vs 

QUICK ANSWER
"Cincuenta" is an adjective which is often translated as "fifty", and "son las cinco" is a phrase which is often translated as "it's five o'clock". Learn more about the difference between "cincuenta" and "son las cinco" below.
cincuenta(
seeng
-
kwehn
-
tah
)
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. fifty
Hay más o menos cincuenta casas en el barrio.There are more or less fifty houses in the neighborhood.
b. fiftieth (ordinal)
Hoy es el cincuenta aniversario del terremoto que destruyó la ciudad.Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the earthquake that destroyed the city.
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. fifty
El número escrito en la pizarra es cincuenta.The number written on the chalkboard is fifty.
a. fifties
Mis padres nacieron en los cincuenta.My parents were born in the fifties.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.
son las cinco(
sohn
 
lahs
 
seeng
-
koh
)
A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
phrase
a. it's five o'clock
Son las cinco y la película no empieza hasta las seis. ¿Nos vamos a tomar un café?It's five o'clock and the movie doesn't start until six o'clock. Shall we go for a coffee?
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.