siebzehn
/ˈziːp.tseːn/
The German word for seventeen is siebzehn.
siebzehn is used as a cardinal number.
Meaning: cardinal number (num)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of sieben (seven) and zehn (ten).
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables, with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced /ˈziːp.tseːn/.
Did you know?
- The number siebzehn shares the same root as the German word for a 'sieve' or 'strainer', which is Sieb. Both words stem from an ancient root associated with filtering or dividing things into smaller parts.
- In Germany, siebzehn is often a significant age for youth because it is the minimum age to obtain a 'begleitetes Fahren' license, allowing teens to practice driving with an adult before eighteen.
- Despite being a number, siebzehn shares a common ancestor with the English 'seven', following the ancient Proto-Germanic root *sebuntehun.
Examples in context
- Helen ist siebzehn Jahre alt.Helen is seventeen years old.This sentence shows how to use siebzehn to state someone's age.Tatoeba #425573 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #33851 by CN
- Ich bin auch siebzehn Jahre alt.I am seventeen years old, too.This sentence uses siebzehn to express one's own age.Tatoeba #517009 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #262325 by CK
- Sie wird nächstes Jahr siebzehn.She will be seventeen next year.This sentence describes a person turning siebzehn in the following year.Tatoeba #823178 by Zaghawa, translation #317379 by CK
- Ich habe siebzehn Äpfel gekauft.I bought seventeen apples.
- Er ist siebzehn Jahre alt.He is seventeen years old.
- Die Kinder haben siebzehnmal gewonnen.The children won seventeen times.
- 28 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Lukas are checking the total of a grocery bill.
- SarahWie viel macht das insgesamt?How much does that make in total?
- LukasEs sind siebzehn Euro.It is seventeen euros.
- SarahIst das korrekt, Lukas?Is that correct, Lukas?
- LukasJa, das stimmt genau.Yes, that is exactly right.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “seventeen” translations and entries siebzehn, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries siebzehn, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
