The French number 6 is six. It is pronounced seess when said by itself, but the final consonant changes with what follows: it is usually silent before a consonant, and it is pronounced like z in a liaison before a vowel sound. The number is invariable before nouns.
6 = six
six books = six livres
the sixth = sixième
Meaning and Pronunciation
Six means “six.” By itself, it is pronounced approximately seess, with a final s sound. Practice it in the full French 1-to-10 sequence. It is the same written form for masculine and feminine nouns: six garçons and six filles.
Meaning: six
How the Final X Sounds
The final x is usually silent before a consonant: six livres (“six books”) sounds roughly like see leevr. Before a vowel sound, liaison often makes it sound like z: six amis (“six friends”) sounds roughly like see-zah-mee. When six comes directly before a noun, the final consonant is generally silent.
The Ordinal Sixième
The ordinal “sixth” is sixième, pronounced approximately see-zee-EM. It is used for order or position: le sixième jour (“the sixth day”), la sixième page (“the sixth page”). The spelling is the same for masculine and feminine nouns.
Examples
- J’ai six livres. — I have six books.
- Il y a six élèves dans la salle. — There are six students in the room.
- Nous partons à six heures. — We are leaving at six o’clock.
- Elle habite au sixième étage. — She lives on the sixth floor.
Frequently Asked Questions About 6 in French
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you pronounce six in French?
By itself, six sounds like “seess.” In liaison before a vowel, its final consonant sounds like z.
Does six change for feminine nouns?
No. The written number six is invariable.
How do you say sixth in French?
Use sixième.
Summary: 6 in French
Six in French is six. Its final consonant is silent before most consonants and can be pronounced like z in liaison before a vowel. The ordinal form is sixième.
