How old are you
A very common alternative, literally 'What age do you have?'. It can sound slightly more formal than '¿Cuántos años tienes?'.
The formal version, used when addressing someone older, a superior, or someone you don't know well. 'Usted' replaces 'tú'.
The 'voseo' form, used instead of 'tú' in countries like Argentina and Uruguay. Note the verb change from 'tienes' to 'tenés'.
Hi, I'm Ana. And you, how old are you?
—How old are you? —I am twenty years old.
Excuse me, sir, how old are you? (formal)
My brother is older. I'm fifteen, and how old are you? (using 'vos')
The choice between the informal '¿Cuántos años tienes?' (tú) and the formal '¿Cuántos años tiene usted?' (usted) is the most important distinction. 'Usted' is for respect, while 'tú' is for friends, family, and peers.
The 'vos' form is standard. You will hear '¿Cuántos años tenés?' instead of '¿Cuántos años tienes?'. Using 'tú' can sound foreign or overly formal.
While 'tú' is common, the use of 'usted' is very widespread, even among friends and family, especially in Bogotá and surrounding areas. It's often a sign of friendliness, not just formality.
The singular forms ('tú' and 'usted') are the same as in Latin America. However, for addressing a group of people informally, they use 'vosotros': '¿Cuántos años tenéis?'. Latin America uses 'ustedes' for all groups: '¿Cuántos años tienen ustedes?'.
Using the verb 'ser' or 'estar' (to be). For example: *'Soy treinta años.'* — In Spanish, you 'have' years, you don't 'are' years. Always use the verb 'tener' (to have). The correct way is 'Tengo treinta años.'
Mispronouncing 'años' as 'anos'. For example: *'¿Cuántos anos tienes?'* — This is a very common and embarrassing mistake. The 'ñ' (pronounced 'ny' as in 'canyon') is crucial. 'Años' means 'years', while 'anos' means 'anuses'. Practice the 'ñ' sound!
Using the singular 'año' instead of the plural 'años'. For example: *'Tengo veintiún año.'* — Age is always expressed in the plural, except for the first year. You would say 'Tengo un año' (I am one year old), but for any age after one, you must use the plural 'años': 'Tengo veintiún años.'
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