die
Sechs
🔢 What does 'die Sechs' mean?
The word die Sechs (feminine noun) refers to several concepts, all related to the number 6:
- The number 6: The cardinal number between five (fünf) and seven (sieben).
- The digit 6: The symbol '6' representing the number six.
- The school grade 6: In Germany and Switzerland, this is the worst possible grade (ungenügend - insufficient/fail or schlecht - poor). Attention: In Austria, 5 is the lowest grade; a 6 doesn't exist in their system.
- The playing card 'Six': A card in various card games (e.g., Skat, Rommé).
- A group of six: Rare, but possible (e.g., 'eine Sechs bilden' - to form a group of six).
🚨 It's important to consider the context to understand the exact meaning.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Numbers, calculations → almost always feminine.
Caution: When verbs are turned into nouns, the result is 'das Addieren', 'das Subtrahieren', 'das Multiplizieren', 'das Dividieren'.
📊 Grammar in Detail: Die Sechs
Die Sechs is a feminine noun. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sechs |
| Genitive | der | Sechs |
| Dative | der | Sechs |
| Accusative | die | Sechs |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Sechsen |
| Genitive | der | Sechsen |
| Dative | den | Sechsen |
| Accusative | die | Sechsen |
Example Sentences
- Nach der Fünf kommt die Sechs.
(After five comes six.) - Er schrieb eine große Sechs an die Tafel.
(He wrote a large six on the blackboard.) - Leider habe ich in Mathe eine Sechs bekommen. 😱
(Unfortunately, I got a six [failed grade] in math.) - Mir fehlt nur noch die Herz-Sechs zum Gewinnen.
(I only need the six of hearts to win.) - Die Würfel zeigten zwei Sechsen.
(The dice showed two sixes.)
💡 Using 'die Sechs' Correctly
Die Sechs is mostly used in the context of counting, calculations, evaluations (school grades), or games.
- Counting & Calculating: "Das Ergebnis ist sechs." (The result is six.) or "Addiere die Sechs." (Add the six.)
- School Grades: "Eine Sechs im Zeugnis ist ärgerlich." (A six on the report card is annoying.) (Note: Regional differences apply, see definition)
- Games: "Er würfelte eine Sechs." (He rolled a six.) or "Gib mir die Karo-Sechs." (Give me the six of diamonds.)
- Colloquial use: Sometimes "die Sechs" might describe a group of six people or things, but this is less common.
There's little risk of confusion, as the meaning is usually clear from the context. It's important to distinguish between the number/adjective (sechs - lowercase, when not a noun) and the noun (die Sechs - capitalized).
🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Sechs'
Article Mnemonic: Think of 'die Note Sechs' (the grade six) – grades in German often take the feminine article (die Eins, die Zwei...). Or think of 'die Spielkarte' (the playing card), which is also feminine.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine six sickly (sounds a bit like 'Sechs') witches dancing on playing cards and giving out bad grades – this connects the number, the card, and the grade.
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- For the number/digit: No direct synonyms, only paraphrases like "the number after five".
- For the grade: Ungenügend (insufficient/fail), Schlecht (poor) (depending on the grading system).
- For the playing card: No direct synonyms.
Antonyms
Similar words (Caution!): The adjective/numeral sechs (lowercase) vs. the noun die Sechs (uppercase).
😄 A Little Joke
Warum ist die Sechs so unglücklich in der Schule?
Weil sie immer ganz unten steht!
Why is the number six so unhappy in school?
Because it's always at the very bottom! (Refers to the grade 6 being the lowest/worst grade in DE/CH).
✍️ Poem about 'die Sechs'
Die Sechs, sie zählt im Reigen mit,
nach Fünfen kommt ihr fester Schritt.
Als Ziffer klar, als Note schlecht,
als Karte oft im Spiel gerecht.
Mal Würfelglück, mal Schulpech-Los,
die Sechs ist vielfältig, grandios!
The Six, it counts along the row,
after the five, its steady step does go.
As digit clear, as grade quite bad,
as card in games, it makes one glad.
Sometimes dice luck, sometimes school's sad fate,
the Six is diverse, truly great!
❓ Riddle Time
Ich bin eine Zahl, nicht krumm, nicht grade,
manchmal bring ich Pech in der Schul-Parade.
Auf Würfeln tanz ich, bring höchstes Glück,
und komme stets nach Fünf zurück.
Wer bin ich?
I am a number, not crooked, not straight,
sometimes I bring bad luck in the school grade fate.
On dice I dance, bring the highest score,
and always return after five, and before... seven.
Who am I?
(Solution: die Sechs / the six)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung): The word "Sechs" itself is a basic word. However, it can be part of compound words, e.g., Sechserpack (a six-pack), Sechszylinder (six-cylinder engine).
Trivia: In some cultures, the number six is considered perfect because it is the sum of its proper divisors (1+2+3=6). In Christianity, it sometimes represents imperfection (being less than seven).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Sechs?
The word Sechs used as a noun for the number, digit, grade, or playing card is always feminine. The correct article is therefore die. Example: Die Sechs ist gefallen. (The six has been rolled/fallen.)