How to Say “How Old Are You” in German | Basic Introduction #3

Hey there, future German speaker! 🎉 Ready to learn how to talk about your age in German? Today, we’re diving into the ins and outs of explaining one’s age. It’s one of the first things you’ll need when meeting new people or introducing yourself. We’ll explore common phrases, grammar rules, and lots of examples to help you confidently answer the question, “How old are you in German?”

Grab a coffee, and let’s get started! ☕

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1. The Basics: How to Ask “How Old Are You?” in German

The main phrase you need to know when asking someone their age is:

Wie alt bist du?
(How old are you?)

• Wie = How
• alt = old
• bist = are (the “du” form of “sein” – to be)
• du = you (informal)

If you’re in a formal setting or talking to someone you don’t know well, you should use “Sie” instead of “du”:

Wie alt sind Sie?
(How old are you?)

Check out the Sein-Conjugation here!

Common Responses: Saying Your Age in German

To answer the question, “How old are you in German?”, you use the phrase:

Ich bin [age] Jahre alt.
(I am [age] years old.)

For example:

• Ich bin zwanzig Jahre alt. (I am twenty years old.)
• Ich bin dreißig Jahre alt. (I am thirty years old.)

Notice the pattern? Simple! 😊 Just insert the number, and you’re good to go!

Take a look at these Basic German Sentences as well!

2. Important Grammar Tips for Talking About Age in German

A. Using “sein” (to be) with Age

In German, we use the verb “sein” (to be) when talking about age, just like in English. However, remember to match the verb form with the pronoun:

• Ich bin (I am)
• Du bist (You are) – informal
• Er/Sie/Es ist (He/She/It is)
• Wir sind (We are)
• Ihr seid (You all are) – informal, plural
• Sie sind (You are/They are) – formal

Here is the full lesson of to be and personal pronouns (lesson 3)

B. The Word “Jahre” (Years)

You’ll often hear Germans say “Jahre” (years) after their age, but it’s also perfectly fine to leave it out in everyday conversation. Both ways are correct:

• Ich bin zwanzig. (I am twenty.)
• Ich bin zwanzig Jahre alt. (I am twenty years old.)

Pro Tip: Use the longer form when you’re just starting; it helps you remember the vocabulary! 🧠

3. Numbers and Age: Let’s Get Counting!

To say your age, you need to know numbers in German. Here’s a quick refresher for the most common ones: (You find the full post about numbers here!)

Number	German	Pronunciation
1	eins	[aɪns]
5	fünf	[fʏnf]
10	zehn	[tseːn]
15	fünfzehn	[ˈfʏnftseːn]
20	zwanzig	[ˈtsvantsɪç]
30	dreißig	[ˈdraɪsɪç]
40	vierzig	[ˈfiːɐtsɪç]
50	fünfzig	[ˈfʏnftsɪç]
100	hundert	[ˈhʊndɐt]

Now, let’s move on to forming those numbers with the word “Jahre” to talk about age!

Here is the full post of counting in German, or learn more about Connecting Words in German

4. Example Sentences: Asking and Answering About Age in German

Let’s put everything into practice with some example sentences.

A. Asking Someone’s Age

1. Wie alt bist du?
   (How old are you?)
2. Wie alt ist dein Bruder?
   (How old is your brother?)
3. Wie alt sind deine Kinder?
   (How old are your children?)

B. Responding with Your Age

1. Ich bin zwanzig Jahre alt.
   (I am twenty years old.)
2. Meine Schwester ist vierzig Jahre alt.
   (My sister is forty years old.)
3. Mein Vater ist fünfundsechzig Jahre alt.
   (My father is sixty-five years old.)

Here You can check out Masculine and Feminine in German again!

5. Common Questions About Age in German

1. How do you ask “How old are you?” in German?

Use “Wie alt bist du?” for informal and “Wie alt sind Sie?” for formal.

2. How do you answer “How old are you in German?”

Say “Ich bin [age] Jahre alt.” or simply “Ich bin [age].”

3. Can I use “ist” instead of “bist” when asking about age?

Only when referring to a third person! For example, “Wie alt ist er?” (How old is he?).

4. Do I always need to use “Jahre alt” when stating my age?

No, you can simply say “Ich bin zwanzig” instead of “Ich bin zwanzig Jahre alt.”

5. Are there regional variations in asking age in German?

Not really! “Wie alt bist du?” and “Wie alt sind Sie?” are standard everywhere.

6. Dialogues: Real-Life Conversations About Age

Let’s bring this all together with some simple dialogues to illustrate how to talk about age in German.

Dialogue 1: Meeting a Friend

Person A: Hallo! Wie alt bist du?
(Hello! How old are you?)

Person B: Ich bin dreißig Jahre alt. Und du?
(I am thirty years old. And you?)

Person A: Ich bin fünfundzwanzig.
(I am twenty-five.)

Dialogue 2: Asking About Family Members

Person A: Wie alt ist deine Mutter?
(How old is your mother?)

Person B: Meine Mutter ist vierundfünfzig Jahre alt.
(My mother is fifty-four years old.)

Person A: Und dein Vater?
(And your father?)

Person B: Mein Vater ist sechsundfünfzig.
(My father is fifty-six.)

Read more about Singular and Plural in German (Lesson 14)

7. Key Vocabulary for Talking About Age

German	English
Wie alt?	How old?
Jahre	Years
Ich bin…	I am…
Du bist…	You are… (informal)
Er/Sie ist…	He/She is…
Wir sind…	We are…
Ihr seid…	You all are… (informal)
Sie sind…	You are… (formal) / They are
zwanzig	Twenty
dreißig	Thirty
vierzig	Forty

8. Final Thoughts: Age is Just a Number! 😄

Learning to talk about age is a simple but crucial step in mastering German basics. With the examples, rules, and dialogues above, you’re ready to confidently answer “How old are you in German?” Keep practicing, have fun with it, and soon it’ll feel natural!

Remember, you’re not just learning numbers; you’re opening up new ways to connect with people in German! 🌍

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Keep practicing, and before you know it, you’ll be chatting about your age like a local. Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!) 🎉

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