fifty - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
fifty Word Meanings
- The number after forty-nine.
- A quantity equal to five times ten.
- Used to describe the age of fifty years.
fifty Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
fifty Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈfɪf.ti/
US
/ˈfɪf.ti/
fifty Word Etymology
The word 'fifty' comes from the Old English 'fiftiga', where 'fift' means 'five' and the suffix '-ty' denotes a group of ten. The historical origin is Germanic → Old English → Modern English. Picture five groups of ten fingers raised in celebration, representing fifty.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I rest my hand on the table and push a small knob, feeling the metal click under my touch. I watch the dial move as I adjust a slider, my eyes tracking the line until it nears fifty. I lean in a little, keeping my breath steady and the grip firm as I change course a notch or two. When the number settles on fifty, I place the card in my notebook and feel a quiet sense of completion.
Real Context
Fifty is the number that comes after forty-nine and is written with five tens. It is used both as a numeral and as a descriptor for age, quantities, and percentages. When counting, fifty marks a round milestone that people often associate with maturity or completion (for example, turning fifty). In everyday speech, you might say 'fifty people,' 'fifty dollars,' or 'fifty percent.' The word appears in idioms and common expressions like 'fifty-fifty,' meaning a fifty percent share, or in phrases describing approximate amounts such as 'about fifty.' Remember that 'fifty' can modify nouns directly, or form part of compound numbers in larger expressions like 'fifty-one' or 'fifty-two'.
Usage Reminders
- Fifty is a cardinal number; use it before a noun: fifty people.
- Describe age with fifty: she is fifty years old.
- Combine with percent: fifty percent.
- For larger numbers, hyphenate when forming fifty-one, fifty-two, etc.
- Differentiate fifty from the ordinal form, fiftyth.
Common Misconceptions
- Fifty is only used for ages, not quantities or prices.
- Fifty always means exactly half of a hundred in every context.
- Fifty dollars is always the same amount everywhere (currency varies).
- Fifty and fifty-fifty are the same thing in all contexts.
- Fifty cannot appear in compound numbers above fifty.
Thinking Differences
In English, fifty is a straightforward cardinal used across age, quantity, and statistic contexts. Learners often confuse it with the ordinal 'fiftieth' or mix up with 'fifty-fifty' which means half-and-half. English also frequently uses 'fifty' before plural nouns and as part of common phrases like 'fifty percent' or 'fifty-one.'
Learning Tips
- Count objects to solidify the five tens concept.
- Compare fifty with other round numbers (forty, sixty, one hundred).
- Practice fifty in age, price, and percentage contexts.
- memorize the hyphenated forms in larger numbers (fifty-one, fifty-two).
- Differentiate fifty from the ordinal 'fiftieth' and the idiom 'fifty-fifty'.
- Use short dialogues to practice fifty in everyday speech.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is the word 'fifty' used correctly?
A.The movie lasted for five hours.
B.He ate fifty apples.
C.There are fifty pencils in the box.
D.She has ten books.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is similar to 'fifty'?
A.Sixty
B.Forty
C.Twenty
D.Hundred
Step 4: Opposite Words
What is the opposite of 'fifty'?
A.Ten
B.One hundred
C.Thirty
D.Zero
Step 5: Mastery
In what real-life context would you commonly hear the word 'fifty'?
A.Age
B.Temperature
C.Weight
D.Volume
Related Listening
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