sechzig
sixty
The cardinal number 60, the number between 59 and 61.
EXAMPLE
Eine Stunde hat sechzig Minuten.
An hour has sixty minutes.
sechzig
sixty
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Meanings
sechzig
sixty
Refers to the age of 60 years.
EXAMPLE
Meine Tante wird nächstes Jahr sechzig und plant eine große Feier.
My aunt turns sixty next year and is planning a big celebration.
Usage tips
Special spelling
Although the number is derived from 'sechs' (six), the 's' in the middle is dropped. It is 'sechzig' (sixty), not 'sechszig'. This simplification helps with pronunciation.
EXAMPLE
Bitte überweisen Sie genau sechzig Euro und fünfzig Cent.
Please transfer exactly sixty euros and fifty cents.
The sixties
The noun 'die Sechziger' (or 'die 60er') can refer to the decade from 1960 to 1969 or to people who are between 60 and 69 years old.
EXAMPLE
Die Musik der Sechziger ist heute noch sehr beliebt.
The music of the sixties is still very popular today.
Compound numbers
For numbers over 20, German names the ones digit first and then the tens digit, connected by 'und' (and). For example, you say 'dreiundsechzig' for 63.
EXAMPLE
Das Buch hat einhundertvierundsechzig Seiten.
The book has one hundred sixty-four pages.
Talking about age
To talk about age, you use 'sechzig' (sixty) with the verbs 'sein' (to be) or 'werden' (to become/turn). With 'werden', you talk about the upcoming birthday; with 'sein', about the current age.
EXAMPLE
Mein Vater wird nächsten Monat sechzig.
My father turns sixty next month.
Compare with
sechzig vs sechzehn
sixteen
Both number words sound similar at the beginning when spoken, but they differ in their endings. Sechzehn means 16, whereas sechzig means 60 and can also refer to an age of 60. So pay particular attention to whether the ending is -zehn or -zig.
sechzig
Mein Vater wird heute sechzig Jahre alt.
My father is turning sixty today.
sechzehn
Meine Schwester wird heute sechzehn Jahre alt.
My sister is turning sixteen today.
In real life
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