hoe oud is jy?
The phrase "how old are you?" in Afrikaans is hoe oud is jy?
This phrase is used to ask a person about their age.
How does it change in a sentence?
To show respect when addressing an elder, a stranger or someone in a formal setting, use hoe oud is u? instead of hoe oud is jy? If you want to ask about a third person, replace the pronoun jy (you) with hy (he) or sy (she), such as in hoe oud is hy?
Did you know?
- In certain traditional South African contexts, asking an elder hoe oud is jy? is a significant social faux pas, regardless of whether the speaker uses the formal u.
- Because Afrikaans has no verb conjugation for person, is remains the same whether you ask hoe oud is jy? or hoe oud is hy?
- While u is the formal version of 'you' in this phrase, its use is becoming increasingly rare among younger generations in urban South Africa.
Examples in context
- Ek is twintig jaar oud.I am twenty years old.
- Hoe oud is jy?How old are you?
- Ek wil weet, hoe oud is jy?I want to know, how old are you?
- As ek mag vra, hoe oud is jy?If I may ask, how old are you?
Example conversation
Anika and Andries meet for the first time at a party.
- AnikaHallo, ek is Anika. Hoe oud is jy?Hello, I am Anika. How old are you?
- AndriesEk is Andries en ek is twintig.I am Andries and I am twenty.
- AnikaEk is ook twintig jaar oud.I am also twenty years old.
- AndriesDit is baie interessant!That is very interesting!
