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cinquenta e quatro

A2 noun 9 min de lecture

cinquenta e quatro

Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces cinquenta e quatro en 30 secondes

Explication cinquenta e quatro in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to recognize 'cinquenta e quatro' as the number 54. You should be able to use it to state your age or the age of a family member, like 'Meu pai tem cinquenta e quatro anos'. You should also be able to understand it when shopping for basic items if the price is mentioned. Focus on the 'e' in the middle; it's the bridge that connects 'fifty' and 'four'. Practice counting from 50 to 60 to see how the pattern repeats: cinquenta e um, cinquenta e dois, cinquenta e três, and then cinquenta e quatro. This level is about basic recognition and simple, scripted use in personal information contexts. Don't worry about perfect pronunciation of the nasal 'en' in 'cinquenta' yet, just try to make it sound different from 'quarenta' (40).

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At A2, you are expected to use 'cinquenta e quatro' in more varied contexts, such as giving your address ('Eu moro no número cinquenta e quatro') or describing quantities in a daily routine ('Eu li cinquenta e quatro páginas hoje'). You should be comfortable with the word order in addresses where the number follows the street name. You also start to encounter it in prices and simple transactions. You should be aware that the number doesn't change gender, so it's 'cinquenta e quatro reais' (masculine) and 'cinquenta e quatro gramas' (masculine, though 'grama' is often mistakenly treated as feminine). This is the level where you solidify the 'tens + e + units' structure as a habit, ensuring you never omit the 'e'.

By B1, you should be able to understand 'cinquenta e quatro' in more complex audio, such as news reports or short stories. You might hear it in statistics: 'Cinquenta e quatro por cento dos entrevistados...'. You should also be able to write the number out in full without spelling errors, particularly remembering the 'u' in 'cinquenta'. At this level, you start to use it in the past tense or future tense contexts, such as 'Em 1954, aconteceu um evento importante'. You are also introduced to the ordinal form 'quinquagésimo quarto', although you might not use it frequently in speech. You should be able to follow a sequence of numbers at a natural pace without getting lost.

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At the B2 level, 'cinquenta e quatro' should be second nature. You use it fluently in discussions about history, economics, or technical data. You can distinguish between the European and Brazilian pronunciations and understand the number even when spoken very quickly in a crowded environment. You might use it in more idiomatic or specific ways, such as referring to a specific bus line or a legislative article. You are expected to handle large numbers where 54 is just a part, such as 'cinco mil, oitocentos e cinquenta e quatro'. Your spelling is perfect, and you understand the nuances of the 1990 Orthographic Agreement regarding the removal of the trema in words like 'cinquenta'.

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For C1 learners, 'cinquenta e quatro' is used in sophisticated academic or professional discourse. You might use the ordinal 'quinquagésimo quarto' comfortably in a formal speech or a legal document. You understand the historical significance of years like 1954 in various Lusophone countries (like the suicide of Getúlio Vargas in Brazil) and can discuss these events in detail. You are sensitive to the rhythmic and prosodic features of how numbers are integrated into long sentences. You can use the number as a noun in abstract mathematical or philosophical discussions. Your listening comprehension is such that you can catch this number even in low-quality audio or with heavy regional accents.

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At C2, you have a native-like command of 'cinquenta e quatro'. You can use it in creative writing, poetry, or complex legal arguments with total precision. You are aware of archaic forms or very rare collective nouns like 'cinquentena' and can use them for stylistic effect. You can effortlessly switch between cardinal and ordinal forms depending on the register. You understand any cultural or literary references that might involve the number 54. Your pronunciation is indistinguishable from a native speaker, including the subtle reductions of the conjunction 'e' in rapid speech. You can navigate any complex numerical data set in Portuguese as easily as in your native language.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

cinquenta e quatro en 30 secondes

Cinquenta e quatro means 54 in Portuguese.
It is formed by 'cinquenta' + 'e' + 'quatro'.
It never changes for masculine or feminine nouns.
Used for age, prices, addresses, and counting.

