Star sem ... let
I am ... years old
Phrase in 30 Seconds
This is the essential way to tell someone how old you are in Slovenian using the verb 'to be'.
- Means: 'I am [number] years old' using the verb 'biti' (to be).
- Used in: Introductions, filling out forms, and sharing personal milestones with friends.
- Don't confuse: Slovenian uses 'to be' (biti), not 'to have' (imeti) like Romance languages.
Explanation at your level:
Bedeutung
Stating your age.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Abraham' celebration at age 50 is the most significant birthday. It often involves humorous pranks and a large gathering of family and friends. Asking age is common among children and young adults but becomes more sensitive as people get older, especially in urban professional settings. The 18th birthday (polnoletnost) is a legal milestone allowing one to vote, drive, and buy alcohol, often celebrated with a 'coming of age' party. In rural areas, being 'star' is often associated with the 'upokojenec' (pensioner) status, which carries a specific social identity of having contributed to the community.
Gender Agreement
Don't forget to change 'star' to 'stara' if you are female. It's a very common mistake for beginners!
The Number 2
Remember the dual! It's 'dve leti', not 'dve let'. This is a unique feature of Slovenian.
Bedeutung
Stating your age.
Gender Agreement
Don't forget to change 'star' to 'stara' if you are female. It's a very common mistake for beginners!
The Number 2
Remember the dual! It's 'dve leti', not 'dve let'. This is a unique feature of Slovenian.
Dropping 'let'
In casual conversation, you can just say 'Star sem 25'. Everyone will understand you're talking about years.
Abraham
If you're invited to an 'Abraham', bring a thoughtful gift and be prepared for a long night of food and music!
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct form of 'leto' (year).
Star sem dve ______.
For the number 2, Slovenian uses the dual form 'leti'.
Choose the correct sentence for a woman stating her age.
Which one is correct?
Women must use the feminine form of the adjective: 'stara'.
Match the number with the correct form of 'year'.
1, 2, 3, 5
1 takes singular, 2 takes dual, 3-4 take plural, 5+ take genitive plural.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Koliko si star? B: ______ 20 let.
The standard response is 'Star sem' (for males) or 'Stara sem' (for females).
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
The 1-2-3-4-5 Rule for 'Years'
1 Year
- • leto
2 Years
- • leti
3-4 Years
- • leta
5+ Years
- • let
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenAlways use 'biti' (to be). 'Imeti' (to have) is incorrect for age in Slovenian.
Slovenian has different forms for singular (1), dual (2), plural (3-4), and genitive plural (5+).
You say 'Koliko ste stari?' using the plural form of 'star'.
It's generally fine with peers, but use caution with older people or in formal settings.
You say 'Star sem enaindvajset let'. Even though it ends in 1, compound numbers above 20 usually take 'let'.
Yes! 'Moj pes je star tri leta.'
It's a cultural term for turning 50 years old.
You can say 'Sem v dvajsetih letih'.
Yes, even for babies, though you might switch to 'mesecev' (months) for those under one year.
'Leto' is singular (1 year), 'let' is genitive plural (5+ years).
You say 'Star sem skoraj trideset let'.
In informal speech, it's often dropped, but in formal speech, it's better to include it.
Verwandte Redewendungen
Koliko si star?
similarHow old are you?
rosna leta
specialized formtender years / youth
v letih
similarup in years / elderly
Abraham
specialized form50th birthday
polnoleten
builds onof legal age
Wo du es verwendest
Meeting a new neighbor
Neighbor: Živijo! Jaz sem Marko. Koliko si star?
You: Živijo, Marko! Star sem petindvajset let.
At the Doctor
Doctor: Dober dan. Povejte mi, koliko ste stari?
Patient: Dober dan. Star sem osemintrideset let.
Buying a bus ticket
Driver: Imate popust za mlade?
Student: Da, stara sem devetnajst let.
Dating App Chat
Match: Hej! Na sliki si videti mlad. Koliko si star?
You: Haha, hvala! Star sem 32 let.
Job Interview
Interviewer: V vašem življenjepisu piše, da ste stari 24 let?
Candidate: Tako je, star sem 24 let in imam že tri leta izkušenj.
Birthday Party
Friend: Vse najboljše! Zdaj si pa že star!
Birthday Person: Res je, od danes sem star 50 let. Abraham!
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of a 'STAR' in the sky. Every year you get older, you shine a bit more like a STAR.
Visual Association
Imagine a birthday cake with candles. For 1 candle, it's a 'leto' (like a solo). For 2, it's 'leti' (like a duet). For 5+, it's 'let' (like a lot).
Rhyme
Eno leto, dve leti, tri leta — starost po svetu šeta.
Story
A young boy named Stane turns 1 (leto). He meets a twin named Stanka, and they are 2 (leti). They meet two more friends, and they are 4 (leta). Finally, a whole crowd arrives, and they are 5 (let).
Word Web
Herausforderung
Try to say the age of everyone in your immediate family using the correct Slovenian endings (1, 2, 3, 4, 5+).
In Other Languages
Tengo ... años
Verb choice: 'have' vs 'be'.
J'ai ... ans
French uses 'have' and omits the word 'old'.
Ich bin ... Jahre alt
Slovenian changes the word for 'years' more frequently than German.
... sai desu
Use of age-specific counters.
Umri ... sana
Possessive 'My age' vs 'I am old'.
Wo ... sui
Omission of the verb 'to be'.
... sal-ieyo
Sentence order and use of counters.
Tenho ... anos
Verb 'to have' vs 'to be'.
Easily Confused
Learners think they should use 'have' like in Spanish or French.
Always use 'biti' (to be) in Slovenian for age.
Using the plural 'leta' for numbers like 5, 10, 20.
Only use 'leta' for 3 and 4. Use 'let' for 5 and above.
FAQ (12)
Always use 'biti' (to be). 'Imeti' (to have) is incorrect for age in Slovenian.
Slovenian has different forms for singular (1), dual (2), plural (3-4), and genitive plural (5+).
You say 'Koliko ste stari?' using the plural form of 'star'.
It's generally fine with peers, but use caution with older people or in formal settings.
You say 'Star sem enaindvajset let'. Even though it ends in 1, compound numbers above 20 usually take 'let'.
Yes! 'Moj pes je star tri leta.'
It's a cultural term for turning 50 years old.
You can say 'Sem v dvajsetih letih'.
Yes, even for babies, though you might switch to 'mesecev' (months) for those under one year.
'Leto' is singular (1 year), 'let' is genitive plural (5+ years).
You say 'Star sem skoraj trideset let'.
In informal speech, it's often dropped, but in formal speech, it's better to include it.
