Talking about age in German involves using numbers, the word Jahr (year), and some key phrases. Here are the most important parts:
- Use the numbers you already know. Numbers are used to state someone's age.
- The word for "year" in the context of age is Jahr.
- The phrase Ich bin ... Jahre alt means "I am ... years old."
- To ask someone’s age, you can say Wie alt bist du? (informal) or Wie alt sind Sie? (formal).
- German uses the verb sein (to be) in these age sentences—bin for "I am," bist for "you are" (informal), and sind for "you are" (formal and plural).
Useful Words
| German Word | English Word | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| das Jahr | year | Ich bin 10 Jahre alt. | I am 10 years old. |
| alt | old | Wie alt bist du? | How old are you? |
| ich bin ... alt | I am ... old | Ich bin 15 Jahre alt. | I am 15 years old. |
| du bist ... alt | you are ... old (informal) | Du bist 12 Jahre alt. | You are 12 years old. |
| Sie sind ... alt | you are ... old (formal) | Sind Sie 20 Jahre alt? | Are you 20 years old? |
| Wie alt? | How old? | Wie alt ist er? | How old is he? |
| sein | to be | Ich bin 8 Jahre alt. | I am 8 years old. |
Example Sentences
| German Sentence | English Sentence |
|---|---|
| Ich bin 13 Jahre alt. | I am 13 years old. |
| Wie alt bist du? | How old are you? |
| Sie ist 21 Jahre alt. | She is 21 years old. |
| Wir sind 16 Jahre alt. | We are 16 years old. |
How do you say 'We are 16 years old' in German?
Wir sind 16 Jahre alt.
"Wir sind 16 Jahre alt." correctly uses the plural pronoun "Wir" and the plural "Jahre."
What is the German sentence for 'How old are you?' (informal)?
Wie alt bist du?
"Wie alt bist du?" is the informal way to ask someone's age using "du."
Tips
- Always use the plural Jahre (years) when talking about age, even if it's just one year (e.g., Ich bin 1 Jahr alt).
- The word order is Ich bin ... Jahre alt (I am ... years old).
- Use Wie alt bist du? for friends and Wie alt sind Sie? for adults or formal situations.
Now you can confidently ask and tell age in German!
Flashcards (1 of 11)
- English Word: year
- English Example: I am 10 years old.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
