Word
Der Opa ist siebzig oder achtzig Jahre alt.
Meaning
The grandpa is seventy or eighty years old.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Der Opa ist siebzig oder achtzig Jahre alt.
sein
to be
alt
old
das Jahr
the year
der Opa
the grandpa
Questions & Answers about Der Opa ist siebzig oder achtzig Jahre alt.
Why is 70 siebzig and not siebenzig?
Most tens are formed by adding -zig to the base number, like achtzig (80) or vierzig (40). However, the number 7 (sieben) drops its -en ending to make it easier to say, becoming siebzig. The same thing happens with 60 (sechzig), which drops the -s from sechs.
How do I pronounce the -ig at the end of siebzig and achtzig?
In standard German, the -ig ending is pronounced like a soft hiss, similar to the 'h' in 'huge'. In some southern regions of Germany and in Austria, you might hear it pronounced with a hard 'k' sound at the end, but the soft sound is the standard one you will learn first.
Do I always need to say Jahre alt when giving an age?
Just like in English, you can leave it out if the context is clear. You can say Der Opa ist siebzig Jahre alt (The grandpa is seventy years old) or simply Der Opa ist siebzig (The grandpa is seventy).
Why is it Jahre instead of just Jahr?