German · Greetings & Essentials
"How old are you?" in German: Wie alt bist du?
Wie alt bist du?
Note: formal: Wie alt sind Sie?
How old are you? in German is Wie alt bist du? with du. Formal speech uses Wie alt sind Sie? Answer with Ich bin … Jahre alt.
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How to pronounce Wie alt bist du?
Say it
vee alt bist doo
/viː alt bɪst duː/
vee alt bist doo. Soft w as v. Soft i as ee in wie.
"How old are you?" in German: quick reference
| German | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Wie alt bist du? | How old are you? Informal default. | Informal default. |
| Wie alt sind Sie? | How old are you? (formal) With Sie. | With Sie. |
| Darf ich fragen, wie alt du bist? | May I ask how old you are? Softer opener. | Softer opener. |
| Ich bin … Jahre alt | I am … years old Standard answer. | Standard answer. |
How to use Wie alt bist du? in real life
- 1Getting to know someone
Nur aus Interesse — wie alt bist du?
Just curious — how old are you?
Full phrase Wie alt bist du?
- 2Form help
Für die Anmeldung: Wie alt bist du?
For the registration: How old are you?
Keep the whole question.
- 3Playful friends
Rate mal: Wie alt bist du wirklich?
Guess: How old are you really?
Full phrase intact.
Mistakes English speakers make with Wie alt bist du?
Incorrect: Wie viele Jahre hast du?
Correct: Wie alt bist du?
German asks with alt sein, not have years.
Incorrect: How old are you? (in German chat)
Correct: Wie alt bist du?
Use the German phrase with du.
Good to know
Asking age can feel personal with strangers—soften with Darf ich fragen… Adults may answer with a range. Kids ask Wie alt bist du? freely; answer Ich bin … Jahre alt.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Filling a sports club form
ChatPal
Kurz für die Liste: Wie alt bist du?
Quickly for the list: How old are you?
You
Ich bin 24. Und du — wie alt bist du?
I'm 24. And you — how old are you?
ChatPal
27. Passt in dieselbe Gruppe.
27. Fits in the same group.
You
Gut. Dann war Wie alt bist du? die schwerste Frage heute.
Good. Then how old are you? was the hardest question today.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"How old are you?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "How old are you?" in German
How do you ask how old are you?
Wie alt bist du?
Formal?
Wie alt sind Sie?
How to answer?
Ich bin … Jahre alt.
Polite softener?
Darf ich fragen, wie alt du bist?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
