forty-nine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “forty-nine” mean?
The cardinal number 49, one less than fifty.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The cardinal number 49, one less than fifty.
Used to denote quantity, position in a sequence, or as a designation (e.g., in sports jerseys). In slang, sometimes used in phrases like 'forty-nine and a half' to indicate something just short of perfect.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The numeral itself is identical. Minor potential differences in phrasing (e.g., 'forty-nine pounds' vs. 'forty-nine dollars'). The pronunciation of the 'r' in 'forty' is more prominent in American English.
Connotations
None specific. Historically, in American culture, it is associated with the 1849 California Gold Rush ('forty-niners'). This connotation is largely absent in British usage.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “forty-nine” in a Sentence
Number + Noun (forty-nine people)Verb + Number (costs forty-nine)Preposition + Number (on forty-nine)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “forty-nine” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He owns a rare forty-nine pence stamp.
- It was a forty-nine-page report.
American English
- She bought a forty-nine dollar hat.
- He played all forty-nine states on his tour.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The project was completed in forty-nine days, under budget."
Academic
"The sample size was reduced to forty-nine participants after exclusions."
Everyday
"I need forty-nine pence for the bus fare."
Technical
"The array index at position forty-nine threw an out-of-bounds error."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “forty-nine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “forty-nine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “forty-nine”
- Spelling as 'fourty-nine' (incorrect; 'forty' has no 'u').
- Incorrect hyphenation: 'forty nine' should be hyphenated when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., a forty-nine-page document).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is spelled 'forty-nine'. Remember, 'forty' has no 'u', unlike 'four'.
Yes, when used as a compound adjective before a noun (e.g., a forty-nine-seat bus). When used as a simple number, it is often written without a hyphen (e.g., there were forty nine), but hyphenation is common and recommended for clarity.
XLIX (50-10=40, plus 10-1=9).
They are named after the 'forty-niners', the prospectors who rushed to California during the 1849 Gold Rush.
The cardinal number 49, one less than fifty.
Forty-nine is usually neutral in register.
Forty-nine: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɔː.ti ˈnaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɔːr.t̬i ˈnaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Talk forty-nine to the dozen (rare, variant of 'nineteen to the dozen')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the score in a famous football match, or 'Four tens (40) plus a nine (9) equals forty-nine.'
Conceptual Metaphor
NUMBERS ARE QUANTITIES/LOCATIONS ON A PATH (e.g., 'We're up to forty-nine on the list').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a correct usage of 'forty-nine'?