viiskümmend

Viiskümmend is the Estonian cardinal number for fifty. It is formed from viis meaning “five” and kümmend, a suffix used to form tens, literally indicating “five tens.” In Estonian, tens are combined with units to create numbers from 51 to 99, for example viiskümmend üks (51) and viiskümmend kaks (52). The tens form follows a regular pattern with other multiples of ten, such as kolmkümmend (30) and kuuskümmend (60). For ninety, the tens part is üheksakümmend (90), as in üheksakümmend üheksa (99). The standalone form viiskümmend denotes exactly fifty.

In practical use, viiskümmend appears in everyday counting, ages, prices, dates, and numerical expressions, just like other Estonian cardinal numbers. When writing, Estonian typically places a space between the tens and the units in compound numbers (viiskümmend üks), and digits may be used in numerical contexts (50).

Etymology and language context: Viiskümmend belongs to the Finnic group of languages and is cognate with Finnish viisikymmentä, reflecting a shared decimal counting tradition. The construction mirrors how many Finnic languages form multiples of ten by combining a base numeral with a tens suffix, a pattern that traces back to Proto-Finnic roots.