aetas
[ˈae̯.taːs]feminine
The English word 'age' is translated into Latin as aetas.
The noun aetas refers to the amount of time since the birth of a being or the beginning of a thing. It is also used to refer to a specific era or epoch in history.
Meaning: amount of time since the birth of a being or the beginning of a thing (noun)
Which one should you use?
While aetas can mean the age of a person, it is also used to refer to a specific era or epoch in history.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
aetas is a feminine noun. The genitive singular form is aetatis, which is used to express possession or relationship, such as 'of age'. The accusative singular form is aetatem, which is used when the age is the direct object of a verb. The plural form of aetas is aetates, used when referring to multiple periods of time or multiple ages.
Did you know?
- The word aetas is a distant relative of the English word 'eon', as both trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root.
- Latin authors often used aetas to describe the 'golden age' (aetas aurea), a poetic concept referring to a mythical era of peace and harmony.
- The word aetas is rooted in the Proto-Indo-European concept of 'vital energy' or 'life'.
Examples in context
- Quid est aetas elephantis?What is the elephant's age?This sentence shows how to ask about the age of an elephant using aetas.Tatoeba #11164469 by carlosalberto, translation #11164466 by carlosalberto
- Senescere potest solum corpus, animae autem aetas non est.Only the body can age, the soul has no age.This sentence uses aetas to contrast the aging of a body with the timelessness of a soul.Tatoeba #12947694 by rul, translation #12938385 by rul
- Caesar aetatem suam dixit.Caesar said his age.
- Filii aetates nesciuntur.The ages of the sons are unknown.
- Aetas mundi est magna.The age of the world is great.
Example conversation
Aurelia and Lucius are talking about their family.
- AureliaQuae est aetas fratris tui?What is the age of your brother?
- LuciusFrater meus aetate parvus est.My brother is young in age.
- AureliaEstne puer an adulescens?Is he a boy or a youth?
- LuciusPuer est.He is a boy.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “age” translations and entries aetas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries aetas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
