Questions & Answers about Tengo veintitrés años.
Why does Spanish use tengo for age instead of a form of to be?
In Spanish, age is expressed with tener (to have), not ser or estar.
So Spanish says:
- Tengo veintitrés años = literally I have 23 years
This is just the normal Spanish structure. English uses to be for age, but Spanish uses to have.
That is why Soy veintitrés años and Estoy veintitrés años are wrong for saying your age.
Do I need to say yo tengo veintitrés años?
Usually, no. Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed, because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.
- Tengo = I have
- Yo tengo = I have too, but with extra emphasis
So:
- Tengo veintitrés años is the most natural neutral sentence.
- Yo tengo veintitrés años may be used for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.
Example:
- Ella tiene veinte años y yo tengo veintitrés.
Why is años plural here?