Is it appropriate to ask an unfamiliar person about their age? Is it customary in Russian culture? In some cases, yes. We will tell you when and how to talk about age in Russian.
First, remember that asking someone older than you, especially a woman, is considered inappropriate in Russia. Of course, there are situations where it is not only appropriate, but necessary, for example during a job interview, to fill in a questionnaire.
The age question itself will depend on who you are addressing.
Сколько тебе лет? / How old are you? — you ask a close acquaintance, a child or someone when chatting informally.
Сколько вам лет? / How old are you? — It is common to use the word “you” for formal communication and with unfamiliar people.
In general, to ask a question about age in Russian, use the following construction:
How much + pronoun or dative noun + years?
Сколько ей лет? / How old is she?
Сколько Петру лет? / How old is Peter?
Сколько этому мальчику лет? / How old is this boy?
Another option is to ask about age, especially when you want to clarify:
Тебе 20 лет? / Are you 20?
When you answer a question about age in Russian, rely on the following construction:
A pronoun or noun in the dative case + age + year/year/ years.
Мне 15 лет. / I am 15 years old.
Ему 23 года. / He is 23 years old.
Марии 51 год. / Maria is 51 years old.
Please note that it is necessary to choose the right form: “year“, “year” or “years“.
To do this, use the rule:
Мне 10 лет. / I’m 10 years old.
Ей 21 год. / She’s 21.
Ане 55 лет. / Anya is 55 years old.
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It is usually nice to hear compliments about your age and appearance. You can tell when you know the person age you are talking to:
Вы выглядите моложе своих лет! / You look young for your age!
Sometimes we know a person’s age only approximately. Sometimes it is necessary to clarify exactly when the person was that age. There are many different phrases for talking about age.
Ему около тридцати. / He is about thirty.
Эта женщина очень молодая, ей еще нет и двадцати. / This woman is very young, she is not even twenty.
Вчера Петру исполнилось сорок три года. / Yesterday Peter was 43 years old.
Послезавтра моей маме исполняется пятьдесят пять лет. / Tomorrow my mother will be 55 years.
Мне пошел пятнадцатый год. / I’m in my 15th year.
Мне чуть больше сорока. / I’m in my early forties.
Мне столько, на сколько я выгляжу. / I am as old as I look.
Она такая молодая, ей нет и двадцати, кажется, а у нее уже новорождённый. / She is so young, she is not even twenty, it seems, and she already has a newborn.
Какой возраст самый лучший? / What is the best age?
Now you can easily hold an age conversation in Russian, find out how old your conversation partner is and talk about yourself.
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