If you greet someone who is much older than you, how do you ask "How old are you? in Spanish?
¿Cuántos años tienes?
To ask "How old are you?" in Spanish when greeting someone older than you, you can say "¿Cuántos años tiene usted?".
To break it down:
1. "Cuántos años" means "how many years" and is used to ask about age.
2. "Tiene" is the verb "to have" in the third-person singular form. In this case, it agrees with the formal "you" (usted) which is used to show respect to someone who is older or in a position of authority.
3. "Usted" is the formal form of "you" in Spanish.
So, when interacting with someone older or unfamiliar, it is important to use the formal form "usted" in order to show respect.
To ask "How old are you?" to someone who is much older than you in Spanish, you can say:
"¿Cuántos años tiene usted?"
Here's a breakdown of the phrase:
- "Cuántos": means "how many/how much".
- "años": means "years".
- "tiene": is the form of the verb "tener" (to have) used when addressing someone in a formal manner.
- "usted": is the formal form of "you" in Spanish.
Remember to use this phrase with respect when speaking to someone much older than you.