Tengo trece años
/tenɡo tɾeθe aɲos/from spelling rules
The English phrase "i am thirteen" is translated into Spanish as Tengo trece años.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "I have thirteen years" because Spanish uses the verb tener (to have) instead of "to be" to express age.
How does it change in a sentence?
The word años (years) is almost always included when stating your age in Spanish to complete the thought.
How do you pronounce it?
/tenɡo tɾeθe aɲos/
Did you know?
- The Spanish language uses tener (to have) for age, hunger, and thirst, treating these states as possessions rather than characteristics.
- In some regions, people might use the phrase cumplo trece to say 'I am turning thirteen' or 'I am thirteen' on the actual day of their birthday.
- The 'c' in trece is pronounced like a 's' in much of Latin America, but sounds like a 'th' in most of Spain.
Examples in context
- Tengo trece años.I am thirteen years old.
- Todavía tengo trece años.I am still thirteen years old.
Example conversation
Two students are introducing themselves at school.
- Alejandro¿Cuántos años tienes, María?How old are you, María?
- MaríaTengo trece años, ¿y tú?I am thirteen, and you?
- AlejandroYo tengo doce años.I am twelve.
- MaríaEres más joven que yo.You are younger than me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
