The Italian number six is sei. You will see it in quantities, ages, prices, and the clock; its short spelling can be easy to confuse with other familiar Italian words, so examples help fix it in memory.
6 (six) in Italian = sei, pronounced approximately say.
How Do You Say 6 (six) in Italian?
Italian uses sei for the cardinal number 6. It is invariable, so the form stays the same before masculine and feminine nouns.
Meaning: six
Use sei before plural nouns, as in sei libri. For six o’clock, say sono le sei. Do not confuse the number sei with the verb form sei, meaning “you are”; context makes the meanings clear.
Different Ways to Express 6 (six)
These forms show how the same number appears in counting, ordinal order, time, and everyday quantities.
1. Sei — the cardinal number
sei — six. This is the regular form for counting people and things. It does not take a gender ending.
2. Sesto / sesta — sixth
sesto / sesta — sixth. The ordinal ending agrees with the noun: sesto is masculine and sesta is feminine. In dates, Italians usually use cardinal numbers except for the first day of a month.
3. Sono le sei — it is six o’clock
sono le sei — it is six o’clock. Italian uses the plural form sono and feminine article le for clock hours, except for one o’clock.
4. Sei anni — six years
sei anni — six years. This phrase can describe duration. To state age, Italian uses avere: ha sei anni means “he or she is six years old.”
6 (six) in Italian: Quick Comparison
Use this comparison to choose the form that best fits your sentence. Pay attention to whether you are counting, describing a quality, or referring to a particular situation.
| Italian | Meaning | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| sei | six | Counts and quantities |
| sesto / sesta | sixth | Order and dates |
| sono le sei | it is six o’clock | Telling time |
| sei anni | six years | Age and duration |
How to Pronounce sei
Sei is one syllable and sounds approximately like English “say,” but finish with a light glide toward the i. The spelling is also identical to sei, the second-person singular form of essere (“to be”), as in tu sei (“you are”).
Example Sentences Using 6 (six)
Read each example aloud and notice how the surrounding words give the phrase its exact meaning. The English translation is natural rather than a strict word-for-word rendering.
Meaning: I have six books.
Use: The number stays the same before the plural noun libri.
Meaning: It is six o’clock.
Use: Use sono le for six; the same pattern works with most hours.
Meaning: My daughter is six years old.
Use: Italian expresses age with avere, literally “to have.”
Frequently Asked Questions About 6 (six) in Italian
Tap a question below to see the answer.
How do you say six in Italian?
The number six is sei.
Does sei change with masculine or feminine nouns?
No. As a cardinal number, sei stays the same.
How do you say sixth?
Use sesto with a masculine noun and sesta with a feminine noun.
How do I say six o’clock?
Say sono le sei (“it is six o’clock”).
Can sei mean “you are” too?
Yes. Sei is also the second-person singular form of essere, as in tu sei felice (“you are happy”).
Summary: 6 (six) in Italian
Use sei for the number 6. Say sesto/sesta for sixth and sono le sei for six o’clock. The same spelling can also mean “you are,” so context identifies its role.