The Portuguese term cinquenta e quatro represents the cardinal number fifty-four. In the hierarchy of Portuguese numerals, it is a compound number formed by the base of the fifth decade, cinquenta (fifty), the coordinating conjunction e (and), and the unit quatro (four). Unlike English, where 'fifty-four' is hyphenated, Portuguese strictly uses the conjunction 'e' to join tens and units. This is a fundamental rule for all numbers between 21 and 99, excluding the round tens. Understanding this structure is crucial for A2 learners as it sets the pattern for nearly all higher-level counting in the language.

Mathematical Identity: It is an even composite number, following 53 (cinquenta e três) and preceding 55 (cinquenta e cinco).
Age and Milestones: In social contexts, it often refers to someone's age. In Portugal and Brazil, turning 54 is seen as being in the prime of mature adulthood, often associated with career stability and family growth.

Meu pai completou cinquenta e quatro anos no mês passado.

Beyond age, you will encounter cinquenta e quatro in logistical data. For instance, if you are navigating a Portuguese city, you might find yourself looking for 'Porta 54' (Door 54). In financial transactions, while less common than smaller numbers, it appears frequently in prices like 'R$ 54,00' or '54€'. It's important to note the pronunciation of 'cinquenta'—the 'u' is sounded in many dialects, particularly in Brazil, though the orthographic trema (ü) was removed in the 1990 Orthographic Agreement. The 'qu' in 'quatro' is always labialized, meaning your lips should form a small circle as you transition to the 'a'.

In a cultural sense, 54 doesn't hold the same mystical weight as 7 or 13, but it is a recurring number in sports statistics and historical timelines. For example, the year 1954 was a pivotal year in Brazilian history due to the death of President Getúlio Vargas. When discussing history, you would say 'mil novecentos e cinquenta e quatro'. Notice how the 'e' is used multiple times to separate thousands, hundreds, and tens. This repetitive use of the conjunction is a hallmark of the Portuguese numbering system that English speakers must habituate to through practice.

Currency usage: When writing checks or formal contracts, the number is written as 'cinquenta e quatro reais' or 'cinquenta e quatro euros'.

A conta do restaurante deu cinquenta e quatro euros.

Using cinquenta e quatro in sentences requires an understanding of how numbers function as adjectives or nouns in Portuguese. Most cardinal numbers are invariable, meaning they don't change based on the gender of the noun they modify. However, 'um' (one) and 'dois' (two) do change. Since 54 ends in 'quatro', it is strictly invariable. Whether you are talking about 54 men (homens) or 54 women (mulheres), the number remains 'cinquenta e quatro'. This simplifies things for the learner compared to numbers like 51 or 52.

Expressing Age: Portuguese uses the verb 'ter' (to have) for age. 'Tenho cinquenta e quatro anos' (I am 54 years old).

Ela disse que tem cinquenta e quatro anos, mas parece mais jovem.

When dealing with addresses, the number usually follows the street name. This is a common point of confusion for English speakers. Instead of '54 Maple Street', you would say 'Rua Maple, 54'. In speech, you would say the number as a whole: 'cinquenta e quatro'. If the number is part of a larger figure, such as 154, the 'e' is placed between the hundred and the ten: 'cento e cinquenta e quatro'. This layering of conjunctions is essential for fluency.

Quantity and Measurement: Used with weights or distances: 'O pacote pesa cinquenta e quatro quilos' (The package weighs 54 kilos).

Nós caminhamos por cinquenta e quatro quilômetros durante a trilha.

In more formal or academic contexts, you might use the number to refer to a specific page or article. 'Veja o artigo cinquenta e quatro da constituição' (See article fifty-four of the constitution). Here, the number acts as an identifier. In such cases, the number is usually placed after the noun it identifies. This is consistent across most Romance languages but differs from the English 'Article 54' which follows a similar pattern but often lacks the specific rhythmic cadence of Portuguese numbers.

Time Expression: Minutes in an hour: 'São dez e cinquenta e quatro' (It's 10:54).

O trem parte exatamente às vinte e uma e cinquenta e quatro.

