Age: annos natus

How Old Are You?

Level 3

Say how old someone is with a number, annos and natus.

How It Works

WhoQuestionAnswer
a boy or manQuot annos natus es?Duodecim annos natus sum.
a girl or womanQuot annos nata es?Duodecim annos nata sum.
several peopleQuot annos nati estis?Duodecim annos nati sumus.

Literally the phrase says born for twelve years, and annos is the accusative of how long. The number comes before annos. From eleven on, the number does not change: undecim, duodecim, quindecim.

Natus is a form of the verb nascor, to be born. Here you learn it as a set phrase. The same kind of form comes back at Level 4 as the perfect passive participle.

Examples (5)

  1. Quot annos natus es?

    How old are you?

    Said to a boy or a man. Natus agrees with the person asked.

  2. Quot annos nata es?

    How old are you?

    Said to a girl or a woman. Nata is feminine.

  3. Duodecim annos natus sum.

    I am twelve years old.

    A boy or a man speaks. Annos is the accusative plural.

  4. Iulia quindecim annos nata est.

    Iulia is fifteen years old.

    Nata is feminine, to match Iulia.

  5. Monachus septuaginta annos natus est.

    The monk is seventy years old.

    Septuaginta does not change.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the years in the nominative.

    Duodecim anni natus sum.
    Duodecim annos natus sum.

    Anni is a nominative plural. This phrase needs the accusative plural annos.

  • Using the masculine natus for a girl.

    Iulia quindecim annos natus est.
    Iulia quindecim annos nata est.

    Natus agrees with the person. Iulia is a girl, so the word is nata.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Age: annos natusLevel 3How Old Are You?

Learn This First

Age is an accusative plural with a number.

Words in This Pattern

annusnascorquot