How to Say “How Old Are You?” in French: A Comprehensive Guide

Learning how to ask someone’s age is a fundamental skill in any language. In French, this seemingly simple question involves understanding verb conjugation, pronoun usage, and cultural nuances.

Mastering this phrase and its variations will significantly enhance your ability to engage in basic conversations and build rapport with French speakers. This guide is designed for learners of all levels, from beginners taking their first steps to more advanced students looking to refine their understanding.

By the end of this article, you’ll not only know how to ask “How old are you?” in French but also understand the grammar behind it, common variations, and potential pitfalls to avoid.

Whether you’re planning a trip to France, connecting with French-speaking friends and family, or simply expanding your linguistic horizons, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to navigate age-related questions in French with ease and accuracy.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Definition: Asking Age in French
3. Structural Breakdown of “Quel âge as-tu?”
4. Formal vs. Informal: “Tu” vs. “Vous”
5. Other Ways to Ask About Age
6. Examples: Asking and Answering About Age
   • Formal Examples
   • Informal Examples
   • Third-Person Examples
7. Usage Rules and Considerations
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
9. Practice Exercises
10. Advanced Topics: Nuances and Subtleties
11. Frequently Asked Questions
12. Conclusion

Definition: Asking Age in French

The most common way to ask “How old are you?” in French is “Quel âge as-tu?” This phrase directly translates to “What age do you have?”. It’s important to understand that French uses the verb avoir (to have) when expressing age, rather than être (to be), which is used in English. The phrase consists of three key components:

• Quel/Quelle: An interrogative adjective meaning “what” or “which.” The form changes based on the gender and number of the noun it modifies. In this case, âge (age) is masculine, so we use “quel.”
• Âge: A noun meaning “age.” It is a masculine noun in French.
• As-tu: The conjugated form of the verb avoir (to have) in the present tense, combined with the pronoun tu (you – informal). The inversion of the verb and pronoun is necessary for forming a question.

In a more formal context, you would use “Quel âge avez-vous?”, which employs the formal pronoun vous (you). The verb avoir is conjugated accordingly.

Structural Breakdown of “Quel âge as-tu?”

Let’s break down the components of the phrase “Quel âge as-tu?” to understand its structure:

1. Interrogative Adjective: “Quel” (masculine singular) – This word introduces the question and specifies that we are asking about age. Remember that “quel” agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
2. Noun: “Âge” (masculine singular) – This is the subject of the question, referring to age.
3. Verb: “As” (conjugated form of avoir) – This is the present tense conjugation of the verb “avoir” (to have) in the second person singular (tu form).
4. Pronoun: “Tu” (informal “you”) – This pronoun indicates that the question is addressed to someone you know well or someone you are on familiar terms with.

The structure follows the pattern: Interrogative Adjective + Noun + Verb + Pronoun (with verb-pronoun inversion for questions).

Formal vs. Informal: “Tu” vs. “Vous”

The choice between tu and vous is crucial in French as it signifies the level of formality and familiarity between speakers. Using the wrong pronoun can be considered impolite or disrespectful.

• “Tu” (Informal): Use this pronoun when speaking to family members, close friends, children, or colleagues you are on familiar terms with. The corresponding verb conjugation is “as.” The question becomes “Quel âge as-tu?”.
• “Vous” (Formal): Use this pronoun when speaking to strangers, people older than you, authority figures, or in professional settings. The corresponding verb conjugation is “avez.” The question becomes “Quel âge avez-vous?”.

Here’s a table summarizing the key differences:

Pronoun	Context	Verb Conjugation	Question
Tu (Informal)	Friends, family, peers	As	Quel âge as-tu?
Vous (Formal)	Strangers, elders, superiors	Avez	Quel âge avez-vous?

When in doubt, it’s always safer to use vous. You can switch to tu if the other person invites you to do so, often by saying “On peut se tutoyer” (We can use tu with each other).

