quand est ton anniversaire
The English phrase "what your birthday is" is translated into French as quand est ton anniversaire.
This phrase is used to ask for the date on which someone was born.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase quand est ton anniversaire translates literally to "when is your birthday".
Which one should you use?
Use quand est votre anniversaire instead of ton anniversaire when speaking to a stranger, a superior or a group of people.
When do people say it?
A common way to answer this question is by using the phrase C'est le… followed by the day and month.
Did you know?
- While anniversaire refers to a birthday, it is also the word used for a wedding anniversary, as both are viewed as the 'turning' of a year.
- In French culture, it is often considered impolite to ask someone their age during a birthday conversation unless you are very close to them.
- In the word anniversaire, the root comes from the Latin word vertō, which means 'to turn' or 'to revolve'.
Examples in context
- Je ne sais pas quand est ton anniversaire.I don't know when your birthday is.
- Dis-moi quand est ton anniversaire.Tell me when your birthday is.
Example conversation
Two friends are chatting about upcoming parties.
- EmmaDis-moi, quand est ton anniversaire ?Tell me, when is your birthday?
- GabrielC'est le 15 mai.It is May 15th.
- EmmaAh, c'est bientôt !Ah, it's soon!
- GabrielOui, j'ai hâte.Yes, I can't wait.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries anniversaire, est, quand, ton, CC BY-SA 4.0.
