Shesh

Shesh is a term with multiple uses in language and naming, most commonly as a transliteration of the word for the number six in some languages that use the Hebrew and Persian scripts. It can appear in everyday counting, dates, and mathematical contexts where the number six is spoken or written.

In Hebrew, shesh (שֵׁשׁ) is the cardinal number six and is used in both spoken and written forms when counting objects, telling time, or stating quantities. In Persian, shesh (شش) also represents the number six and is used similarly in daily language and writing. While the pronunciation is similar, the two words come from distinct linguistic traditions within their respective languages.

Outside of counting, shesh may appear as a component in personal names, surnames, or place names in communities influenced by Hebrew or Persian linguistic heritage. In such cases, the element does not carry its numeric meaning independently but forms part of a broader cultural or linguistic naming convention.

As a term, shesh does not designate a single, widely recognized concept beyond its numeric meaning in these languages. Its usage is largely contextual, tied to the languages that render the word as six. Etymologically, it reflects the shared human practice of representing basic numbers in different languages through transliterated forms.

See also: six, numerals in Hebrew, numerals in Persian.