German Phrase
Wir rechnen mit etwa fünfzig Leuten.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘We expect about fifty people.’ It expresses an estimate of the number of participants or attendees, using the verb *rechnen mit* to convey expectation rather than a precise calculation.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to give a rough estimate of how many people will be present at an event, meeting, or gathering. It works well in both informal and semi‑formal contexts, such as planning a party, a workshop, or a business meeting.
✦Grammar Breakdown
WirrechnenmitetwafünfzigLeuten
rechnen mit
The verb *rechnen* requires the preposition *mit* and takes a dative object; it means ‘to expect’ or ‘to count on’ in this context.
etwa
An adverb of approximation placed before the number; it can be swapped with *ungefähr* or *circa*.
fünfzig
A cardinal number that stays unchanged regardless of case; it modifies the noun that follows.
Leuten (dative plural)
The noun *Leute* takes the dative plural ending *-n* after the preposition *mit*.
Verb‑second (V2) word order
In main clauses the finite verb (*rechnen*) occupies the second position; the subject *Wir* is first.
🗨In Conversation
Wir rechnen mit etwa fünfzig Leuten.
We expect about fifty people.
Gut, dann sollten wir genug Stühle und Getränke bereitstellen.
Great, then we should have enough chairs and drinks ready.
✕Common Mistakes
Wir rechnen mit etwa fünfzig Leute.
After the preposition *mit* the noun must be in the dative plural, which is *Leuten*.
Wir rechnen etwa fünfzig Leute.
The verb *rechnen* always needs the preposition *mit* when meaning ‘to expect.’
Wir rechnen mit fünfzig etwa Leuten.
The adverb *etwa* should come before the number, not after it.
↔Alternatives
Wir erwarten etwa fünfzig Personen.
We expect about fifty people.
Wir rechnen mit ungefähr fünfzig Leuten.
We are counting on roughly fifty people.
Wir gehen von etwa fünfzig Personen aus.
We assume there will be about fifty people.
Cultural Tip
In German, *Leute* is a neutral, everyday word for ‘people.’ In more formal or written contexts you might prefer *Personen*. The phrase *rechnen mit* can also mean ‘to count on’ in the sense of relying on someone, so be sure the surrounding context makes the expectation meaning clear.