Expressing Age in French
When talking about age in French, the verb avoir (to have) is used instead of "to be". For example, to say "I am 20 years old," you say "J'ai 20 ans" which literally means "I have 20 years." The word ans is used to mean years when referring to age, and it is always plural except when talking about one year.
Asking Someone's Age
To ask someone's age politely, use the question "Quel âge as-tu ?" for informal situations or "Quel âge avez-vous ?" in formal contexts. This translates literally as "What age do you have?" Understanding these phrases is essential for basic conversation in French.
Saying Your Age
When stating your age, just say "J'ai [number] ans." For example, "J'ai 30 ans" means "I am 30 years old." It’s important to remember that the number correlates directly to the years you have, and the word ans is needed at the end.
Age Vocabulary for Kids and Adults
Different terms can be used related to age groups:
- Un enfant: a child
- Un adolescent / une adolescente: a teenager
- Un adulte: an adult
These are useful when describing people's age groups without specifying exact numbers.
Common Age-related Phrases
French also has idiomatic expressions related to age, such as:
- "Être dans la fleur de l'âge" meaning "to be in the prime of life"
- "Avoir l'âge de raison" meaning "to be of age to understand" (usually about children)
These phrases add color and cultural richness to conversations about age.
