six
A1Neutral, used across all registers from formal to informal.
Definition
Meaning
The cardinal number equivalent to the sum of five and one; the digit 6.
Used to denote a set or group of six people or things (e.g., a cricket team). Can refer to the sixth hour or position in a sequence. In cricket, a hit scoring six runs.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a cardinal numeral and noun. Its meaning is stable across contexts with little semantic shift.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
None in core meaning. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. 'Six' as a noun for a cricket hit is UK-specific.
Connotations
In the UK, 'six' in cricket carries specific sports prestige. In the US, 'six' is neutral.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
NUM + N (six books)N + of + NUM (a group of six)at + six (at six o'clock)for + six + N (for six months)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “at sixes and sevens”
- “six of one, half a dozen of the other”
- “hit (or knock) for six”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The project is divided into six phases."
Academic
"The study sampled six distinct population groups."
Everyday
"Let's meet at six."
Technical
"IPv6 uses a 128-bit address."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The batsman managed to six the ball over the boundary.
American English
- In baseball, to hit a home run is analogous, but 'to six' is not used.
adjective
British English
- He bought a six-cylinder car.
American English
- She ordered a six-piece chicken nugget meal.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have six apples.
- My son is six years old.
- The bus leaves at six.
- We need to be there by six o'clock sharp.
- He divided the cake into six equal parts.
- The meeting lasted for six hours.
- The committee is composed of six members from different departments.
- Sales figures have increased sixfold over the past quarter.
- She was knocked for six by the unexpected news.
- The jury remained deadlocked, ultimately resulting in a hung verdict after six days of deliberation.
- His innovative approach scored a conceptual six with the venture capitalists.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SIX has SIX letters.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY AS A MEASURE ON A SCALE (e.g., 'a six on a scale of one to ten').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- No direct traps. Translates directly to 'шесть' (shest'). Ensure pronunciation /sɪks/ not /siks/.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'sixth' (ordinal) with 'six' (cardinal). Incorrect pluralisation: 'sixs' instead of 'sixes' (e.g., 'He scored three sixes.').
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means a state of confusion or disarray?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
As a number, it doesn't have a plural. As a noun (e.g., in cricket), the plural is 'sixes'.
Rarely. In UK cricket commentary, 'to six' can mean to hit the ball for six runs.
'Six' is a cardinal number (counting). 'Sixth' is an ordinal number (position, e.g., 'He finished in sixth place').
Pronounce it /sɪks/. The vowel is a short 'i' as in 'sit', not a long 'ee' sound. The 'x' is pronounced /ks/.
Collections
Part of a collection
Numbers and Time
A1 · 50 words · Numbers, dates, days and expressions of time.