01
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
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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 sechs
six
'sechs' and 'sechzig' are both numbers and begin very similarly. 'sechs' is the number 6, while 'sechzig' is the number 60. The confusion can happen easily because both words start with 'sechs-'. But 'sechzig' also has the ending '-zig'. This ending indicates the tens number. 'sechzig' can also refer to an age, for example when someone is 60 years old.
sechzig
Die Fahrerin fährt auf dieser Straße höchstens sechzig.
The driver goes no faster than sixty on this road.
sechs
Sie hat am Wochenende sechs Aufgaben für die Prüfung wiederholt.
At the weekend, she reviewed six tasks for the exam.
In real life
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