In the daily life of a Portuguese speaker, cinquenta e quatro is ubiquitous in commerce. Whether you are at a 'feira' (street market) in Salvador or a 'supermercado' in Lisbon, prices frequently hit this range. Hearing 'cinquenta e quatro e noventa' (54.90) is a standard price point for clothing, small electronics, or a dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant. The speed at which locals say these numbers can be daunting; the 'e' often blends into the end of 'cinquenta', sounding like 'cinquentay-quatro'.

Radio and Media: Radio frequencies or TV channel numbers: 'Sintonize na rádio cinquenta e quatro ponto um'.

O canal cinquenta e quatro está transmitindo o jogo de futebol.

In Brazil, you'll hear this number in the context of the 'Jogo do Bicho', a popular (though illegal) gambling game where animals are assigned numbers. While 54 isn't a primary animal number (they go up to 25 groups), it appears in the 'milhar' or 'centena' combinations. In more formal settings, like a news broadcast, you'll hear it in statistics: 'Cinquenta e quatro por cento da população...' (Fifty-four percent of the population...). Understanding 'por cento' following the number is a key listening skill.

Public Transport: Bus numbers or platform announcements: 'O autocarro cinquenta e quatro chega em cinco minutos'.

Pegue o ônibus cinquenta e quatro para ir ao centro da cidade.

In the classroom or office, it might be used during a roll call or when referring to a specific data point in a presentation. 'Slide cinquenta e quatro' or 'Página cinquenta e quatro'. During sports, particularly basketball or volleyball where scores reach high numbers, the announcer will shout the score rapidly. Training your ear to catch the 'cinquenta' base and then the following digit is the best strategy for comprehension.

The most frequent error English speakers make with cinquenta e quatro is the omission of the conjunction e. In English, we say 'fifty-four' with a hyphen or just a slight pause. In Portuguese, omitting the 'e' (saying 'cinquenta quatro') is grammatically incorrect and sounds very unnatural. It's as if you were saying 'fifty four' as two separate entities rather than one value. Always include the 'e' when joining tens and units.

Spelling Confusion: Writing 'cincoenta' instead of 'cinquenta'. While 'cinco' means five, the 'o' changes to 'u' in the 'fifty' form.

Errado: Eu tenho cincoenta e quatro anos. Correto: Eu tenho cinquenta e quatro anos.

Another mistake involves the pronunciation of the 'qu' in both parts of the number. In 'cinquenta', the 'u' is pronounced (kwin-kwen-tah) in Brazil, but in Portugal, it is often silent (sin-ken-tah) or very subtle. However, in 'quatro', the 'u' is always pronounced. Learners often over-correct and either pronounce both 'u's or neither. Consistency with the regional dialect you are learning is key. Also, watch out for the 'n' in 'cinquenta'—it is a nasal vowel indicator, not a hard 'n' sound like in 'can'.

Gender Agreement Error: Attempting to change 'quatro' to 'quatra' for feminine nouns. Numbers ending in 4 do not change gender.

Errado: Cinquenta e quatra mulheres. Correto: Cinquenta e quatro mulheres.

Lastly, in written Portuguese, don't use a hyphen. English 'fifty-four' uses a hyphen, but 'cinquenta e quatro' uses the word 'e'. In very formal documents, you might see it written as 'cinquenta e quatro' followed by the numeral in parentheses '(54)' to avoid any ambiguity. In casual texting, people often just use the digits '54', but if you're writing it out, keep the 'e' and lose the dash.

While cinquenta e quatro is the standard cardinal number, there are several related terms and ways to express this quantity. The most common alternative is the ordinal form, used for ranking or ordering. In Portuguese, this is 'quinquagésimo quarto'. This is significantly more complex and is usually reserved for formal writing, such as 'O quinquagésimo quarto aniversário' (the 54th anniversary).

Ordinal vs Cardinal: Use 'cinquenta e quatro' for quantity; use 'quinquagésimo quarto' for position in a sequence.

In some contexts, especially when dealing with half-hundreds, you might hear 'meia centena e quatro'. 'Meia centena' means fifty (half of a hundred). While less common than simply saying 'cinquenta', it is used in certain traditional markets or when emphasizing the quantity relative to a hundred. Similarly, in European Portuguese, 'meia' is often used for 'six' (half of twelve) in phone numbers or addresses, but 'meia centena' specifically refers to fifty.

