How to Say Your Age in French: A Comprehensive Guide
Learning a new language can be exciting, and mastering everyday phrases like stating your age is a great step towards fluency. This guide provides a simple, yet comprehensive way to express your age in French, covering various situations and ensuring you're confident in any conversation.
The Basic Formula: J'ai… ans
The most straightforward way to say your age in French is using the phrase "J'ai… ans". This translates directly to "I have… years". Simply replace the ellipsis with your age.
- Example: If you are 30 years old, you would say: J'ai trente ans.
Number Conjugation: Mastering French Numerals
Knowing your numbers is crucial. Here's a table to help you conjugate numbers commonly used to express age:
| Number | French |
|---|---|
| 1 | un |
| 2 | deux |
| 3 | trois |
| 4 | quatre |
| 5 | cinq |
| 6 | six |
| 7 | sept |
| 8 | huit |
| 9 | neuf |
| 10 | dix |
| 11 | onze |
| 12 | douze |
| 13 | treize |
| 14 | quatorze |
| 15 | quinze |
| 16 | seize |
| 17 | dix-sept |
| 18 | dix-huit |
| 19 | dix-neuf |
| 20 | vingt |
| 30 | trente |
| 40 | quarante |
| 50 | cinquante |
| 60 | soixante |
| 70 | soixante-dix |
| 80 | quatre-vingts |
| 90 | quatre-vingt-dix |
| 100 | cent |
For numbers above 69, note the slightly irregular formations. For example, 71 is "soixante et onze" (sixty and eleven), 80 is "quatre-vingts" (four twenties), and 90 is "quatre-vingt-dix" (four twenties and ten). These irregularities simply need memorization.
Beyond the Basics: More Natural Constructions
While "J'ai… ans" is perfectly correct, you can make your French sound more natural by using different phrasing in certain contexts.
-
Asking someone's age: Instead of directly asking "Quel âge as-tu?" (How old are you?), which can sometimes sound a bit blunt, consider a softer approach like:
- "Vous avez quel âge?" (formal "How old are you?")
- "Tu as quel âge?" (informal "How old are you?")
-
Referring to age in a sentence: Instead of always starting with "J'ai...", you can incorporate your age naturally within a sentence. For example:
- "Je suis âgé(e) de trente ans." (I am 30 years old - use "agé" for male and "agée" for female)
- "J'aurai bientôt quarante ans." (I will soon be forty years old.)
Practice Makes Perfect
The key to mastering any language is practice. Try saying your age aloud repeatedly. Use the numbers chart above to practice saying different ages. Incorporate your age into simple sentences. The more you practice, the more confident and natural your French will become when discussing your age.
By following these tips and practicing regularly, you'll be able to confidently and naturally express your age in French in any situation!
