j'ai dix ans
In French, "I am ten years old" is said as j'ai dix ans.
This phrase is used to state how many years a person has lived. While English uses the verb "to be" for age, French uses the verb avoir (to have).
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I have ten years". The component j'ai means "I have".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase uses the first-person singular conjugation of the verb avoir in the form j'ai.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly say je suis dix ans by using the verb être (to be) instead of avoir (to have).
Did you know?
- The French language uses avoir for other physical or internal states that English describes with 'to be', such as j'ai faim for 'I am hungry' and j'ai chaud for 'I am hot'.
- Because the phrase uses avoir (to have) instead of être (to be), saying je suis dix ans sounds to a French person as if you are claiming to be the number ten itself.
- The word dix is a direct descendant of the Latin word decem, which is also the root of the English word 'decimal'.
Examples in context
- J'ai dix ans.I am ten years old.
- Pour l'instant, j'ai dix ans.For now, I am ten years old.
- Oui, j'ai dix ans cette année.Yes, I am ten years old this year.
Example conversation
Emma and Nathan are meeting for the first time at school.
- EmmaSalut ! Quel âge as-tu ?Hi! How old are you?
- NathanSalut ! J'ai dix ans, et toi ?Hi! I am ten years old, and you?
- EmmaMoi aussi, j'ai dix ans !Me too, I am ten years old!
- NathanC'est super, on est dans la même classe.That is great, we are in the same class.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dix, j'ai, CC BY-SA 4.0.
