der
Fünfziger
📖 What Exactly is a Fünfziger?
The word der Fünfziger has several meanings, all related to the number fünfzig (fifty):
- 👨🦳 A person: A man who is between 50 and 59 years old. (Example: Mein Onkel ist jetzt ein Fünfziger. - My uncle is in his fifties now.) The female form is die Fünfzigerin.
- 📅 A decade: The years 1950 to 1959, often referred to as die Fünfzigerjahre (the fifties) or simply die Fünfziger (plural). (Example: Der Rock 'n' Roll war in den Fünfzigern populär. - Rock 'n' roll was popular in the fifties.) Using the singular "der Fünfziger" for the decade itself is less common than the plural "die Fünfziger". When the singular is used, it often refers to a style or characteristic of the decade.
- 💶 A banknote: Colloquially for a 50 Euro note. (Example: Hast du vielleicht einen Fünfziger für mich? - Do you maybe have a fifty for me?)
🚨 Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!
Article rules for der, die, and das
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Der Fünfziger
Der Fünfziger is a masculine noun. The declension depends on the meaning:
👤 Person (Man aged 50-59) - Weak Declension (N-Deklination)
This declension adds an '-n' or '-en' in all cases except the nominative singular.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Fünfziger | die Fünfziger |
| Genitive | des Fünfzigern | der Fünfziger |
| Dative | dem Fünfzigern | den Fünfzigern |
| Accusative | den Fünfzigern | die Fünfziger |
💶 Banknote / 📅 Decade (Style) - Strong Declension
This declension follows the more standard patterns, adding an '-s' in the genitive singular.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der Fünfziger | die Fünfziger |
| Genitive | des Fünfzigers | der Fünfziger |
| Dative | dem Fünfziger | den Fünfzigern |
| Accusative | den Fünfziger | die Fünfziger |
Important Note: For the decade, the plural die Fünfziger (or die Fünfzigerjahre) is most commonly used.
📝 Example Sentences
- Person: Der nette Fünfziger von nebenan hat uns geholfen.
(The nice man in his fifties next door helped us.) - Person (Accusative): Ich habe den Fünfzigern auf der Straße gesehen.
(I saw the man in his fifties on the street.) - Decade (Plural): Die Mode der Fünfziger war sehr elegant.
(The fashion of the fifties was very elegant.) - Banknote: Kannst du diesen Fünfziger wechseln?
(Can you change this fifty [Euro note]?) - Banknote (Genitive): Der Wert des Fünfzigers ist bekannt.
(The value of the fifty [Euro note] is known.)
💡 How to Use "Fünfziger"?
The usage of der Fünfziger depends on the context:
- Person: Used to roughly describe a man's age. It's rather informal. Sometimes it can sound a bit generalizing. The female form is die Fünfzigerin.
- Decade: Mostly used in the plural die Fünfziger. It's very common when talking about typical characteristics, music, or fashion of that era. (Example: Das Lebensgefühl der Fünfziger war von Aufbruch geprägt. - The spirit of the fifties was marked by a sense of new beginnings.)
- Banknote: Clearly colloquial/informal. In a formal context, you would say Fünfzig-Euro-Schein. Very frequent in everyday language, especially when paying or exchanging money.
⚠️ Don't confuse der Fünfziger with the number fünfzig (50).
🧠 Mnemonics to Remember
Article Mnemonic: Think of der Mann (the man) or der Schein (the banknote). A man is in his fifties (ein Mann ist in den Fünfzigern), and you need that banknote (den Schein). This helps remember der Fünfziger.
Meaning Mnemonic: Everything revolves around the number fünfzig (50)! A man aged 50, the 1950s, a 50-Euro note. Three things, one number, one word: Fünfziger.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
Similar Words:
- fünfzig: The cardinal number itself.
- fünfzigste: The ordinal number (e.g., der fünfzigste Geburtstag - the fiftieth birthday).
😄 A Little Joke
Fragt der Enkel den Opa: "Opa, warst du eigentlich auch mal ein Fünfziger?"
Opa: "Klar, mein Junge! Und weißt du was? Damals war ein Fünfziger noch richtig viel Geld wert!" 😉
--- Translation ---
The grandson asks his grandpa: "Grandpa, were you actually ever a 'Fünfziger' (man in his fifties)?"
Grandpa: "Sure, my boy! And you know what? Back then, a 'Fünfziger' (fifty-mark/euro note) was still worth a lot of money!" 😉
✍️ Poem about the Fifties/Fünfziger
Der Fünfziger, ein Mann gereift,
Der Lebensmitte zugreift.
Erinnerung an wilde Zeiten,
Als Rock 'n' Roll begann zu gleiten.
Petticoat und Nierentisch,
Die Luft war neu, die Hoffnung frisch.
Ein Schein in der Tasche, schnell gezückt,
Ein Fünfziger, der oft beglückt.
--- Translation ---
The man in his fifties, matured quite well,
Reaching life's midpoint, stories to tell.
Memories of wilder days gone by,
When Rock 'n' Roll began to fly.
Petticoats and kidney tables bright,
The air was new, hope felt so right.
A note in the pocket, quickly picked,
A fifty-note, that often clicked.
🧩 Who or What Am I?
Ich kann ein Alter sein, das Männer tragen,
Ich kann von einer Zeit vor vielen Tagen sagen.
Manchmal lieg' ich auch im Portemonnaie bereit,
Für einen Einkauf oder eine Kleinigkeit.
Was bin ich?
--- Translation & Clues ---
I can be an age that men bear,
I can tell of a time from long before, I swear.
Sometimes I also lie ready in a wallet near,
For a purchase or a small thing held dear.
What am I?
Solution: der Fünfziger
💡 Other Interesting Facts about Der Fünfziger
Word Formation: The word "Fünfziger" is derived directly from the cardinal number "fünfzig" (fifty) by adding the suffix "-er". This suffix here denotes a person, a time period, or an object (banknote) associated with the number.
Plural "Die Fünfziger": As mentioned, the plural "die Fünfziger" very often refers to the decade (the 1950s). However, it can also refer to a group of people who are all in their fifties.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Fünfziger?
Der Fünfziger is a masculine noun. It refers to a man aged 50-59 (using N-declension), colloquially a 50 Euro banknote, or (less commonly in singular) the 1950s decade (both using strong declension). The plural die Fünfziger is frequently used for the decade.