A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "How old" in Spanish
Ask someone's age in Spanish with this common, friendly phrase. Perfect for casual chats.
¿Cuántos años tienes?
KWAHN-tos AH-nyos TYEH-nescasual
Spanish TTS · 0:01
Use this when you want to know someone's age in a friendly, informal setting. It's common when talking to friends, peers, or younger people.
Alternatives
- ¿Qué edad tienes?Slightly more direct, but still common and friendly.
- ¿Cuántos años tiene usted?Use this when speaking to someone formally or respectfully.
Ways to get it wrong
Confusing 'años' with 'anos'
The tilde over the 'n' is crucial; 'anos' without it means 'anus'.
Using 'cuánto' instead of 'cuántos'
'Cuántos' must agree in number with 'años' (years), which is plural.
A small cultural note
In many Spanish-speaking cultures, directly asking someone's age, especially an older woman, can be considered impolite unless there's a clear reason or a very familiar context.
Frequently asked
how to ask age in spanish formal
For a formal situation, use '¿Cuántos años tiene usted?' or '¿Qué edad tiene usted?' This shows respect to elders or those in authority.
how to answer how old are you in spanish
You answer with 'Tengo X años,' where X is your age. For example, 'Tengo treinta años' means 'I am thirty years old.'
difference between cuantos anos tienes and que edad tienes
'¿Cuántos años tienes?' literally asks 'How many years do you have?' while '¿Qué edad tienes?' asks 'What age do you have?' Both are common and understood.
How to ask about age in Spanish?
To ask someone's age, you generally use the verb tener (to have) with the question '¿Cuántos años tienes?' for informal situations or '¿Cuántos años tiene usted?' for formal situations.
How do they say 'how old are you?' in Spanish?
The most common way to say 'how old are you?' in Spanish is '¿Cuántos años tienes?' This literally translates to 'How many years do you have?'
How do you say 'old' in Spanish?
The word for 'old' in Spanish is 'viejo' (masculine) or 'vieja' (feminine). However, when asking about age, you use the verb 'tener' and ask about 'años' (years).
