fünfzig
fifty
The cardinal number 50, which comes between 49 and 51.
EXAMPLE
Meine Großmutter feiert bald ihren fünfzigsten Geburtstag.
My grandmother is soon celebrating her fiftieth birthday.
fünfzig
fifty
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The number 'fünfzig' (fifty) is made up of 'fünf' (five) and the ending '-zig'. This ending '-zig' is used in German to form the tens numbers, for example also in 'sechzig' (sixty) or 'siebzig' (seventy).
EXAMPLE
Ein halbes Jahrhundert sind fünfzig Jahre.
Half a century is fifty years.
Reading numbers
In German, with numbers between 21 and 99, the ones are said before the tens. For example, you say 'dreiundfünfzig' for 53.
EXAMPLE
Das Ticket kostet dreiundfünfzig Euro.
The ticket costs fifty-three euros.
Typical collocation
The fiftieth birthday is a particularly important 'round birthday' in Germany and is often celebrated in a big way. The phrase 'den fünfzigsten Geburtstag feiern' (to celebrate one's fiftieth birthday) is very common.
EXAMPLE
Nächstes Jahr feiern wir den fünfzigsten Geburtstag meiner Tante.
Next year we are celebrating my aunt's fiftieth birthday.
Compare with
fünfzig vs fünfzehn
fifteen
Fünfzehn means the number 15, while fünfzig means 50. Here, the ending “-zehn” represents five plus ten, while “-zig” represents five tens.
fünfzig
Für die große Feier stellt der Gastgeber fünfzig Stühle auf.
The host is setting up fifty chairs for the large party.
fünfzehn
Für die kleine Feier stellt der Gastgeber fünfzehn Stühle auf.
The host is setting up fifteen chairs for the small party.
In real life
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