A group of 6 people doesn’t have a specific, widely recognized name like “herd” for animals, but it can be referred to as a “hexad” or simply a “group of six.” The term “hexad” comes from the Greek word “hexa,” meaning six. However, in most contexts, people would just say “group of six” or “six-person group.”
Here’s a bit more detail about the terms and their usage:
- Hexad: The term “hexad” comes from the Greek word “hexa,” meaning six. It is used in more formal or technical contexts, particularly in mathematics, science, and philosophy, to refer to a set or group of six. For example, you might see it used in chemistry to describe a molecule made of six atoms.
- Group of Six: The most common and straightforward way to refer to a group of six people is simply as a “group of six.” This can be used in everyday conversation to describe a small team, gathering, or collection of six individuals.
- Sixsome: Similar to “foursome” (a group of four), “sixsome” is a less common term used to describe a group of six people. It’s used in some social contexts, but it’s not as widely adopted or formal as “group of six.”
- Other Informal Terms: In certain social or playful contexts, groups of six might be referred to in informal ways, but there’s no universally agreed-upon term like there is for groups of more or fewer people (e.g., “crowd,” “party,” or “gang”). Some people might just call it a “small team” or “small group.”
- In Popular Culture: In some sports, “six” can refer to a specific number of players or team members, like in rugby or cricket, but that’s more about team size rather than being a specific term for the group itself.
In short, “hexad” is a more formal or academic term, while “group of six” or even “sixsome” might be used in casual contexts. But there’s no single, widely accepted term like “quartet” for four people or “octet” for eight.