Introduction
Learning to say your age is one of the first and most practical skills when studying Brazilian Portuguese. This lesson focuses on using the verb Tenho to express how old you are, with clear explanations, useful vocabulary, realistic examples, and common beginner mistakes to avoid.
Why we use Tenho to say age
In Brazilian Portuguese, age is stated with the verb ter conjugated in the first person: Tenho. Unlike English, which uses the verb to be, Portuguese treats age as something you have. Saying Tenho 25 anos literally means I have 25 years.
This difference affects sentence structure and number agreement. You will combine Tenho with a number and the word anos for years. For one year, use ano.
Key vocabulary
Tenho — I have (from ter)
anos — years
ano — year
Quantos anos você tem? — How old are you?
Eu tenho — I have (used when adding clarity)
Idade — age
Basic sentence structure
The simplest formula to say your age is:
Tenho + number + anos
Examples:
Tenho 20 anos.
English: I am 20 years old.
Tenho 1 ano.
English: I am 1 year old.
For clarity or emphasis, especially in introductions, you can add Eu before the verb: Eu tenho 30 anos.
Numbers you will need (beginner)
0 zero
1 um / uma
2 dois / duas
3 três
4 quatro
5 cinco
6 seis
7 sete
8 oito
9 nove
10 dez
11 onze
12 doze
13 treze
14 quatorze
15 quinze
16 dezesseis
17 dezessete
18 dezoito
19 dezenove
20 vinte
21 vinte e um
30 trinta
40 quarenta
50 cinquenta
60 sessenta
70 setenta
80 oitenta
90 noventa
100 cem / cento
Practical examples for beginners
Simple introductions
Olá, tudo bem?
Tenho 28 anos.
Hi, how are you? I am 28 years old.
Responding to someone asking your age
Quantos anos você tem?
Tenho 35 anos.
In a form or ID field
Idade: Tenho 22 anos.
Talking about a child
Meu filho
tem 3 anos.
My son is 3 years old.
Note the difference when not using first person: third person uses tem.
Using Eu tenho vs Tenho
Native speakers often drop the subject pronoun and simply say Tenho 19 anos. Beginners can add Eu for clarity: Eu tenho 19 anos. Both are correct. Use Eu in formal settings, introductions, or written answers.
Common questions and short answers
How to ask someone’s age politely
Quantos anos você tem?
Polite alternatives for formal contexts
Quantos anos o senhor tem?
Quantos anos a senhora tem?
Short answers
Tenho 18.
Tenho 18 anos.
When someone asks about someone else (third person)
Ela tem 27 anos.
Ele tem 40 anos.
Expressions and small variations
Instead of repeating anos, some people simply answer with the number: Tenho 25. This is conversational and common among friends.
To say approximately, use mais ou menos: Tenho 30 anos, mais ou menos.
English: I am about 30 years old.
Pronunciation tips
Tenho is pronounced TEN-yo (the nh makes a palatal sound like the ni in onion). The stress is on the first syllable.
Anos is pronounced AH-nos. For one year, ano is AH-no.
Practice with these sentences aloud:
Tenho 18 anos.
Eu tenho 40 anos.
Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them
Using ser instead of ter
Incorrect: Eu sou 25 anos. Correct: Tenho 25 anos or Eu tenho 25 anos.
Missing plural agreement
Incorrect: Tenho 1 anos. Correct: Tenho 1 ano.
Wrong verb form for third person
Incorrect: Ele tenho 30 anos. Correct: Ele tem 30 anos.
Confusing gender with numbers
Numbers themselves do not change for age except one when matching masculine/feminine nouns. Use ano or anos only; do not add uma/um after tenho when stating age (except when clarifying with a subject): Tenho 1 ano, not Tenho uma ano.
Useful practice dialogues
Short beginner dialogue 1
— Quantos anos você tem?
— Tenho 21 anos.
— Que legal!
Short beginner dialogue 2 (formal)
— Quantos anos a senhora tem?
— Eu tenho 62 anos.
At a pediatric appointment
Enfermeira: Quantos anos tem a criança?
Mãe: Ele tem 2 anos.
Real-life contexts where this phrase appears
Registration forms often include Idade or Data de nascimento. If asked in conversation, reply with Tenho X anos.
In social introductions at work or school, people frequently ask age to compare experiences or student levels.
At medical, school, or childcare settings, staff will use third person: Ele tem X anos or Ela tem X anos.
Quick beginner practice activities
Write five sentences about your friends using tem for third person, for example: Maria tem 27 anos.
Ask a language partner: Quantos anos você tem? Then answer using Tenho.
Fill a simple form: Idade: Tenho 29 anos and practice reading it aloud.
More sample sentences
Tenho 16 anos e estudo no ensino médio.
I am 16 years old and I study in high school.
Tenho 45 anos e trabalho como professor.
I am 45 years old and I work as a teacher.
Tenho 2 anos de experiência em atendimento ao cliente.
I have 2 years of customer service experience.
Tips to remember
Think of age as something you have, not something you are. Use Tenho for I have, tem for he/she/it has, and temos for we have when needed.
Always pair the number with ano or anos depending on singular or plural.
When in doubt, include Eu before tenho for clarity and correctness.
Conclusion
Mastering how to say your age with Tenho is an essential first step in Brazilian Portuguese. Practice the basic pattern Tenho + number + anos, learn the key numbers, and use the sample dialogues and tips to build confidence in everyday situations.