Other Ways to Ask About Age

While “Quel âge as-tu?” and “Quel âge avez-vous?” are the most common ways to ask someone’s age, there are other variations you might encounter or use in specific contexts:

• Âge as-tu? / Âge avez-vous?: While grammatically correct, these forms are less common in modern spoken French. They are more literary and might be found in older texts or formal writing.
• Tu as quel âge?: This is a more casual way to ask “How old are you?”. It’s grammatically acceptable and commonly used in informal conversations.
• Vous avez quel âge?: Similar to the previous example, but using the formal “vous.” This is a more polite alternative to “Quel âge avez-vous?”.

It’s important to note that the intonation of your voice also plays a role in conveying politeness and respect, regardless of the specific phrase you use.

Examples: Asking and Answering About Age

Here are several examples of how to ask and answer age-related questions in French, categorized by formality.

Formal Examples

These examples are suitable for professional settings, interactions with strangers, or conversations with people older than you.

Question	Answer	Translation
Quel âge avez-vous, Madame Dubois?	J’ai 35 ans.	How old are you, Mrs. Dubois?	I am 35 years old.
Quel âge avez-vous, Monsieur le Directeur?	J’ai 52 ans.	How old are you, Mr. Director?	I am 52 years old.
Vous avez quel âge, Mademoiselle?	J’ai 28 ans.	How old are you, Miss?	I am 28 years old.
Quel âge avez-vous, s’il vous plaît?	J’ai 41 ans.	How old are you, please?	I am 41 years old.
À quel âge avez-vous commencé à travailler?	J’ai commencé à travailler à l’âge de 20 ans.	At what age did you start working?	I started working at the age of 20.
Quel âge aviez-vous quand vous avez déménagé à Paris?	J’avais 25 ans quand j’ai déménagé à Paris.	How old were you when you moved to Paris?	I was 25 years old when I moved to Paris.
Quel âge aura votre fils l’année prochaine?	Il aura 10 ans l’année prochaine.	How old will your son be next year?	He will be 10 years old next year.
Quel âge avait votre grand-mère quand elle est décédée?	Elle avait 95 ans quand elle est décédée.	How old was your grandmother when she passed away?	She was 95 years old when she passed away.
Quel âge pensez-vous que j’ai?	Je pense que vous avez environ 30 ans.	How old do you think I am?	I think you are about 30 years old.
Quel âge avait-il quand il a écrit son premier roman?	Il avait 22 ans quand il a écrit son premier roman.	How old was he when he wrote his first novel?	He was 22 years old when he wrote his first novel.
Quel âge avait Marie Curie quand elle a reçu le prix Nobel?	Elle avait 36 ans quand elle a reçu le prix Nobel.	How old was Marie Curie when she received the Nobel Prize?	She was 36 years old when she received the Nobel Prize.
À quel âge comptez-vous prendre votre retraite?	Je compte prendre ma retraite à 65 ans.	At what age do you plan to retire?	I plan to retire at 65 years old.
Quel âge avait votre père quand il a immigré en France?	Il avait 30 ans quand il a immigré en France.	How old was your father when he immigrated to France?	He was 30 years old when he immigrated to France.
Quel âge avait-elle quand elle a appris à conduire?	Elle avait 18 ans quand elle a appris à conduire.	How old was she when she learned to drive?	She was 18 years old when she learned to drive.
Quel âge avait-il quand il est devenu président?	Il avait 45 ans quand il est devenu président.	How old was he when he became president?	He was 45 years old when he became president.
À quel âge avez-vous obtenu votre diplôme universitaire?	J’ai obtenu mon diplôme universitaire à 22 ans.	At what age did you graduate from university?	I graduated from university at 22 years old.
Quel âge avait votre mère quand elle s’est mariée?	Elle avait 24 ans quand elle s’est mariée.	How old was your mother when she got married?	She was 24 years old when she got married.
Quel âge avait-il quand il a commencé à jouer du piano?	Il avait 6 ans quand il a commencé à jouer du piano.	How old was he when he started playing the piano?	He was 6 years old when he started playing the piano.
Quel âge avait-elle quand elle a publié son premier livre?	Elle avait 32 ans quand elle a publié son premier livre.	How old was she when she published her first book?	She was 32 years old when she published her first book.
Quel âge avait-il quand il a créé son entreprise?	Il avait 28 ans quand il a créé son entreprise.	How old was he when he started his company?	He was 28 years old when he started his company.

