¿Cuántos años tienes?
The English phrase "how old are you?" is translated into Spanish as ¿Cuántos años tienes?
To ask someone's age, you can use several different phrases. The phrase ¿Cuántos años tienes? is used among friends or peers. In more formal settings, you can use ¿Cuántos años tiene usted? or the more indirect Disculpe, ¿podría decirme cuál es su edad, por favor?, which means "Excuse me, could you tell me your age, please?" In casual conversations, you might hear the phrase Oye, ¿cuántos años tienes?, which translates to "Hey, how old are you?" When answering an age question, it is common to say Tengo (number) años to mean "I am (number) years old.".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Spanish-speaking countries, such as Mexico, ¿Qué edad tienes? is an acceptable informal way to ask someone's age.
How does it change in a sentence?
When answering the question, use the verb tener (to have) followed by the number of years. For example, say Tengo [number] años to mean "I am [number] years old.".
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying ¿Cuántos años eres?
Did you know?
- The word años is the plural of año, which means 'year'. Because of the tilde on the 'n', the word is distinct from anos, which refers to a part of the anatomy.
- In Spanish, the same verb tener used for age is also used to express hunger, thirst and fear.
- While English speakers often ask 'how old are you?' to children, in many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking an adult their age directly can be perceived as overly intrusive or even rude unless you are close friends.
Examples in context
- Maria, ¿cuántos años tienes?Maria, how old are you?
- ¿Qué edad tienes, Juan?How old are you, Juan?
- Disculpa, ¿cuántos años tienes?Excuse me, how old are you?
Example conversation
Lucía and Alejandro meet for the first time at a party.
- LucíaHola, soy Lucía. ¿Cuántos años tienes?Hi, I'm Lucía. How old are you?
- AlejandroHola, Lucía. Tengo veinte años.Hi, Lucía. I am twenty years old.
- Lucía¡Qué bien! Yo también tengo veinte.That's great! I am twenty too.
- AlejandroMucho gusto, Lucía.Nice to meet you, Lucía.
