tenho/tens/tem + anos

Age with Ter

Level 1

In Portuguese, you don't 'are' an age; you 'have' years. Use the verb ter + [number] + anos.

How It Works

Stating age is one of the most common uses of the verb ter. Because Portuguese conceptualizes age as a possession, using ser directly with a number is incorrect.

1. The Basic Structure:
The formula is: [Subject] + [Form of Ter] + [Number] + anos.

  • Eu tenho vinte anos. (I am twenty years old.)
  • Ela tem trinta anos. (She is thirty years old.)

2. Asking for Age:
To ask someone's age, you can use quantos (how many) or the word idade (age):

  • Quantos anos você tem? (Common in Brazil)
  • Quantos anos tens? (Common in Portugal)
  • Qual é a sua idade? (What is your age? - Neutral/Formal)

3. Describing People:
When using age as a descriptor rather than a statement, use the pattern de [number] anos de idade:

  • Um homem de quarenta anos de idade. (A forty-year-old man.)

4. Ter vs. Fazer:
While ter describes the state of being a certain age, the verb fazer is used for birthdays (turning an age). Note the regional differences:

  • Portugal: Hoje eu faço anos. (Today is my birthday / I turn [years] today.)
  • Brazil: Hoje eu faço aniversário. (Today is my birthday.)

5. Conjugation Reminders:
The verb ter is irregular. Pay close attention to the third-person plural:

  • Ele/Ela/Você tem (Singular - no accent)
  • Eles/Elas/Vocês têm (Plural - with circumflex accent)

Examples (6)

  1. Eu tenho vinte e cinco anos.

    I am twenty-five years old.

    Word by Word: I have twenty and five years.

    Uses the first-person singular 'tenho' to state the speaker's age.

  2. Quantos anos você tem?

    How old are you?

    Word by Word: How many years you have?

    The standard way to ask someone's age in Brazil.

  3. Qual é a sua idade?

    What is your age?

    Word by Word: Which is the your age?

    A common, slightly more formal way to ask for someone's age using the noun 'idade'.

  4. O meu avô tem noventa anos.

    My grandfather is ninety years old.

    Word by Word: The my grandfather has ninety years.

    Uses the third-person singular 'tem' for a singular subject (grandfather).

  5. Eles têm dez anos.

    They are ten years old.

    Word by Word: They have ten years.

    Note the circumflex accent on 'têm' to indicate the plural subject 'eles'.

  6. Uma criança de cinco anos de idade.

    A five-year-old child.

    Word by Word: A child of five years of age.

    The phrase 'de idade' is often added when using age as a descriptor for a person.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'ser' (to be) directly with a number.

    Eu sou vinte anos.
    Eu tenho vinte anos.

    English speakers often translate 'I am' literally. In Portuguese, you must use 'ter' because age is something you 'have'. You only use 'ser' if you include the word 'idade' (e.g., 'A minha idade é...').

  • Forgetting the plural accent on 'têm'.

    Eles tem doze anos.
    Eles têm doze anos.

    In writing, the accent distinguishes the singular 'tem' from the plural 'têm'. Even if they sound the same in Brazil, the accent is mandatory for plural subjects.

How It Connects

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

tenho/tens/tem + anosLevel 1Age with Ter

Learn This First

To express age in Portuguese, you need to know how to conjugate the verb 'ter' (to have) in the present tense, understand basic subject pronouns, and recognize the plural form of the word for years (anos).

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Words in This Pattern

terano