Informal Examples

These examples are appropriate for conversations with friends, family members, or people you know well.

Question	Answer	Translation
Quel âge as-tu, Marie?	J’ai 20 ans.	How old are you, Marie?	I am 20 years old.
Tu as quel âge, Pierre?	J’ai 25 ans.	How old are you, Pierre?	I am 25 years old.
Âge as-tu? (Less common)	J’ai 30 ans.	How old are you?	I am 30 years old.
Quel âge as-tu maintenant?	Maintenant, j’ai 22 ans.	How old are you now?	Now, I am 22 years old.
Tu vas avoir quel âge l’année prochaine?	L’année prochaine, je vais avoir 26 ans.	How old are you going to be next year?	Next year, I am going to be 26 years old.
À ton avis, quel âge ai-je?	Je dirais que tu as environ 28 ans.	In your opinion, how old am I?	I would say you are around 28 years old.
Quel âge avais-tu quand on s’est rencontrés?	J’avais 18 ans quand on s’est rencontrés.	How old were you when we met?	I was 18 years old when we met.
Quel âge a ton frère?	Il a 15 ans.	How old is your brother?	He is 15 years old.
Quel âge a ta sœur?	Elle a 23 ans.	How old is your sister?	She is 23 years old.
Quel âge avaient tes parents quand ils se sont mariés?	Ils avaient tous les deux 25 ans quand ils se sont mariés.	How old were your parents when they got married?	They were both 25 years old when they got married.
Quel âge aura ton enfant dans cinq ans?	Dans cinq ans, il/elle aura 8 ans.	How old will your child be in five years?	In five years, he/she will be 8 years old.
Tu te sens quel âge?	Je me sens comme si j’avais 20 ans!	How old do you feel?	I feel like I’m 20 years old!
Quel âge a ton chien?	Il a 3 ans.	How old is your dog?	He is 3 years old.
On dirait que tu as 10 ans de moins! Quel âge as-tu vraiment?	Haha, merci! J’ai 35 ans.	You look 10 years younger! How old are you really?	Haha, thanks! I am 35 years old.
À quel âge as-tu appris à faire du vélo?	J’ai appris à faire du vélo à 5 ans.	At what age did you learn to ride a bike?	I learned to ride a bike at 5 years old.
Quel âge avais-tu quand tu as eu ton premier téléphone?	J’avais 12 ans quand j’ai eu mon premier téléphone.	How old were you when you got your first phone?	I was 12 years old when I got my first phone.
Quel âge avais-tu quand tu as commencé à aller à l’école?	J’avais 6 ans quand j’ai commencé à aller à l’école.	How old were you when you started going to school?	I was 6 years old when I started going to school.
Quel âge a ton chat?	Mon chat a 7 ans.	How old is your cat?	My cat is 7 years old.
À quel âge as-tu commencé à étudier le français?	J’ai commencé à étudier le français à 10 ans.	At what age did you start studying French?	I started studying French at 10 years old.
Tu te souviens, quel âge avais-tu quand tu as vu ce film pour la première fois?	Oui, je devais avoir environ 8 ans.	Do you remember, how old were you when you saw that movie for the first time?	Yes, I must have been about 8 years old.

Third-Person Examples

These examples demonstrate how to ask about someone else’s age.

