How old are you?
A very common alternative, literally meaning 'What age do you have?'. It's used interchangeably with '¿Cuántos años tienes?'.
Use this formal version when speaking to an older person, a stranger, or someone in a position of authority. It shows respect.
The formal version of '¿Qué edad tienes?'. Also used to show respect.
Hi, I'm Ana. How old are you?
Excuse me, ma'am, how old are you?
—How old are you? —I am twenty-five years old.
My brother is ten years old. And you?
In many Latin American cultures, asking a person's age, especially a woman's, can be considered impolite if you don't know them well. It's best to wait until you have a friendly rapport.
The 'voseo' form is used, so you will hear '¿Cuántos años tenés?' instead of '¿Cuántos años tienes?'.
The 'vosotros' form is used for informally addressing a group: '¿Cuántos años tenéis?'. The singular '¿Cuántos años tienes?' is the same as in Latin America.
The standard '¿Cuántos años tienes?' (informal) and '¿Cuántos años tiene usted?' (formal) are the most common forms, with 'usted' being used very frequently in Colombia even among peers.
Using 'ser' instead of 'tener'. English speakers say 'I am X years old', so they incorrectly translate it to '*Soy veinte años'. — In Spanish, age is something you 'have'. The correct structure is 'Tengo veinte años' (I have twenty years).
Mispronouncing 'años' (years) as 'anos' (anuses). The letter 'ñ' is not the same as 'n'. — Always pronounce the 'ñ' with a 'ny' sound, like the 'ni' in 'onion'. The correct pronunciation is AH-nyohs.
Replying with just the number, like '*Tengo veinte'. — While sometimes understood in context, the grammatically correct and complete answer is to include 'años'. Say 'Tengo veinte años'.
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