quinze
A1 (Basic)Neutral to Formal (primarily numeric/literal use). Informal in specific contexts (e.g., 'the quinze' for a 15th birthday in some regions).
Definition
Meaning
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of ten and five; 15.
A score of fifteen in games (especially tennis or rugby). The age of fifteen, or the group of items numbering fifteen.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a numeral. In historical/archaic contexts, can refer to a 15th-century artifact or period. In card games, 'quinze' is a specific, now obsolete, game similar to blackjack.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Virtually none for the numeral. In sports, 'fifteen' is universally used. The French borrowing 'quinze' for the card game or historical reference is equally rare in both.
Connotations
In UK English, slightly more likely to be encountered in historical or literary contexts referring to the 15th century (e.g., 'a quinze tapestry'). In US English, almost exclusively the numeral or the obsolete card game.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency as an English word. Overwhelmingly more common as the French word for 'fifteen'. Its use in English is a direct borrowing, often italicised.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NUM] as in 'page quinze'[NUM] of [NOUN] as in 'quinze of them'[ATTRIBUTIVE] as in 'the quinze players'Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Quinze and no more (from the card game, meaning a decisive or perfect score)”
- “Not worth a quinze (archaic, meaning worthless)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially in historical financial documents.
Academic
Rare. In historical or French studies contexts.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Almost always replaced by 'fifteen'.
Technical
Virtually non-existent.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The quinze participants gathered.
- He studied the quinze-century manuscript.
American English
- The quinze members voted.
- A rare quinze-era map was displayed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have quinze pencils.
- She is quinze years old.
- The book has quinze chapters.
- They waited for quinze long minutes.
- The manuscript dated from the year fifteen twenty, often written as 'the year quinze twenty'.
- He scored a perfect quinze in the first hand of the vintage card game.
- The exhibition featured artefacts from the Quinze, or early Renaissance, period.
- His research focused on the linguistic shift observable between the years quinze hundred and quinze fifty.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'queen' (sounds like 'quin') sitting on a 'Z' (sounds like 'ze'), but the queen is number 15 in a royal line-up.
Conceptual Metaphor
NUMBER IS A POSITION (e.g., 'sitting at quinze' in a sequence).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- False friend with Russian 'кинза' (kinza) meaning 'coriander'.
- May incorrectly assume it's a common English word; it is a very niche borrowing.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing it as /kwɪnziː/ (adding an extra vowel).
- Using it in natural English speech where 'fifteen' is required.
- Misspelling as 'quince' (which is a fruit).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the English word 'quinze' most likely to be correctly used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a very rare and specialised borrowing from French. In almost all contexts, the native English word 'fifteen' should be used.
Only in highly specific contexts, such as discussing the historical card game named 'quinze', or in a stylistic/archaic literary reference to the number or the 15th century, often to evoke a French connection.
It is typically pronounced with an attempt at the French nasal vowel /kæ̃z/, or more commonly, in an anglicised way as /kwɪnz/.
It is a French phrase meaning 'fifteen days', equivalent to a fortnight. It is sometimes seen in English texts discussing French culture or in historical translations, but 'fortnight' or 'two weeks' is the standard English term.