Question	Answer	Translation
Quel âge a-t-il?	Il a 40 ans.	How old is he?	He is 40 years old.
Quel âge a-t-elle?	Elle a 27 ans.	How old is she?	She is 27 years old.
Quel âge a votre enfant?	Il/Elle a 5 ans.	How old is your child?	He/She is 5 years old.
Quel âge ont vos parents?	Ils ont 60 et 65 ans.	How old are your parents?	They are 60 and 65 years old.
Vous savez quel âge a le nouveau professeur?	Je crois qu’il a environ 30 ans.	Do you know how old the new teacher is?	I think he is about 30 years old.
À votre avis, quel âge a cette actrice?	Je dirais qu’elle a la quarantaine.	In your opinion, how old is this actress?	I would say she is in her forties.
Quel âge avait-il quand il est mort?	Il avait 80 ans quand il est mort.	How old was he when he died?	He was 80 years old when he died.
Quel âge avait-elle quand elle a gagné le concours?	Elle avait 16 ans quand elle a gagné le concours.	How old was she when she won the competition?	She was 16 years old when she won the competition.
Quel âge auront-ils l’année prochaine?	Ils auront 12 et 14 ans l’année prochaine.	How old will they be next year?	They will be 12 and 14 years old next year.
Quel âge avait-elle quand elle a commencé sa carrière?	Elle avait 20 ans quand elle a commencé sa carrière.	How old was she when she started her career?	She was 20 years old when she started her career.

Usage Rules and Considerations

When asking about age in French, keep the following rules and considerations in mind:

• Verb “Avoir”: Remember that French uses the verb avoir (to have) to express age, not être (to be). Therefore, say “J’ai 25 ans” (I have 25 years) instead of “Je suis 25 ans” (which is incorrect).
• The word “Ans”: The word “ans” (years) is always used after the number. You don’t say “J’ai 25” but “J’ai 25 ans”.
• Politeness: Be mindful of the context and your relationship with the person you’re asking. In some cultures, asking someone’s age directly can be considered impolite, especially for women.
• Formal vs. Informal: Always choose the appropriate pronoun (tu or vous) based on the level of formality required.
• Responding to the Question: When answering, use the structure “J’ai [number] ans.” For example, “J’ai trente ans” (I am thirty years old).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes that English speakers make when asking about age in French:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Je suis 20 ans.	J’ai 20 ans.	Using être (to be) instead of avoir (to have).
Quel âge est-ce que tu as?	Quel âge as-tu? / Tu as quel âge?	While grammatically understandable, the “est-ce que” construction is unnecessary and less common in this context.
Vous as quel âge?	Vous avez quel âge?	Incorrect conjugation of the verb avoir with the pronoun vous.
Quel âge tu as?	Quel âge as-tu? / Tu as quel âge?	Inversion of the verb and pronoun is required for formal questions. In informal speech, “Tu as quel âge?” is acceptable.
J’ai vingt.	J’ai vingt ans.	Forgetting to include “ans” (years) after the number.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb avoir and the appropriate pronoun (tu or vous).

Question	Answer
1. Quel âge _______ (tu)?	J’ai 28 ans.
2. _______ (vous) quel âge, Monsieur?	J’ai 55 ans.
3. Marie, quel âge _______ (tu)?	J’ai 19 ans.
4. _______ (vous) quel âge, Madame Dupont?	J’ai 42 ans.
5. _______ (tu) quel âge quand tu as commencé à travailler?	J’avais 20 ans.
6. Quel âge _______ (vous) quand vous avez déménagé à Paris?	J’avais 30 ans.
7. _______ (tu) quel âge l’année prochaine?	J’aurai 26 ans.
8. _______ (vous) quel âge quand vous avez pris votre retraite?	J’avais 65 ans.
9. _______ (tu) quel âge quand on s’est rencontrés?	J’avais 18 ans.
10. _______ (vous) quel âge maintenant?	J’ai 35 ans.

Answer Key:

1. as
2. Avez
3. as
4. Avez
5. Avais
6. Aviez
7. Auras
8. Aviez
9. Avais
10. Avez

Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into French, using the appropriate level of formality.

