to 19 in German: first comes the ones digit ('fünf' = five), then the ten ('zehn' = ten).
EXAMPLE
Die Zahlen dreizehn, vierzehn, fünfzehn folgen alle dem gleichen Muster.
The numbers thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen all follow the same pattern.
No declension
As a cardinal number, 'fünfzehn' (fifteen) is normally not declined when it stands before a noun. It always keeps its base form.
EXAMPLE
Ich brauche fünfzehn Euro für das Ticket.
I need fifteen euros for the ticket.
Time expression
When talking about time, the expression 'eine Viertelstunde' (a quarter of an hour) is very commonly used instead of 'fünfzehn Minuten' (fifteen minutes). This is more natural in everyday speech.
EXAMPLE
Der Zug kommt in einer Viertelstunde.
The train arrives in a quarter of an hour.
Compare with
fünfzehn vs fünfzig
fifty
'fünfzehn' and 'fünfzig' are numbers and sound similar to learners, but they mean something completely different. 'fünfzehn' is 15, a number between fourteen and sixteen. 'fünfzig' is 50, so much larger. The risk of confusion is especially in listening and speaking, because both begin with 'fünf-'. Pay particular attention to the ending: '-zehn' belongs to the numbers from 13 to 19, while '-zig' belongs to the tens such as 'vierzig', 'fünfzig', and 'sechzig'.
fünfzehn
Für den Ausflug brauchen wir fünfzehn Fahrkarten.
We need fifteen tickets for the trip.
fünfzig
Die Eltern kaufen fünfzig Brötchen für das Schulfest.
The parents are buying fifty bread rolls for the school festival.
In real life
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