J'ai treize ans
In French, "I am thirteen" is expressed as J'ai treize ans.
This phrase is used to state that a person is thirteen years old. Unlike in English, French speakers use the verb avoir (to have) rather than the verb être (to be) to express age.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, J'ai treize ans translates to "I have thirteen years".
Is it said differently in some regions?
The construction J'ai treize ans remains consistent across different French-speaking regions.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase is a contraction of Je ai treize ans, where the e in Je is dropped because the following word starts with a vowel. Additionally, the word ans (years) is grammatically required at the end of the sentence to complete the expression of age.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the verb être (to be) when stating their age, which results in the incorrect phrase Je suis treize ans.
Did you know?
- Because treize is sometimes considered unlucky, some French buildings or hotels may skip the 13th floor or room, similar to superstitions found in English-speaking countries.
- The way you say J'ai treize ans follows a pattern used for many physical sensations in French. To express being hungry or thirsty, you also use the verb avoir to say you 'have' hunger or thirst.
- The word treize is a linguistic relative of the English word 'thirteen'. Both words evolved from the same Latin ancestor, trēdecim, which stems from 'three' and 'ten'.
Examples in context
- J'ai treize ans et je suis une fille.I am thirteen and I am a girl.
- J'ai treize ans. Et toi?I am thirteen. And you?
- J'ai treize ans cette année.I am thirteen years old this year.
- J'ai treize ans, et toi ?I am thirteen, and you?
- Désolé, j'ai treize ans seulement.Sorry, I am only thirteen years old.
Example conversation
Two students are talking about their ages during a break.
- ChloéQuel âge as-tu, Hugo ?How old are you, Hugo?
- HugoJ'ai quatorze ans. Et toi, Chloé ?I am fourteen. And you, Chloé?
- ChloéJ'ai treize ans.I am thirteen.
- HugoD'accord, on est presque du même âge.Okay, we are almost the same age.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries j'ai, treize, CC BY-SA 4.0.