Ele ficou em quinquagésimo quarto lugar na maratona.

Approximations: 'Cerca de cinquenta' or 'mais de cinquenta' are often used if the exact number 54 isn't critical.

When comparing with other numbers, you might use 'cinquenta e quatro' alongside its neighbors. For example, 'cinquenta e três' (53) or 'cinquenta e cinco' (55). It's also useful to know the collective noun for a set of fifty: 'uma cinquentena'. While you wouldn't say 'uma cinquentena e quatro' in modern speech, you might see 'uma cinquentena' in literature to describe a group of approximately fifty people or things.

How Formal Is It?

Le savais-tu ?

The word 'cinquenta' used to have a trema (cinqüenta) in Brazil until 2009 to indicate the 'u' was pronounced. Now it is just 'cinquenta'.

Guide de prononciation

UK /sĩˈkwẽ.tɐ i ˈkwa.tɾu/

US /siŋˈkwen.tə i ˈkwɑ.tɾoʊ/

Stressed on the second syllable of 'cinquenta' (quen) and the first syllable of 'quatro' (qua).

Rime avec

quarenta e quatro sessenta e quatro setenta e quatro oitenta e quatro noventa e quatro teatro hiato fato

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'cinquenta' as 'sin-ken-ta' (missing the 'u' sound).
Making the 'e' too long.
Failing to nasalize the 'en' in 'cinquenta'.
Pronouncing 'quatro' like 'quatro' in Spanish (though they are similar, the 'r' is different).
Skipping the 'e' entirely.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 1/5

Easy to recognize if you know 50 and 4.

Écriture 3/5

Tricky due to the 'qu' and the nasal 'en' in 'cinquenta'.

Expression orale 3/5

Requires good control of nasal vowels and 'qu' sounds.

Écoute 4/5

Can be hard to distinguish from 44 or 64 in fast speech.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

cinco quatro dez e cinquenta

Apprends ensuite

cinquenta e cinco sessenta quinquagésimo cem mil

Avancé

quinquagésimo quarto cinquenta e quatro avos centena milhar

Grammaire à connaître

Conjunction 'e' in numbers

Always use 'e' between tens and units: cinquenta e quatro.

Number Invariability

Cinquenta e quatro does not change for gender: 54 homens, 54 mulheres.

Age with 'Ter'

Use 'ter' (to have) for age: Tenho 54 anos.

Place Value Order

Thousands, then hundreds, then tens, then units, all joined by 'e'.

Nasal Vowels

The 'en' in cinquenta is a nasal vowel, not a consonant 'n'.

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Exemples par niveau

Eu tenho cinquenta e quatro anos.

I have fifty and four years.

Uses 'ter' for age.

O livro tem cinquenta e quatro páginas.

The book has fifty-four pages.

Cardinal number modifying a feminine noun 'páginas'.

O café custa cinquenta e quatro centavos.

The coffee costs fifty-four cents.

Used with currency.

Moro no número cinquenta e quatro.

I live at number fifty-four.

Number follows 'número'.

Há cinquenta e quatro alunos na sala.

There are fifty-four students in the room.

Uses 'há' for existence.

Ela comprou cinquenta e quatro laranjas.

She bought fifty-four oranges.

Invariable number with feminine noun.

O ônibus cinquenta e quatro já passou.

The bus fifty-four already passed.

Identifying a specific bus.

Cinco mais quarenta e nove é cinquenta e quatro.

Five plus forty-nine is fifty-four.

Basic arithmetic.

O sapato custa cinquenta e quatro reais.

The shoe costs fifty-four reais.

Standard currency usage.

A viagem dura cinquenta e quatro minutos.

The trip lasts fifty-four minutes.

Time duration.

Eu vi cinquenta e quatro carros no estacionamento.

I saw fifty-four cars in the parking lot.

Counting objects.

O prédio tem cinquenta e quatro andares.

The building has fifty-four floors.

Describing a building.

Recebi cinquenta e quatro mensagens hoje.

I received fifty-four messages today.

Plural noun agreement.

O corredor número cinquenta e quatro venceu.

