🤔❓🎂

How to Say ‘So how old are you?’ in German

Wie alt bist du denn?

vee ahlt bist doo denn

[vee ahlt bist doo denn]

💬 Usage Tip: denn in a question doesn't mean "then" here. It softens the question and makes it sound friendly and curious, which is why it's so common when talking to children.

Phrase Breakdown

Wie alt

vee ahlt

How old

The question phrase for age. 'Wie' sounds like 'vee'.

Example

Wie alt ist Emma?

How old is Emma?

Words in this phrase

Wie

[vee]

how

Used in exclamations like "how lovely" or "how nice."

Example

Wie schön, das zu hören!

How nice to hear that!

alt

[ahlt]

old

Adjective describing age; used with 'wie' to ask how old someone is.

Example

Mein Sohn ist drei Jahre alt.

My son is three years old.

bist du denn?

bist doo denn

are you, then?

'Denn' makes the question sound softer and friendlier. It's common when talking to kids.

Example

Wo bist du denn?

Where are you, then?

Words in this phrase

bist

[bist]

are

Second person singular of 'sein.'

Example

Du bist sehr charmant.

You are very charming.

[doo]

you (singular/informal)

Used when speaking to one person informally.

Example

Wie fühlst du dich heute Abend?

How do you feel this evening?

denn

[denn]

then; actually

A conversational particle that makes the question sound more natural and curious.

Example

Was ist denn drin, ich bin neugierig.

What is in it then, I'm curious.

Guides for German learners

Duolingo vs Pimsleur: Tapping on a Screen or Talking Out Loud?Duolingo vs Pimsleur: five minutes of tapping versus thirty minutes of speaking. What each is good at, what each costs, and which to pick for your goal.

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