A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I'm thirty years old" in Italian
Learn how to correctly state your age in Italian using the verb avere, which translates literally to 'I have thirty years'.
Ho trent'anni.
oh tren-TAH-neeneutral
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Use this when meeting new people or filling out forms where you need to state your age. In Italy, you always use the verb 'to have' rather than 'to be' when talking about how old you are.
Alternatives
- Ne ho trenta.Use this when the context of age is already established.
- Ho trent'anni compiuti.Use this to emphasize that you have already celebrated your birthday this year.
Ways to get it wrong
Using 'sono' instead of 'ho'
Never say 'Sono trent'anni', as that literally means 'I am thirty years' in a way that sounds like you are a period of time.
A small cultural note
Italians rarely ask for age directly in casual conversation unless it is relevant to the topic, as it can occasionally be considered a bit intrusive.
Frequently asked
Why do Italians use have instead of am for age?
Italian treats age as a possession of years lived rather than a state of being. It is a fundamental grammatical difference you must memorize early on.
How do I say I am over thirty?
You would say 'Ho più di trent'anni'. This construction is used to describe any age range above a specific number.
Do I need to pronounce the apostrophe?
The apostrophe indicates that the 'a' in 'anni' has been elided, so you simply pronounce it as one fluid word: tren-TAH-nee.