The runner number fifty-four won.

Identifier after the noun.

Ela caminha cinquenta e quatro quilômetros por semana.

She walks fifty-four kilometers per week.

Distance measurement.

O hotel fica na rua cinquenta e quatro.

The hotel is on street fifty-four.

Address context.

Cinquenta e quatro por cento da turma passou na prova.

Fifty-four percent of the class passed the test.

Percentage usage.

O evento ocorreu em mil novecentos e cinquenta e quatro.

The event occurred in nineteen fifty-four.

Historical year.

Ele comprou cinquenta e quatro metros de tecido.

He bought fifty-four meters of fabric.

Measurement of length.

A empresa contratou cinquenta e quatro novos funcionários.

The company hired fifty-four new employees.

Large quantity in business.

O reservatório está com cinquenta e quatro por cento da capacidade.

The reservoir is at fifty-four percent capacity.

Describing state/percentage.

Eles moram a cinquenta e quatro milhas daqui.

They live fifty-four miles from here.

Distance in miles (less common than km).

O livro foi traduzido para cinquenta e quatro idiomas.

The book was translated into fifty-four languages.

Passive voice with quantity.

O vôo cinquenta e quatro foi cancelado devido ao mau tempo.

Flight fifty-four was cancelled due to bad weather.

Flight identification.

A taxa de juros subiu para cinquenta e quatro por cento ao ano.

The interest rate rose to fifty-four percent per year.

Economic context.

O autor publicou seu quinquagésimo quarto artigo científico.

The author published his fifty-fourth scientific article.

Ordinal number usage.

A temperatura atingiu cinquenta e quatro graus no deserto.

The temperature reached fifty-four degrees in the desert.

Extreme measurement.

O código de área cinquenta e quatro pertence ao Rio Grande do Sul.

Area code fifty-four belongs to Rio Grande do Sul.

Area code identification.

A pesquisa abrangeu cinquenta e quatro municípios diferentes.

The research covered fifty-four different municipalities.

Formal research context.

O motorista foi multado em cinquenta e quatro unidades fiscais.

The driver was fined fifty-four fiscal units.

Legal/Administrative units.

Faltam apenas cinquenta e quatro dias para o início da Copa.

Only fifty-four days remain until the start of the Cup.

Countdown context.

O volume da caixa é de cinquenta e quatro litros.

The volume of the box is fifty-four liters.

Volume measurement.

A análise estatística revelou um desvio padrão de cinquenta e quatro.

The statistical analysis revealed a standard deviation of fifty-four.

Advanced technical usage.

O quinquagésimo quarto parágrafo do contrato é o mais controverso.

The fifty-fourth paragraph of the contract is the most controversial.

Ordinal in legal context.

A revolução de 1954 alterou permanentemente o cenário político.

The revolution of 1954 permanently altered the political landscape.

Discussing historical eras.

O investimento de cinquenta e quatro milhões foi aprovado pelo conselho.

The investment of fifty-four million was approved by the board.

Large financial figures.

A obra completa do filósofo consiste em cinquenta e quatro volumes.

The philosopher's complete work consists of fifty-four volumes.

Describing academic collections.

A frequência da onda é de exatamente cinquenta e quatro hertz.

The wave frequency is exactly fifty-four hertz.

Scientific precision.

O partido obteve cinquenta e quatro assentos no parlamento.

The party obtained fifty-four seats in parliament.

Political reporting.

A distância focal da lente é de cinquenta e quatro milímetros.

The focal length of the lens is fifty-four millimeters.

Technical specification.

A sutil ironia reside no fato de ele ter exatamente cinquenta e quatro anos, a mesma idade de seu predecessor ao falecer.

The subtle irony lies in the fact that he is exactly fifty-four, the same age as his predecessor when he passed away.

Complex narrative structure.

O manuscrito, datado de mil novecentos e cinquenta e quatro, fornece pistas cruciais sobre o modernismo tardio.

The manuscript, dated 1954, provides crucial clues about late modernism.

Formal literary analysis.

Cinquenta e quatro, nesse contexto cabalístico, representa a harmonia entre o macrocosmo e o microcosmo.

