kuinka vanha olet?
The English phrase "how old are you?" is translated into Finnish as kuinka vanha olet?
The phrase is used to ask someone about their age.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kuinka vanha olet? is composed of kuinka (how), vanha (old) and olet (you are).
Which one should you use?
The form kuinka vanha olet? uses the singular 'you', whereas kuinka vanha olette? uses the plural 'you' to address multiple people or to maintain a formal tone. Additionally, Mikä sun ikä on? is used as an informal way to ask what someone's age is and Mikä on teidän ikänne? is a formal way to ask what someone's age is.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase kuinka vanha olet?, olet is the second-person singular indicative form of the verb olla (to be). To address more than one person or to use a formal tone, you use olette instead of olet.
Did you know?
- The word kuinka originally began as a plural form of kuka, which means 'who'.
- In Finland, asking a stranger kuinka vanha olet? can be perceived as quite blunt or even impolite, as age is often considered a private matter in Finnish social etiquette.
- When answering this question, Finns typically state their age without using a verb, simply saying the number and the word for 'years' (vuotta).
Examples in context
- Kuinka vanha olet?How old are you?
- Anteeksi, kuinka vanha olet?Excuse me, how old are you?
- Voinko kysyä, kuinka vanha olet?May I ask how old you are?
Example conversation
Matti and Anna are meeting for the first time at a party.
- MattiHauska tavata! Kuinka vanha olet?Nice to meet you! How old are you?
- AnnaOlen kaksikymmentäviisi. Entä sinä?I am twenty-five. How about you?
- MattiMinä olen kaksikymmentäkuusi.I am twenty-six.
- AnnaOlemme siis lähes samanikäisiä.So we are almost the same age.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kuinka, vanha, CC BY-SA 4.0.
