French Phrase
Tu as quel âge ?
Meaning
Literally “You have what age?”, this informal question asks someone’s age. It is the most common way for peers, friends, or children to ask each other how old they are.
When to use
Use this phrase in casual settings – with friends, classmates, coworkers you know well, or when speaking to children. In formal situations or with strangers, switch to the polite form *Quel âge avez‑vous ?*.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tuasquelâge?
Tu (pronoun)
Second‑person singular informal pronoun used with friends, family, or people your own age.
as (avoir)
Present‑tense form of the verb *avoir* (to have) for *tu*; literally means “you have”.
quel (interrogative adjective)
Means “what/which”. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies – here *âge* is masculine singular, so *quel* is used.
âge (noun)
Masculine noun meaning “age”. In French ages are treated as masculine regardless of the person’s gender.
? (question mark)
In spoken French the intonation rises at the end; in writing the question mark signals an interrogative sentence.
🗨In Conversation
Tu as quel âge ?
How old are you?
J’ai seize ans.
I’m sixteen.
✕Common Mistakes
Quel âge tu as ?
The inversion *as‑tu* is the grammatically correct order; *Quel âge tu as ?* sounds colloquial and is best avoided in learning material.
Tu as quelle âge ?
The adjective *quel* must agree with the masculine noun *âge*; *quelle* is feminine and therefore incorrect.
Tu as quel âgees ?
The noun *âge* does not take a plural *‑es* ending; ages are expressed with the singular noun plus a number.
↔Alternatives
Quel âge as‑tu ?
How old are you? (more standard word order)
Vous avez quel âge ?
How old are you? (formal or plural)
Quel est votre âge ?
What is your age? (very formal)
Tu as quel âge, exactement ?
Exactly how old are you?
Cultural Tip
Asking about age is perfectly normal among peers in France, but it can be considered impolite with strangers or in professional contexts. When you need to be polite, use the formal *Quel âge avez‑vous ?* or simply avoid the question and let the person volunteer the information.