quel âge tu as
The English phrase 'how old you are' is translated into French as quel âge tu as.
This phrase is used to ask or refer to someone's age. It is important to note that in French, you use the verb 'avoir' (to have) to express age rather than the verb 'être' (to be).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase quel âge tu as literally translates to 'what age you have'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some parts of France, particularly in the south, the slang term J'ai [number] balais is used to express age.
How does it change in a sentence?
In a direct question, the phrase can be inverted to quel âge as-tu to create a more formal or standard structure. When stating your age, remember that the verb 'avoir' is required.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly try to use the verb 'être' (to be) by saying quel âge tu es. You must use 'avoir' (to have) instead.
Did you know?
- Asking someone's age in France can be more culturally sensitive than in the US, especially with adults, where it is often considered an intrusive question.
- If you want to sound very informal, you can say you have a certain number of balais, which literally means 'brooms'.
- In French, you cannot say you 'are' an age, but you can say you 'have' an age. This logic extends to other states, such as being hungry, where you avoir faim or 'have hunger'.
Examples in context
- Tu ne m'as toujours pas dit quel âge tu as.You still haven't told me how old you are.This sentence shows how to use the phrase when someone has not yet shared their age.Tatoeba #1840190 by sacredceltic, translation #1839652 by CK
- Quel âge aurais-tu si tu ne savais pas quel âge tu as ?How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?This sentence uses the phrase within a hypothetical question about age.Tatoeba #590535 by sacredceltic, translation #590526 by darinmex
- J'ai 25 ans.I am 25 years old.
- Je suis âgé(e) de 30 ans.I am aged 30 years.
- J'ai 35 printemps.I have 35 springs.
- J'ai 20 piges.I am 20 years old.
- Je me demande quel âge tu as.I wonder how old you are.
Example conversation
Chloé and Nathan are talking about their childhood.
- ChloéJe me demande quel âge tu as exactement.I wonder how old you are exactly.
- NathanJ'ai vingt-deux ans.I am twenty-two years old.
- ChloéAh, tu es plus jeune que moi !Ah, you are younger than me!
- NathanOui, c'est vrai.Yes, that is true.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
