Inklingo

dieciséis

dee-ay-see-SAYS/djeθiˈseis/

dieciséis means sixteen in Spanish (The cardinal number following fifteen).

sixteen

Also: 16th
General
A neat pile of sixteen red apples sitting on a simple wooden table.

📝 In Action

Tengo dieciséis años.

A1

I am sixteen years old.

Hay dieciséis sillas en el salón.

A1

There are sixteen chairs in the room.

Hoy es el dieciséis de septiembre.

A2

Today is the sixteenth of September.

Word Connections

Common Collocations

  • dieciséis añossixteen years old
  • dieciséis de la tarde4:00 PM (literally 16:00)
  • el número dieciséisthe number sixteen

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "dieciséis" in Spanish:

16thsixteen

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: dieciséis

Question 1 of 3

Which of the following is the correct spelling for 16?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
dieciseisavo(one-sixteenth)Noun
decimosexto(sixteenth (in order))Adjective
seis(six)Number
🎵 Rhymes
seisbebéiscoméis
📚 Etymology

From the Latin 'decem et sex', which literally translates to 'ten and six'. Over time, the words merged into the modern Spanish 'dieciséis'.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: dezesseisItalian: sediciFrench: seize

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'dieciséis' always one word?

Yes, in modern Spanish, numbers from 16 to 29 must be written as a single word.

Does 'dieciséis' change based on gender?

No, it stays the same whether you are talking about masculine or feminine objects (e.g., 'dieciséis libros' and 'dieciséis mesas').

Why is there an accent mark on the 'e'?

The accent mark is needed to show that the emphasis is on the last syllable. Without it, the word would be pronounced differently according to standard Spanish spelling rules.