Fifty-four, in this cabalistic context, represents the harmony between macrocosm and microcosm.

Abstract/Philosophical use.

A emenda cinquenta e quatro foi ratificada após meses de debate acalorado nas câmaras legislativas.

Amendment fifty-four was ratified after months of heated debate in the legislative chambers.

High-level political terminology.

A precisão de cinquenta e quatro casas decimais é necessária para este cálculo astrofísico.

A precision of fifty-four decimal places is necessary for this astrophysical calculation.

Extreme scientific context.

O poema é composto por cinquenta e quatro estrofes de rima rica e métrica impecável.

The poem is composed of fifty-four stanzas of rich rhyme and impeccable meter.

Literary criticism.

A coalizão detém uma maioria de cinquenta e quatro por cento, garantindo a estabilidade do governo.

The coalition holds a majority of fifty-four percent, ensuring government stability.

Nuanced political analysis.

Amostras colhidas em cinquenta e quatro locais distintos confirmaram a contaminação do lençol freático.

Samples collected in fifty-four distinct locations confirmed the groundwater contamination.

Environmental science reporting.

Collocations courantes

cinquenta e quatro anos

cinquenta e quatro reais

cinquenta e quatro por cento

página cinquenta e quatro

número cinquenta e quatro

cinquenta e quatro quilômetros

cinquenta e quatro dias

cinquenta e quatro graus

cinquenta e quatro minutos

cinquenta e quatro vezes

Phrases Courantes

nota de cinquenta e quatro

— A fictional or non-existent bill (often used as a joke since such a bill doesn't exist).

Isso é mais falso que nota de cinquenta e quatro.

os cinquenta e quatro

— Referring to a specific group of 54 people or things mentioned before.

Os cinquenta e quatro foram selecionados.

cinquenta e quatro e pouco

— Fifty-four and a bit (used for prices or ages when being slightly vague).

Custou cinquenta e quatro e pouco.

quase cinquenta e quatro

— Almost fifty-four.

Ele tem quase cinquenta e quatro anos.

apenas cinquenta e quatro

— Only fifty-four (emphasizing a small amount).

Restam apenas cinquenta e quatro ingressos.

mais de cinquenta e quatro

— More than fifty-four.

Havia mais de cinquenta e quatro pessoas.

exatamente cinquenta e quatro

— Exactly fifty-four.

São exatamente cinquenta e quatro quilos.

cinquenta e quatro no total

— Fifty-four in total.

Temos cinquenta e quatro no total.

cada um dos cinquenta e quatro

— Each one of the fifty-four.

Cada um dos cinquenta e quatro alunos recebeu um prêmio.

entre cinquenta e cinquenta e quatro

— Between fifty and fifty-four.

O preço está entre cinquenta e cinquenta e quatro.

Souvent confondu avec

cinquenta e quatro vs quarenta e quatro

44 vs 54. The 'quar' vs 'quin' sound is the differentiator.

cinquenta e quatro vs sessenta e quatro

64 vs 54. The 'sess' vs 'cin' sound is the differentiator.

cinquenta e quatro vs cinquenta e quatro avos

Used for fractions, not for counting whole units.

Expressions idiomatiques

"dar uma de cinquenta e quatro"

— This is not a standard idiom, but numbers are sometimes used in local slang to refer to bus routes or police codes.

Ele pegou o cinquenta e quatro.

slang

"cinquenta e quatro porrada"

— Slang for 'a lot', though usually 'cinquenta' is used on its own for this.

Ele tem cinquenta e quatro problemas.

informal

"fazer cinquenta e quatro"

— To turn 54 years old.

Vou fazer cinquenta e quatro amanhã.

neutral

"passar dos cinquenta e quatro"

— To be older than 54.

Ele já passou dos cinquenta e quatro.

neutral

"casa dos cinquenta e quatro"

— The range or 'house' of 54 (often used for prices or ages).

O preço está na casa dos cinquenta e quatro.

informal

"cinquenta e quatro de mão"

— Rare expression for a specific measurement in crafts.

