quel âge a-t-elle ?
The French phrase for "how old is she?" is quel âge a-t-elle ?
This phrase is used to inquire about the age of a female person.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "which age has she?" because French uses the verb avoir (to have) rather than "to be" to express age.
Which one should you use?
Quel âge a-t-elle ? is one way to ask the question, but you can also use the standard Quel âge est-ce qu'elle a ? construction. For a more casual tone, you can use Elle a quel âge? instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the form quel âge a-t-elle ?, the -t- is a phonetic insertion. It is used to prevent a vowel clash between the a and elle and has no semantic meaning.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying quel âge est-elle ? English speakers often mistakenly use the verb être (to be) to ask about age, but in French, you must use avoir (to have).
Did you know?
- Asking about age in France requires social tact. In formal contexts, it is often considered more polite to avoid the question or guess a lower age.
- In French, the logic of using avoir for age extends to physical sensations, so you do not 'be' hungry or thirsty but rather avoir faim or avoir soif.
- Using the verb être instead of avoir could change the meaning of the question entirely, as a French speaker might think you are asking about a person's status or character.
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, madame. Quel âge a-t-elle?Excuse me, madam. How old is she?
- Pardon, monsieur. Pourriez-vous me dire son âge, s'il vous plaît?Excuse me, sir. Could you tell me her age, please?
- Hé, Pierre, elle a quel âge?Hey, Pierre, how old is she?
- Je ne sais pas, quel âge a-t-elle ?I don't know, how old is she?
- Elle est très jeune, mais quel âge a-t-elle ?She is very young, but how old is she?
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are talking about a new colleague.
- GabrielRegarde la nouvelle collègue.Look at the new colleague.
- ManonOui, elle a l'air très jeune.Yes, she looks very young.
- GabrielQuel âge a-t-elle ?How old is she?
- ManonElle a vingt-cinq ans.She is twenty-five years old.
