ELONIO
Log inSign up

Ella tiene dieciocho años hoy.

Ella tiene dieciocho años hoy.
She is eighteen years old today.
FromLesson 4inHardcore Spanish (Spain)

Breakdown of Ella tiene dieciocho años hoy.

hoy
today
ella
she
dieciocho
eighteen
el año
the year

Questions & Answers about Ella tiene dieciocho años hoy.

Why do we use tiene instead of something like es to indicate “She is 18 years old”?
In Spanish, the verb tener (to have) is used to express age. Literally, the sentence translates as “She has 18 years.” In English, you use to be, but in Spanish, you always say tiene when talking about how old someone is.
Does the word hoy need to appear at the end of the sentence?
In Spanish, hoy (today) can be placed in different positions: at the beginning, middle, or end of the sentence. Putting it at the end, as in Ella tiene dieciocho años hoy, is common, but you could also say Hoy ella tiene dieciocho años or Ella hoy tiene dieciocho años without changing the meaning.
Why is años required after dieciocho?
When expressing age in Spanish, you name the number and then the word años (years). You cannot leave out años because the sentence structure always requires it.
Do I always have to use the pronoun Ella?
In Spanish, subject pronouns (like ella) are often optional because the verb form tiene already indicates a third-person singular subject. However, using ella can provide clarity or emphasis when the context requires it.
Is “cumple dieciocho años” interchangeable with “tiene dieciocho años”?
They are related but not exactly the same. Tiene dieciocho años tells you her current age, while cumple dieciocho años emphasizes the act of turning 18 (for example, on her birthday). Both are grammatically correct, but they focus on slightly different aspects of age.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Spanish grammar?”
Spanish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Spanish

Master Spanish — from Ella tiene dieciocho años hoy to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Spanish→