tengo [edad] años
The English phrase "I am [age]" is expressed in Spanish as tengo [edad] años.
This phrase is used to state how many years old a person is.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I have [age] years".
How does it change in a sentence?
The word años (years) must be included at the end of the phrase to complete the expression of age.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the verb ser (soy) to state their age, such as saying soy [edad]. In Spanish, age is expressed using the verb tener (tengo) instead.
Did you know?
- The word años contains the letter ñ, which is distinct from a regular 'n'. In many digital contexts where the character is unavailable, people write anos, but this changes the meaning to a vulgar term for 'anus' instead of 'years'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking Cuántos años tienes? can be seen as too direct or even rude if asked to an adult or someone you do not know well. It is often more polite to wait for the person to volunteer the information.
- The use of tener for age is a trait shared with other Romance languages like French j'ai and Italian ho, meaning they all treat age as a possession.
Examples in context
- Tengo 25 años.I am 25 years old.
- Yo tengo 40 años.I am 40 years old.
- Tengo veinte años.I am twenty years old.
