vs 

QUICK ANSWER
"Forties" is a form of "forties", a plural noun which is often translated as "los años cuarenta". "Fifties" is a form of "fifties", a plural noun which is often translated as "los años cincuenta". Learn more about the difference between "forties" and "fifties" below.
forties(
for
-
diz
)
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
plural noun
a. los años cuarenta
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
World War II ended in the forties, right?La Segunda Guerra Mundial terminó en los años cuarenta, ¿no?
a. cuarenta y pico (colloquial)
How old do you think Mrs. Smith is? - I think she's in her forties. ¿Cuántos años le calculas a la Sra. Smith? - Creo que tiene cuarenta y pico.
forty
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. cuarenta
I have forty boxes to deliver today!¡Tengo cuarenta cajas para entregar hoy!
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el cuarenta
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
The square root of sixteen hundred is forty.La raíz cuadrada de mil seiscientos es cuarenta.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.
fifties(
fihf
-
diz
)
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
plural noun
a. los años cincuenta
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
What important events happened during the fifties?¿Cuáles eventos importantes tuvieron lugar durante los años cincuenta?
a. cincuenta y pico
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
My dad is in his fifties, but he looks younger. Mi papá tiene cincuenta y pico, pero se ve más joven.
b. cincuenta y tantos
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
(colloquial)
How old is your Spanish teacher? - I think she's in her fifties.¿Qué edad tiene tu profesora de español? - Creo que tiene cincuenta y tantos.
fifty
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
adjective
a. cincuenta
There are fifty houses in our neighborhood.Hay cincuenta casas en nuestro vecindario.
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
noun
a. el cincuenta
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
(M)
Ten times five is fifty.Diez veces cinco son cincuenta.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Media Group, Inc.