J'ai six ans
In French, "I am six years old" is said as J'ai six ans.
This phrase is used to state how many years a person has lived.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, J'ai six ans translates to "I have six years".
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, French uses the verb avoir (to have) instead of être (to be) to express age. Additionally, you must include the word ans (years) at the end of the sentence. You cannot simply say J'ai six to express your age.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid saying Je suis six ans. English speakers often mistakenly use the verb être (to be) to state age, but in French, you must use avoir.
Did you know?
- In French, the same verb used to state age, avoir, is also used to express physical sensations like hunger, thirst and being cold. Instead of saying 'I am hungry', a French speaker says J'ai faim, meaning 'I have hunger'.
- Because you are 'having' years rather than 'being' them, using être to state your age can make you sound like you are identifying yourself as the number six itself.
- The word six shares a common ancestor with the English word 'six' in the Proto-Indo-European root *swéḱs. This means the two words are cognates and have been sounding similar for thousands of years.
Examples in context
- J'ai six ans.I am six years old.
- Maintenant, j'ai six ans.Now, I am six years old.
- Regarde, j'ai six ans déjà !Look, I am six years old already!
Example conversation
Two children are playing together in a park.
- EmmaQuel âge as-tu, Hugo ?How old are you, Hugo?
- HugoJ'ai six ans. Et toi, Emma ?I am six years old. And you, Emma?
- EmmaMoi aussi, j'ai six ans !I am six years old too!
- HugoSuper, on est de la même classe.Great, we are in the same class.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries j'ai, six, CC BY-SA 4.0.
