Quantos anos você tem?
The English phrase 'how old are you?' is translated into Portuguese as Quantos anos você tem?
The phrase is used to ask someone their age.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase Quantos anos você tem? literally translates to 'How many years do you have?'
How does it change in a sentence?
To ask the age of a group of people, use the plural form Quantos anos vocês têm? instead of the singular Quantos anos você tem?
Did you know?
- The word você descends from the phrase vossa mercee, which literally means 'your mercy'.
- While the phrase asks how many years you 'have', Portuguese speakers also use the verb ter to describe other states, such as 'having' hunger or 'having' fear.
- In formal settings in Portugal, asking Quantos anos você tem? might actually feel too direct or even slightly rude compared to more indirect ways of inquiring.
Examples in context
- Quantos anos você tem?How old are you?
- Desculpe, quantos anos você tem?Sorry, how old are you?
Example conversation
Felipe and Beatriz are meeting for the first time at a party.
- FelipeOi, Beatriz! Quantos anos você tem?Hi, Beatriz! How old are you?
- BeatrizEu tenho vinte anos. E você, Felipe?I am twenty years old. And you, Felipe?
- FelipeEu tenho vinte e dois.I am twenty-two.
- BeatrizAh, entendi!Ah, I see!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries tem, você, CC BY-SA 4.0.