Meça cinquenta e quatro de mão.

archaic

"nos cinquenta e quatro do segundo tempo"

— At the very last minute (referring to soccer stoppage time, though 54 is unusually late).

Ele marcou o gol aos cinquenta e quatro.

sports

"cinquenta e quatro quilates"

— Used metaphorically to mean something of very high value (though gold only goes to 24).

Isso é ouro de cinquenta e quatro quilates.

humorous

"cinquenta e quatro furos"

— Something very leaky or full of holes.

Seu plano tem cinquenta e quatro furos.

informal

"cinquenta e quatro carimbos"

— Used to describe excessive bureaucracy.

Precisei de cinquenta e quatro carimbos.

informal

Facile à confondre

cinquenta e quatro vs quarenta

Both start with 'qu' sounds.

Quarenta is 40; Cinquenta is 50. Look at the first vowel.

Tenho 40 (quarenta) ou 50 (cinquenta) reais?

cinquenta e quatro vs cinco

Both relate to the number 5.

Cinco is 5; Cinquenta is 50.

Cinco laranjas custam pouco, cinquenta custam muito.

cinquenta e quatro vs quatorze

Both contain the 'four' root.

Quatorze is 14; Quatro is 4.

Ele tem 14 (quatorze) ou 54 (cinquenta e quatro) anos?

cinquenta e quatro vs quinze

Both start with 'quin'.

Quinze is 15; Cinquenta is 50.

Quinze é menos que cinquenta.

cinquenta e quatro vs quinquagésimo

Related ordinal form.

Cardinal vs Ordinal.

Cinquenta e quatro é o número, quinquagésimo quarto é a posição.

Structures de phrases

Eu tenho [number] anos.

Eu tenho cinquenta e quatro anos.

O [noun] custa [number] reais.

O livro custa cinquenta e quatro reais.

Houve um aumento de [number] por cento.

Houve um aumento de cinquenta e quatro por cento.

O [noun] está localizado no número [number].

O museu está localizado no número cinquenta e quatro.

A amostra de [number] indivíduos revelou...

A amostra de cinquenta e quatro indivíduos revelou...

Considerando o quinquagésimo quarto parágrafo...

São [hour] e [minutes].

São dez e cinquenta e quatro.

Em mil novecentos e [number]...

Em mil novecentos e cinquenta e quatro...

Famille de mots

Noms

cinquentena (a set of fifty)

quarto (a fourth/quarter)

Adjectifs

quinquagésimo quarto (54th)

Apparenté

cinco (5)

quatro (4)

cinquenta (50)

quatorze (14)

quarenta (40)

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Common in daily transactions and age descriptions.

Erreurs courantes

Cinquenta quatro → Cinquenta e quatro
Omitting the 'e' is the most common error for English speakers.
Cincoenta → Cinquenta
Misspelling based on the word 'cinco'.
Cinquenta e quatra → Cinquenta e quatro
Trying to make the number feminine for feminine nouns.
Sou cinquenta e quatro anos → Tenho cinquenta e quatro anos
Using 'ser' instead of 'ter' for age.
Dezenove cinquenta e quatro → Mil novecentos e cinquenta e quatro
Incorrectly splitting a year like in English.

Astuces

The 'E' Rule

Always remember the 'e' between tens and units. It's the most common mistake for English speakers.

Nasal 'EN'

The 'en' in cinquenta is nasal. Practice by saying 'eh' and letting air out of your nose.

No More Trema

Remember that 'cinqüenta' is old spelling. The new standard is 'cinquenta' without the dots.

Address Order

In addresses, put the number after the street name: Rua X, 54.

Invariability

Don't try to make 'quatro' feminine. It's always 'quatro'.

Distinguish from 44

Focus on the 'sin' sound at the start of cinquenta vs the 'kwa' sound of quarenta.

Brazilian Age

Brazilians use 'ter' for age. 'Tenho 54' means 'I am 54'.

Arithmetic

54 is 'par' (even). Useful for dividing things in half (27 + 27).

Formal Writing

In very formal texts, use the ordinal 'quinquagésimo quarto' for rankings.

Deck of Cards

A deck with jokers has 54 cards. Use this to remember the number.

