Five

Pronunciation

• RP IPA: /faɪv/, enPR: fÄ«v
• Southern US IPA: /fäːv/
• Rhymes: -aɪv

Alternative forms

• Arabic numerals: 5 see for numerical forms in other scripts
• Roman numerals: V

Origin

From Middle English five, vif, fif, from Old English fīf ("five"), from Proto-Germanic *fimf ("five") (compare West Frisian fiif, Dutch vijf, German fünf, Swedish fem, Icelandic fimm), from Proto-Indo-European *pénkʷe (compare Welsh pump, Italian cinque, Tocharian A/B päñ/piś, Lithuanian penki, Russian пять, Albanian pesë, pêsë, Ancient Greek πέντε, Armenian հինգ, Persian پنج, Sanskrit पञ्च).

Numeral

numeral

1. (cardinal) A numerical value equal to 5; the number following four and preceding six. This many dots (•••••)

Related terms

• fifth

Full definition of five

Noun

1. The digit/figure 5.He wrote a five followed by four zeroes.
2. (US) A five-dollar bill.Can anyone here change a five?
3. Anything measuring five units, as length.All the fives are over there in the corner, next to the fours.
4. A person who is five years old.The fives and sixes will have snack first, then the older kids.
5. five o'clockSee you at five.
6. A short rest, especially one of five minutes.Take five, soldier.

Derived terms