French word

soixantaine

Pronunciation

IPA/swasɑ̃tɛn/

Meaning

  • feminine nounsixties

Example

Il a une soixantaine d'années.

He is in his sixties.

Illustration for soixantaine (sixties)

More examples

Il y avait une soixantaine de personnes au concert.

There were about sixty people at the concert.

Core concept

A loose bundle gathered around the number sixty.

Common phrases

  • une soixantaine de personnes

    about sixty people

Similar words

cinquantaine: An approximate number or age of around fifty.
trentaine: An approximate number or age of around thirty.
vingtaine: An approximate number or age of around twenty.
dizaine: An approximate number or age of around ten.

Definition in French

Terme désignant une approximation proche de soixante, utilisé pour l'âge (avoir une soixantaine d'années) ou pour un effectif approximatif.

Word origin

Soixantaine combines soixante, from Latin sexaginta, with the suffix -aine, which forms an approximate quantity or group.

Usage tips

  • The noun normally takes de before what is counted, as in une soixantaine de personnes or une soixantaine d'années.

Other meanings

  • about sixtynoun

Opposites

  • la trentaineone's thirtiesnoun

Related words

  • soixantenairea person in their sixtiesnoun

Word lists with this word