01
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' 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'.
fünfzig
Die Eltern kaufen fünfzig Brötchen für das Schulfest.
The parents are buying fifty bread rolls for the school festival.
fünfzehn
Für den Ausflug brauchen wir fünfzehn Fahrkarten.
We need fifteen tickets for the trip.
In real life
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