Learn Romanian: Câți ani ai?

Câți ani ai?

How old are you?

Breakdown of Câți ani ai?

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Questions & Answers about Câți ani ai?

Why does the sentence use ai (you have) instead of a word for 'you are'?

In Romanian, you do not say that you 'are' a certain age. Instead, you say that you 'have' a certain number of years. Literally, this sentence translates to 'how many years do you have'. This is why it uses ai, which means 'you have'.

Why is the word for 'how many' câți instead of just cât?

In Romanian, the word for 'how many' changes depending on the gender and number of the noun it describes. Because ani (years) is a masculine plural noun, you must use the masculine plural form câți.

If I want to ask a stranger or someone older, do I still say Câți ani ai?

No. Câți ani ai? is the informal way to ask, used for friends, family, or children. If you are speaking to a stranger, an elder, or someone in a formal setting, you should use the polite form: Câți ani aveți?.

How do I answer this question to say my age?

To answer, you use the 'I have' form of the verb, which is am, followed by your age and the word ani for years. For example, to say 'I am 25 years old', you would say Am 25 de ani. Note that for numbers 20 and up, you must put the word de between the number and the noun.