fifteen
fifteen
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "fifteen" is /ˌfɪfˈtiːn/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
First Syllable (/fɪf/):
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/f/ - voiceless labiodental fricative
Second Syllable (/tiːn/):
/t/ - voiceless alveolar plosive
/iː/ - close front unrounded vowel
/n/ - alveolar nasal
"Fifteen" is primarily a numeral and can function as a noun, adjective, or determinant. As a number, it doesn't typically have singular or plural forms in the way most nouns do. It represents a specific quantity.
Word Form Variations
Cardinal Number: fifteen
Ordinal Number: fifteenth
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of fourteen and one; the numerical representation of this quantity.
Synonyms: XV, 15
Antonyms: (None directly applicable as it represents a fixed quantity)
Definition 2: A group or set consisting of fifteen individuals or items.
Example: "The team had a strong fifteen on the field."
Synonyms: quindecim (archaic), a group of fifteen
Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
Adjective
Definition 1: Referring to the quantity of fifteen.
Example: "There were fifteen students in the class."
Synonyms: 15, numeral fifteen
Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
Definition 2: Being the fifteenth in a sequence or order.
Example: "This is my fifteen attempt." (Less common usage, "fifteenth" is more typical here, but grammatically possible in certain contexts like "the fifteen mark")
Synonyms: fifteenth (more common usage)
Antonyms: (None directly applicable)
Examples of Use
Books
"The old house had stood empty for fifteen years, gathering dust and whispers of forgotten lives within its walls." (Excerpt from a fictional novel, generic example)
"In Chapter Fifteen, the protagonist finally unraveled the mystery that had plagued the town for decades." (Fictional book, generic example)
Newspapers
"The city council approved the new development plan by a vote of fifteen to two, despite protests from local residents." (Headline or article text from a local newspaper, generic example)
"Traffic delays are expected for the next fifteen minutes due to an accident on the highway." (Traffic report in a newspaper, generic example)
Online Publications
"Top Fifteen Tips for Boosting Your Productivity in 2025." (Article title on a business or self-help blog, generic example)
"The tech giant announced a fifteen percent increase in its quarterly earnings, exceeding analyst expectations." (Financial news report on an online publication like Reuters or Bloomberg, generic example)
"Watch: The fifteen-minute documentary that reveals the untold story of the climate crisis." (Video title or description on an online news platform, generic example)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
Film/Television: "You have exactly fifteen seconds to tell me where the money is." (Dialogue from a thriller movie or TV show, generic example)
Music: "She was only fifteen when she left home, chasing a dream she couldn't quite name." (Lyrics from a song, generic example)
Video Games: "Level Fifteen unlocked: Prepare for a new set of challenges and enemies." (In-game notification or dialogue from a video game, generic example)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we'll be discussing the fifteen most influential figures of the Renaissance." (Podcast episode title or introduction, generic example)
Social Media: "Just finished my fifteen-mile run! Feeling great! #fitness #marathontraining" (Personal post on platforms like Instagram or X, generic example)
General Public Discourse
"Can you meet me in about fifteen minutes? I'm just finishing something up." (Casual conversation between friends or colleagues, generic example)
"The kids are old enough to stay home by themselves now; my son is fifteen and responsible." (Parent talking to a friend, generic example)
"I need fifteen more points to win this game." (Someone playing a board game or sport, generic example)
"Let's take a fifteen-minute break." (Common phrase in meetings or work environments, generic example)
10 Famous Quotes Using Fifteen
"In about fifteen years, you can expect to see the end of capitalism. It will be replaced by something better." (Noam Chomsky, attributed quote)
"The first fifteen minutes of a person's workday will often set the tone for the rest of the day." (Zig Ziglar, attributed quote)
"The average American will spend fifteen minutes a day watching television commercials." (Unknown, widely cited statistic)
"Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well." (Robert Louis Stevenson, often misattributed as "Life is not a matter of holding good cards, but of playing a poor hand well, and in fifteen years, the hand you play today will be a distant memory.")
"For fifteen years I have been watching the sea. My own life has been so much that of the land." (Virginia Woolf, The Waves)
"I've been on stage since I was fifteen years old." (Tony Bennett, attributed quote)
"Give me fifteen minutes before the show, and I'll give you a masterpiece." (Attributed to various artists, emphasizing quick creative work)
"It takes fifteen years to make an overnight success." (Unknown, common idiom in entertainment and business)
"And in the fifteen years that I have been a professional golfer, I have never once put a golf ball into a hole on the first attempt." (Arnold Palmer, attributed quote)
"If I had only fifteen minutes to save the world, I would spend ten of those minutes planning and five minutes acting." (Abraham Lincoln, a variation of a common strategic planning quote)
Etymology
The word "fifteen" has a long history, tracing its roots back to ancient Germanic languages.
It essentially means "five and ten."
The word comes from Old English, where it was spelled "fīftīene" or "fīftēne." This Old English word itself was formed by combining "fīf" (meaning "five") and "tīene" or "tēne" (meaning "ten").
Before Old English, we can go even further back to a language called Proto-Germanic, which is the ancestor of English, German, Dutch, and other related languages. In Proto-Germanic, the word was "fimftehun." You can see the "five" part (fimf) and the "ten" part (tehun) in there.
So, the first known use and meaning of the word "fifteen" (or its earlier forms) was to represent the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and five. It has consistently held this meaning for centuries, evolving in its spelling and pronunciation over time from its Proto-Germanic and Old English origins to the "fifteen" we use today.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Fifteen
Fifteen minutes of fame: A short period of intense public attention. (Attributed to Andy Warhol)
The fifteen-minute city: An urban planning concept where essential amenities are within a 15-minute walk or bike ride.
Fifteen love: A score in tennis, meaning one player has 15 points and the other has none.
Fifteen all: A score in tennis, meaning both players have 15 points.
Fifteen-love down: To be losing by 15 points in tennis.
To get your fifteen minutes: To experience a brief period of widespread recognition.
A fifteen-point plan/program: A detailed strategy or set of objectives with fifteen distinct elements.
Fifteen and still kicking: An informal phrase implying resilience or longevity, often used humorously about an old car or long-lasting item.
To go for the fifteen-yard penalty: (American Football idiom) To incur a significant penalty that pushes a team back 15 yards.
The Big Fifteen: A less common, informal reference to a significant group of fifteen, such as the top 15 universities or companies in a specific field.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of fifteen from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
