fünfzig

Fünfzig is the German cardinal number for the value 50. It is used in counting, to express age, dates, quantities, and measurements. In German, numbers from 21 to 99 are typically formed by placing the unit before the tens with the conjunction und, as in einundzwanzig or zweiunddreißig. The tens from zwanzig to neunzig are zwanzig, dreißig, vierzig, fünfzig, sechzig, siebzig, achtzig, neunzig, with fünfzig signifying fifty.

Etymology and form: The word fünzig is built from fünf (“five”) and the suffix -zig, a Germanic formation meaning “tens” or “times ten.” The construction derives from historical stages of the German language (Old High German and earlier Proto-Germanic) and expresses “five tens.”

Usage and representation: In numerals, fifty is written as 50. In Roman numerals, it is L. Fifty is an even, composite number with divisors 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, and 50; its prime factorization is 2 × 5^2. It commonly appears in contexts such as dates, measurements, and sequences, and serves as a reference point in arithmetic and calendar calculations.

Cultural and social aspects: Fifty often marks a milestone age in many cultures, including German-speaking regions. It appears in idiomatic expressions, celebrations, and life events related to reaching or approaching this age, as well as in historical and demographic discussions where the number helps describe population segments or averages.