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Sixty
ستّون (Sittūn) is the Arabic numeral for sixty, used to express quantity, age, time, or any measurable unit. It is an invariable number that doesn't change based on gender when used independently, though it can be modified in certain grammatical contexts. This word is fundamental in daily Arabic communication for counting, telling time, and discussing measurements.
Worksheets, games, and lesson plans for Years 1-11
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عمري ستّون سنة.
'Umrī sittūn sanah.
I am sixty years old.
هناك ستّون طالباً في المدرسة.
Hunāk sittūn ṭāliban fī al-madrasa.
There are sixty students in the school.
سافرنا لمدة ستّون يوماً.
Sāfarnā li-muddat sittūn yawman.
We traveled for sixty days.
الساعة تشير إلى الساعة الثالثة وستّون دقيقة.
Al-sā'ah tashhīr ilā al-sā'ah al-thālithah wa-sittūn daqīqah.
The clock shows three o'clock and sixty minutes.
اشتريت ستّون تفاحة من السوق.
Ishtarayt sittūn tuffāhah min al-sūq.
I bought sixty apples from the market.
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Numbers hold significant cultural importance in Arabic-speaking communities, particularly in Islamic contexts where certain numbers have special meanings. Sixty appears in various Islamic traditions and historical narratives. In daily life, knowing cardinal numbers like ستّون is essential for commerce, age discussion, and time-telling across all Arab regions.
Remember that ستّون remains unchanged regardless of the gender of the noun it modifies—both ستّون رجلاً (sixty men) and ستّون امرأة (sixty women) use the same form. When written numerically, it appears as ٦٠ in Arabic numerals. Practice combining it with time expressions and measurements to develop natural fluency in everyday conversations.
ستّون (sittūn) is the Arabic cardinal number representing the quantity of sixty. As one of the fundamental numerals in the Arabic language, it plays a crucial role in daily communication, from discussing ages and time periods to expressing measurements and quantities.
Unlike some other numbers in Arabic, ستّون is an invariable number, meaning it doesn't change form based on the gender of the noun it modifies. Whether you're counting sixty masculine or feminine nouns, the word remains ستّون. This consistency makes it relatively straightforward for learners compared to numbers like three through ten, which do exhibit gender agreement.
When written in numerical form, sixty is represented as ٦٠ in Arabic numerals, which follows the same decimal system used internationally. The word breaks down phonetically as sit-tūn, with emphasis on the second syllable.
In Arabic-speaking communities, ستّون is commonly used in various contexts:
Age and Life Milestones: One of the most frequent uses is when discussing a person's age. The phrase "عمري ستّون سنة" (I am sixty years old) is a standard expression. This milestone age often carries cultural significance, as it marks the beginning of the senior years in many Arab societies.
Time and Duration: Sixty minutes comprise one hour, making ستّون دقيقة a fundamental phrase in time-telling. When discussing travel duration, project timelines, or event schedules, this number frequently appears.
Measurements and Quantities: Whether discussing kilometers, dollars, kilograms, or any countable items in the market, ستّون is essential for precise communication about quantities.
To use ستّون effectively, it helps to understand the broader Arabic numeral system. The number comes from ستّة (six) combined with the tens system. Related numbers include:
Mastering these surrounding numbers creates a comprehensive foundation for numerical literacy in Arabic.
Consider these authentic usage scenarios:
"في المدرسة ستّون طالباً" (There are sixty students in the school) shows usage with countable nouns.
"سافرنا لمدة ستّون يوماً" (We traveled for sixty days) demonstrates its use with time expressions.
"اشتريت ستّون تفاحة" (I bought sixty apples) illustrates marketplace communication.
In Islamic tradition, certain numbers hold special significance. While sixty itself isn't as symbolically charged as numbers like seven or nine, it appears in various historical narratives and time measurements within Islamic culture. Understanding how numbers function in cultural contexts enriches your appreciation of the language.
To internalize ستّون and use it naturally:
Mastering cardinal numbers like ستّون is foundational for Arabic language learners and opens doors to more complex numerical expressions and conversations.