How to Ask and Talk About Age in English • Englishilm

In this blog post, you will learn how to ask and talk about age in English, a common and essential part of everyday conversations. Whether you’re discussing your own age, your family’s, or someone else’s, knowing the correct way to express it will make your communication smoother. By the end of this post, you’ll feel confident in using simple and effective ways to talk about age in English.

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Learning How to Talk About Age in English

Understanding how to discuss age is an essential skill that allows you to participate confidently in everyday conversations, whether you’re talking about yourself, family members, or others. Knowing the correct phrases and expressions helps you navigate both formal and informal situations, such as introductions or professional settings like job interviews. You’ll also learn how to politely ask someone’s age and describe your own or others’ ages with clarity.

Mastering these phrases is useful in many situations, allowing you to interact more effectively with people of different age groups.

Asking Someone’s Age

To ask about someone’s age, the most common question is:

How old are you?

This question is simple and polite. You can also ask about another person by saying:

How old is your brother/sister?
How old is your friend?

If you want to ask about a specific person politely, you can use:

May I ask how old you are? (More formal and polite)

Talking About Your Own Age

When answering the question about age, you can simply say:

I am 20 years old.
I’m 25. (Short form)

You can also add more details if you want to give extra information, like:

I turned 30 last month.
I’m in my twenties/thirties. (Used to describe a range of ages)

Talking About Other People’s Ages

When talking about other people’s ages, you can use the same structure:

She is 15 years old.
He’s 40.

Talking about Children’s Ages

When talking about children’s ages, there are a few specific ways you can mention their age, especially for younger children. Here are some tips and phrases for discussing the ages of children:

Using “Months” for Babies

For babies, people usually mention their age in months.

Example:

My baby is 6 months old.
She’s 18 months old.

Using “Half” for Young Children

For young children, people often use “half” when the child is between two whole years.

Example:

He’s 4 and a half years old.
She’s 2 and a half.

Describing Age in Whole Numbers

After children reach the age of 3 or 4, people generally just use whole numbers.

Example:

My son is 5 years old.
She’s 7.

Talking About School Age

You might also mention school grade levels when discussing children’s ages.

Example:

He’s 8 years old and in second grade.
She just started kindergarten at age 5.

Talking About Multiple Children’s Ages

When you’re talking about more than one child, you can list their ages together.

Example:

I have two kids. One is 4, and the other is 7.
My children are 6 and 9 years old.

Common Phrases About Age

Here are some common phrases used when talking about age:

He’s almost 2. (Close to turning 2 years old)
She just turned 3. (Recently had her 3rd birthday)
They’re in their early years. (Refers to children under 10)
In your early twenties/thirties (Ages 20-23, 30-33)
In your mid-twenties/thirties (Ages 24-26, 34-36)
In your late twenties/thirties (Ages 27-29, 37-39)

These phrases help to give a general idea of someone’s age without being too specific.

Special Expressions for Age

Sometimes, people use these expressions to talk about someone’s age:

Age is just a number.

Meaning: It doesn’t matter how old someone is; they can still enjoy life.

In your prime.

Meaning: The best or most successful time in someone’s life.
Example: She’s in her prime at 30 and full of energy.

To be young at heart.

Meaning: Feeling youthful, even if you’re older.
Example: My grandma is 70, but she’s young at heart.

Act your age.

Meaning: Behave in a way that is expected for your age.
Example: Stop being silly and act your age!

Getting on in years.

Meaning: Someone is becoming older.
Example: My dad is getting on in years, but he still works.

Over the hill.

Meaning: To be past middle age, often jokingly.
Example: He says he’s over the hill now that he’s 50.

Wise beyond your years.

Meaning: Acting or thinking more maturely than your age.
Example: She’s only 16, but she’s wise beyond her years.

In your early twenties/thirties.

Meaning: Between 20-23 or 30-33 years old.
Example: She’s in her early twenties and just started working.

In your mid-twenties/thirties.

Meaning: Between 24-26 or 34-36 years old.
Example: He’s in his mid-thirties and has a young family.

In your late twenties/thirties.

Meaning: Between 27-29 or 37-39 years old.
Example: She’s in her late twenties but looks younger.

Still going strong.

Meaning: Someone who is still active despite being older.
Example: At 80, my grandpa is still going strong.

In your golden years.

Meaning: The time of life after retirement.
Example: My grandparents are enjoying their golden years.

Not a day over (age).

Meaning: A way to compliment someone on looking younger than their age.
Example: You don’t look a day over 30!

As old as the hills.

Meaning: Very old.
Example: This house is as old as the hills.

At the tender age of (number).

Meaning: Used to describe someone at a young age.
Example: He started playing piano at the tender age of five.

Age gracefully.

Meaning: To get older without trying to hide the effects of aging.
Example: She’s aging gracefully and doesn’t dye her hair.

To be of age.

Meaning: To be old enough to do something legally, like vote or drink alcohol.
Example: He’ll be of age to vote next year.

The ripe old age of (number).

Meaning: Living to a long age.
Example: She lived to the ripe old age of 95.

Forever young.

Meaning: Someone who remains youthful in appearance or spirit.
Example: He’s forever young and full of energy.

In your second childhood.

Meaning: When an older person starts behaving like a child again.
Example: He’s in his second childhood, playing games with his grandchildren.

Questions and Answers About Age

Here’s a table with the 15 questions and answers about age in English:

Question	Answer
How old are you?	I’m 25 years old.
How old is your brother?	He’s 18 years old.
3. How old is your baby?	She’s 8 months old.
Is your son 4 years old?	Yes, he’s 4 and a half.
How old are your children?	They are 6 and 9 years old.
When did you turn 30?	I turned 30 last month.
How old will you be next year?	I’ll be 35 next year.
How old was she when she started school?	She was 5 years old.
Is your dad in his 60s?	Yes, he’s 62 years old.
How old do you think she is?	She looks like she’s in her late twenties.
How old were you when you learned to swim?	I was 7 years old.
How old are your grandparents?	They are both in their 70s.
How old is your niece?	She just turned 3 years old.
How old is your baby brother?	He’s almost 2.
When will you be of age to vote?	I’ll be of age next year when I turn 18.

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FAQs about How to Ask and Talk About Age in English

1. How do you politely ask someone’s age in English?
You can politely ask someone’s age by saying, “May I ask how old you are?” This is more formal and respectful than directly asking, “How old are you?”

2. How do you talk about your own age in English?
To talk about your own age, you can say, “I am 25 years old” or “I’m 25.” You can also describe your age range, such as “I’m in my twenties.”

3. What are common phrases to describe age ranges?
Common phrases include “early twenties” (ages 20-23), “mid-thirties” (ages 34-36), and “late forties” (ages 47-49). These phrases are used to describe general age ranges.

4. What does “age is just a number” mean?
“Age is just a number” means that how old someone is does not determine their abilities, energy, or spirit. It’s often used to say that age doesn’t matter much in how someone feels or acts.

5. How can you describe someone’s age politely?
Instead of asking directly, you can say, “He’s in his prime” or “She’s in her late twenties.” These phrases give an idea of age without being specific or impolite.