la edad de otra persona
/la edad de otɾa peɾsona/from spelling rules
The phrase 'someone else's age' in Spanish is la edad de otra persona.
The number of years a person other than the speaker or the subject has lived.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is built literally as the age of another person.
How does it change in a sentence?
While la edad de otra persona is the standard phrase, you can also use more concise forms depending on the gender of the person being discussed. la edad de otro is a concise way to say 'someone else's age' when the gender is not specified or is being used generically. If you are specifically referring to the age of another female person, you should use la edad de otra.
How do you pronounce it?
/la edad de otɾa peɾsona/
Did you know?
- In Spanish, you do not say you 'are' an age, but that you 'have' it using the verb tener.
- The word persona comes from the Latin 'persōna', which originally referred to the masks worn by actors in ancient theater.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, asking for la edad de otra persona might be considered impolite if that person is an adult, much more so than in many English-speaking contexts.
Examples in context
- No me interesa la edad de otra persona.I am not interested in someone else's age.
- La edad de otra persona es un asunto privado.Someone else's age is a private matter.
- No deberías preguntar la edad de otra persona.You shouldn't ask someone else's age.
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are discussing social etiquette at a party.
- ElenaEs de mala educación preguntar la edad de otra persona.It is rude to ask someone else's age.
- MateoTienes razón, Elena, no debería hacerlo.You are right, Elena, I shouldn't do it.
- ElenaExacto, respeta la privacidad de los demás.Exactly, respect the privacy of others.
- MateoLo tendré en cuenta en el futuro.I will keep that in mind in the future.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, edad, la, persona, CC BY-SA 4.0.
