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xv

XV (fifteenth)

numeral KEEN-seh Rare
Numbers & Measures Cardinal Numbers

Usage Note

XV is the Roman numeral for fifteen, most commonly seen in siglo XV ('the fifteenth century') — the period of Columbus's voyage and the Spanish Reconquista. It is read as quince (cardinal) or decimoquinto/decimoquinta (ordinal). In Latin America, los XV or los quince is shorthand for the quinceañera celebration marking a girl's fifteenth birthday, making this numeral culturally significant beyond historical dating.

Examples

"Cristóbal Colón llegó a América en el siglo XV."

Natural Translation

Christopher Columbus reached America in the fifteenth century.

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