wie alt bist du?
The English phrase 'what is your age?' is expressed in German as wie alt bist du?
This phrase is a direct way to ask how many years old someone is.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase translates literally to 'how old are you?' rather than 'what is your age?'
How does it change in a sentence?
The default form wie alt bist du? uses the informal singular pronoun du, which is appropriate for children, peers or friends.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid translating the English 'What is your age?' literally as Wie ist dein Alter?, as this sounds unnatural in German. Instead, use wie alt bist du?
Did you know?
- While wie alt bist du? is common, asking an adult their age in Germany is often considered more intrusive than in the US or UK.
- The word alt comes from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'grow' or 'nourish'.
- If you want to sound more formal when asking an adult's age, you must switch from du to the formal Sie, as using the phrase provided would be seen as too personal.
Examples in context
- Entschuldigen Sie, wie alt sind Sie?Excuse me, how old are you?
- Wie alt bist du?How old are you?
Example conversation
Two classmates are chatting during a break at school.
- LauraSag mal, wie alt bist du?Tell me, how old are you?
- FelixIch bin achtzehn Jahre alt.I am eighteen years old.
- LauraOh, das ist ja fast mein Alter.Oh, that is almost my age.
- FelixUnd wie alt bist du, Laura?And how old are you, Laura?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries alt, bist, du, wie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
