sheshet

Sheshet is the feminine form of the Hebrew cardinal number six. It is used in Hebrew to count feminine nouns or to express six units when the noun being counted is feminine. The masculine form of the number is shesh, which is used before masculine nouns. In the Hebrew counting system for numbers three through ten, gender agreement with the counted noun is the rule, making sheshet appropriate for feminine nouns and shesh for masculine nouns. The form is attested in Biblical Hebrew, in Mishnaic Hebrew, and in Modern Hebrew, where it remains part of everyday language, literature, and formal style.

In addition to its role as a grammatical number, sheshet appears in fixed phrases and historical texts. Its usage reflects the broader Hebrew pattern of gendered numeral agreement, which differs from languages with a single invariant numeral for six. While modern speech generally follows standard gender agreement, Hebrew speakers may encounter stylistic or emphatic uses of the form in religious, literary, or ceremonial contexts.

Etymology and related forms: sheshet derives from the same Semitic root as other numerals for six and participates in the parallel masculine form shesh. The distinction between the two forms is a typical feature of Hebrew numeral morphology, not a separate lexical item.

See also: Hebrew numerals, Hebrew grammar, cardinal numbers.