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Think of 'Cinque' (Italian 5) + 'Quenta' (sounds like 'quantity') + 'e' + 'Quatro' (4). Five quantities of ten and four.

Association visuelle

Imagine a deck of cards. A standard deck has 52 cards. Add two jokers, and you have exactly cinquenta e quatro cards.

Word Web

cinco dez cinquenta quatro cinquenta e um cinquenta e dois cinquenta e três cinquenta e quatro

Défi

Try to say 'cinquenta e quatro' five times fast without tripping over the 'qu' sounds. Focus on the nasal 'en'.

Origine du mot

From Vulgar Latin *cinquaginta et quattuor. 'Cinquenta' derives from 'quinquaginta' (five tens), and 'quatro' from 'quattuor'.

Sens originel : Five tens and four units.

Romance / Indo-European.

Contexte culturel

No specific sensitivities, it is a neutral number.

English speakers often forget the 'e' because they are used to hyphenating numbers (50-4).

Studio 54 (often referred to as Estúdio Cinquenta e Quatro in Portuguese documentaries). Year 1954: Death of Getúlio Vargas. The number of cards in a deck including jokers.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At the Market

Quanto custa? Cinquenta e quatro.
Me dê cinquenta e quatro laranjas.
O quilo é cinquenta e quatro.
Cinquenta e quatro reais, por favor.

Telling Time

São dez e cinquenta e quatro.
Faltam seis para as onze (10:54).
O filme dura cinquenta e quatro minutos.
Às nove e cinquenta e quatro.

Addresses

Eu moro no 54.
A loja fica no número cinquenta e quatro.
Rua Cinquenta e Quatro.
Apartamento cinquenta e quatro.

Age

Quantos anos você tem? Cinquenta e quatro.
Ela vai fazer cinquenta e quatro.
Um homem de cinquenta e quatro anos.
Desde os meus cinquenta e quatro.

Public Transport

O ônibus 54 vai para o centro?
Desça na parada cinquenta e quatro.
A linha cinquenta e quatro está atrasada.
O bilhete custa cinquenta e quatro.

Amorces de conversation

"Você sabia que existem cinquenta e quatro países na África?"

"Você acha que cinquenta e quatro anos é uma idade jovem ou velha?"

"O que você faria com cinquenta e quatro milhões de reais?"

"Você já leu um livro com mais de cinquenta e quatro capítulos?"

"Você consegue correr cinquenta e quatro quilômetros?"

Sujets d'écriture

Escreva sobre como você imagina sua vida quando tiver cinquenta e quatro anos.

Descreva um dia em que você teve que esperar por cinquenta e quatro minutos.

Se você tivesse cinquenta e quatro horas extras por semana, o que faria?

Liste cinquenta e quatro coisas pelas quais você é grato.

Imagine que você mora no número cinquenta e quatro de uma rua famosa. Como ela é?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

You write 'cinquenta e quatro'. If it's currency, add the currency name, e.g., 'cinquenta e quatro reais'. It is common to write the number in words and then the digits in brackets.

Yes, in most Brazilian dialects, the 'u' is pronounced (kwin-kwen-tah). In European Portuguese, it is often silent or very reduced. Since the 1990 Orthographic Agreement, the trema is no longer used.

No. Unlike 'um/uma' and 'dois/duas', the number 'quatro' and compound numbers ending in it like 'cinquenta e quatro' are invariable.

The 'e' goes between the hundreds and tens, and between the tens and units. For example, 154 is 'cento e cinquenta e quatro'.

You say 'quinquagésimo quarto'. It changes gender: 'quinquagésima quarta' if the noun is feminine.

No, it is a common misspelling. The correct spelling is 'cinquenta' with a 'u', even though it comes from 'cinco'.

You say 'mil novecentos e cinquenta e quatro'. Do not split it into 'dezenove cinquenta e quatro'.

No, that is grammatically incorrect. You must use the conjunction 'e' to connect the tens and units.

Don't touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth for the 'n'. Instead, let the air go through your nose while saying the 'e' vowel.

Not commonly as a standalone idiom, but it can refer to specific local bus routes or lottery (Jogo do Bicho) combinations in Brazil.

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