English	French
1. How old are you (to a friend)?
2. How old are you (to your boss)?
3. I am 32 years old.
4. How old is your brother?
5. She is 25 years old.
6. How old will you be next year (to someone you know well)?
7. At what age did you learn to drive (formal)?
8. How old were you when you moved to France (informal)?
9. Do you know how old the teacher is (formal)?
10. How old do you think I am (informal)?

Answer Key:

1. Quel âge as-tu? / Tu as quel âge?
2. Quel âge avez-vous?
3. J’ai 32 ans.
4. Quel âge a ton frère?
5. Elle a 25 ans.
6. Tu auras quel âge l’année prochaine?
7. À quel âge avez-vous appris à conduire?
8. Quel âge avais-tu quand tu as déménagé en France?
9. Savez-vous quel âge a le professeur?
10. À ton avis, quel âge ai-je?

Advanced Topics: Nuances and Subtleties

For advanced learners, here are some more nuanced aspects of discussing age in French:

• Euphemisms: Instead of directly asking someone’s age, you might use phrases like “Quel âge diriez-vous que j’ai?” (How old would you say I am?) or “Vous ne faites pas votre âge!” (You don’t look your age!).
• Age Ranges: To express age ranges, you can use phrases like “Il a la trentaine” (He is in his thirties) or “Elle a une quarantaine d’années” (She is about forty years old).
• “Un jeune de [age] ans”: This expression is used to describe a young person of a certain age, emphasizing their youthfulness. For example, “Un jeune de 20 ans plein d’avenir” (A promising 20-year-old).
• Cultural Sensitivity: Be aware that discussing age can be a sensitive topic in some contexts. Avoid making assumptions or stereotypes based on someone’s age.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it rude to ask someone’s age in French culture?

   It depends on the context and your relationship with the person. Directly asking someone’s age can be considered impolite, especially if you don’t know them well. It’s generally safer to avoid the question unless you have a good reason to ask, or you are close to the person.

2. What’s the difference between “Quel âge as-tu?” and “Tu as quel âge?”

   “Quel âge as-tu?” is the standard way to ask “How old are you?” in an informal setting. “Tu as quel âge?” is a more casual and conversational alternative. Both are grammatically correct and widely used.

3. How do I respond if I don’t want to reveal my age?

   You can politely deflect the question by saying something like “C’est un secret” (It’s a secret) or “Je ne révèle jamais mon âge” (I never reveal my age). You can also change the subject or make a lighthearted joke.

4. How do I ask about the age of an object or a building?

   You can use the phrase “Quel âge a…?” followed by the object or building. For example, “Quel âge a cette maison?” (How old is this house?). You can also use “Ça date de quand?” (When does it date from?).

5. Why do the French use “avoir” instead of “être” to express age?

   This is simply a linguistic convention. French views age as something you “have” (possession) rather than something you “are” (state of being). This is a fundamental difference between French and English grammar.

6. Is it okay to use “l’âge de” in a sentence about age?

   Yes, “l’âge de” is used to specify the age at which something happened. For example, “J’ai commencé à apprendre le français à l’âge de 10 ans” (I started learning French at the age of 10).

7. How do I ask “Around what age is he/she?”

   You can say “Il/Elle a quel âge environ?” or “Quel âge a-t-il/elle à peu près?”. This translates to “Around what age is he/she?”.

8. What is the best way to guess someone’s age politely?

   Instead of directly guessing, you could say, “Je dirais que vous avez…?” (I would say you are…?) and then offer your guess. However, it’s always best to avoid guessing someone’s age unless you’re very close to them.

Conclusion

Asking and answering about age in French involves more than just memorizing a phrase. It requires understanding grammar rules, cultural nuances, and the importance of formality.

By mastering the concepts covered in this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to navigate age-related conversations with confidence and sensitivity.

Remember to practice regularly, pay attention to context, and be mindful of your audience. As you continue your French language journey, you’ll find that these skills become increasingly valuable in building meaningful connections with French speakers and deepening your appreciation for French culture.

Continue practicing, and soon, asking about age in French will feel as natural as asking in your native language.