sixty-six: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “sixty-six” mean?
The number equal to six tens plus six units.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number equal to six tens plus six units.
A numerical value denoting a quantity; historically, can refer to specific road or highway numbers, models, or sports scores.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Pronunciation of 'sixty' may vary slightly in vowel quality and stress.
Connotations
In both varieties, the number itself is neutral. The cultural reference to 'Route 66' is more prominent in American English.
Frequency
Equally frequent as a numeral; cultural reference to 'sixty-six' (e.g., in songs, historical contexts) may have higher frequency in American contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “sixty-six” in a Sentence
NUM + N (sixty-six percent)BE + NUM (The answer is sixty-six.)V + NUM (He scored sixty-six.)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sixty-six” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The sixty-sixth amendment was ratified.
- She bought a sixty-six gram sample.
American English
- He drove the iconic Route sixty-six.
- The bill passed with a sixty-six percent majority.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports for quantities, percentages, or model numbers (e.g., 'Project sixty-six is on schedule').
Academic
Used in statistical data, historical years, or referencing specific laws/acts numbered 66.
Everyday
Used for age, prices, scores, house numbers, or simple counting.
Technical
Can be a code, model designation (e.g., CPU-66), or a specific measurement value.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sixty-six”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sixty-six”
- Writing as 'sixtysix' (missing hyphen)
- Incorrect pluralisation ('sixty-sixes') when used as a noun referring to the number itself.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine are hyphenated in English.
The ordinal form is 'sixty-sixth' (66th).
It is commonly pronounced 'Route Sixty-Six' in full, but 'Route Sixty-Six' is also standard. The number is read as 'sixty-six'.
Yes, e.g., 'A sixty-six is a rare score in that game.'
The number equal to six tens plus six units.
Sixty-six is usually neutral in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of two sixes: 'six' and 'ty' (sounds like 'tea'). Imagine having six cups of tea and then six more biscuits—that's sixty-six items.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS VERTICALITY/MAGNITUDE (a 'high' number); A JOURNEY (as in Route 66).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct written form for the number 66?