j'ai onze ans
The English phrase "I am eleven years old" is expressed in French as j'ai onze ans.
This phrase is a statement used to communicate one's current age.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase j'ai onze ans, the word ans (years) is mandatory. You cannot simply say j'ai onze to express your age.
Did you know?
- The word onze shares an ancient ancestor with the Latin word ūndecim. This linguistic root is also the source of the English word 'undecillion' in mathematics.
- Because French uses the verb avoir (to have) for age, you must be careful not to use être (to be). Saying je suis onze ans would sound to a local as if you are claiming to actually be the physical concept of eleven years.
- The word onze is a linguistic outlier among French numbers. While most numbers follow a predictable pattern, onze is an ancient remnant that resists the standard building-block logic of the French counting system.
Examples in context
- Bonjour Monsieur, je suis âgé de onze ans.Hello sir, I am eleven years old.
- Salut! J'ai onze ans!Hi! I'm eleven years old!
- J'ai onze ans maintenant.I am eleven years old now.
Example conversation
Two children are meeting for the first time at a park.
- ManonSalut ! Quel âge as-tu ?Hi! How old are you?
- NathanSalut Manon, j'ai onze ans.Hi Manon, I am eleven years old.
- ManonMoi aussi, j'ai onze ans !Me too, I am eleven years old!
- NathanC'est super, Nathan !That's great, Nathan!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries j'ai, onze, CC BY-SA 4.0.
