Tengo nueve años
/tenɡo nwebe aɲos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "I am nine years old" is expressed in Spanish as Tengo nueve años.
This phrase is used to communicate your age.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase means "I have nine years". It is composed of Tengo (I have), nueve (nine) and años (years).
How does it change in a sentence?
To express age in Spanish, you must use the verb tener (to have) instead of ser (to be).
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Soy nueve años. English speakers often mistakenly use the verb ser (soy) to express age, which is incorrect in Spanish.
Did you know?
- While años means 'years', using the word alone in certain slang contexts can be a vulgar reference to the anatomy of the body.
- Spanish speakers use the same verb tener for age as they do for feeling hunger tengo hambre or thirst tengo sed.
- Because Spanish uses 'possession' for age, using the verb ser (to be) can make it sound to a native speaker as if you are claiming to be the number nine itself.
Examples in context
- Hola, soy María. Tengo nueve años.Hello, I am Maria. I am nine years old.
- Hola, soy Pedro. Tengo nueve años de edad.Hi, I am Pedro. I am nine years old.
- Tengo nueve años y me encanta jugar fútbol.I am nine years old, and I love playing soccer.
- Hola, soy Ana. Tengo nueve años de edad y quiero ser veterinaria cuando sea grande.Hi, I am Ana. I am nine years old, and I want to be a veterinarian when I grow up.
Example conversation
Two children are meeting at a park.
- Javier¿Cómo te llamas?What is your name?
- LucíaMe llamo Lucía. ¿Y tú?My name is Lucía. And you?
- JavierSoy Javier y tengo nueve años.I am Javier and I am nine years old.
- LucíaYo también tengo nueve.I am nine too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
