Vijftig

Vijftig is the Dutch word for the cardinal number 50. It is used in counting and in describing quantities, ages, prices, dates, and measurements, much like other base-ten numbers in Dutch.

As an adjective it modifies nouns: vijftig euro, vijftig jaar oud. As a noun it can refer to the quantity itself or to an age group: de vijftig (the fifties), iemand in de vijftig (someone in their fifties). The corresponding ordinal form is vijftigste, as in de vijftigste editie (the fiftieth edition).

In orthography, the word is written as vijftig. The numeral 50 is written as 50 in Arabic digits. In phrases about ages or decades, Dutch commonly uses vijftig in combination with other words, such as in describing age ranges or the fifties decade (de jaren vijftig).

Etymology and related forms: vijftig belongs to the Germanic family of numerals and is cognate with the German fünftig/fünfzig and the English fifty, reflecting common Proto-Germanic roots.

Usage notes: Vijftig commonly appears in everyday speech and formal writing to denote the number fifty, an age (vijftig jaar oud), or a time period (de jaren vijftig). It also marks the ordinal position in sequences (vijftigste) and can refer to the 50th edition or event when combined with nouns.