Explanation at your level:
You use âgé to say someone is old. If you want to say 'He is old', you say 'Il est âgé'. It is a very helpful word for beginners!
At this level, you can use âgé to describe family members. For example, 'Mon grand-père est âgé'. It is a polite way to talk about seniors.
Intermediate learners should focus on agreement. Remember that âgée is for feminine nouns. It is a great alternative to the word vieux in formal writing.
Use âgé to discuss demographics or social issues. It is common in news reports when discussing the needs of the elderly population in society.
In advanced French, âgé can be used in more nuanced ways to describe stages of life. It avoids the potential rudeness of more direct terms for aging.
Mastery involves understanding the subtle register shifts. While âgé is standard, writers might choose specific synonyms for literary effect, but âgé remains the gold standard for clarity and respect.
واژه در 30 ثانیه
- Polite term for old
- Requires être
- Needs agreement
- Standard usage
Hey there! If you are learning French, you have probably come across the word âgé. It is the French adjective for 'aged' or 'old'.
Think of it as a respectful way to talk about someone's age. While we might say 'old' in English, âgé carries a slightly more formal or descriptive tone in French. It is perfect for when you want to be polite!
You will often see it paired with the verb être (to be). For example, Il est âgé means 'He is aged' or 'He is old'. It is a super useful word to have in your vocabulary toolkit.
The word âgé comes from the Old French word aage, which eventually became âge (age). It is rooted in the Latin word aetaticum, which relates to the duration of a person's life.
Over centuries, the language evolved to add the suffix -é, turning the noun 'age' into an adjective that describes someone possessing that quality. It is fascinating how languages transform simple concepts of time into descriptive labels for people!
This word shares a deep history with other Romance languages, showing how Latin roots continue to shape how we describe the human experience today.
When using âgé, remember that it must agree with the gender and number of the person you are describing. So, for a woman, you add an 'e' to get âgée.
It is commonly used with adverbs of degree like très (very) or assez (quite). You might say someone is très âgé if they are very old.
It is generally considered more polite than just saying vieux (old), which can sometimes sound a bit blunt depending on the context. Use âgé when you want to sound professional or respectful.
While âgé is a direct adjective, it appears in several fixed phrases:
- Personne âgée: Senior citizen. Example: Elle aide une personne âgée.
- Être d'un certain âge: To be of a certain age. Example: Il est d'un certain âge.
- Avancé en âge: Advanced in years. Example: Il est très avancé en âge.
- D'âge mûr: Mature age. Example: C'est un homme d'âge mûr.
- Âge d'or: Golden age. Example: C'est l'âge d'or de sa vie.
Grammatically, âgé acts like a regular adjective. If the subject is plural, you add an 's' (âgés or âgées). Remember, the pronunciation remains the same regardless of the spelling changes!
The IPA pronunciation is /a.ʒe/. It rhymes with words like été (summer), café (coffee), and passé (past). The stress is always on the final syllable.
Always remember to use the verb être before it. You cannot just say 'Il âgé'; you must say 'Il est âgé'.
Fun Fact
It shares a root with the word 'eternal'!
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'ah-zhay'
Sounds like 'ah-zhay'
Common Errors
- Pronouncing the 'g' like in 'go'
- Missing the accent
- Dropping the final 'e'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy
Moderate
Moderate
Easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
پیشرفته
Grammar to Know
Adjective Agreement
âgé/âgée
Verb Être
Il est
Age Expression
avoir... ans
Examples by Level
Il est âgé.
He is old.
Subject + être + adjective.
Elle est âgée.
She is old.
Feminine agreement.
Ils sont âgés.
They are old.
Plural agreement.
Le monsieur est âgé.
The gentleman is old.
Noun + verb + adjective.
La dame est âgée.
The lady is old.
Feminine agreement.
Mon père est âgé.
My father is old.
Possessive adjective.
Ma mère est âgée.
My mother is old.
Possessive adjective.
Nous sommes âgés.
We are old.
Plural agreement.
Il est âgé de quatre-vingts ans.
C'est une personne âgée.
Ma grand-mère est très âgée.
Il semble un peu âgé.
Elle est devenue âgée.
Nous avons des voisins âgés.
Les gens âgés sont sages.
Il reste actif malgré son âge.
Il est âgé, mais il est en forme.
Elle s'occupe de personnes âgées.
C'est un homme âgé et respecté.
Le patient est âgé de 90 ans.
Il est plus âgé que moi.
Elle semble moins âgée que son âge.
Les citoyens âgés ont des droits.
Il est âgé, donc il se repose.
La population devient de plus en plus âgée.
Il est âgé de plusieurs décennies.
Une personne âgée mérite le respect.
Il est âgé, mais son esprit est vif.
Elle est âgée, pourtant elle voyage.
Le bâtiment est âgé de cent ans.
Il est âgé, ce qui demande des soins.
La plupart des gens âgés préfèrent le calme.
Il est âgé, ce qui lui confère une certaine autorité.
La structure est âgée de plusieurs siècles.
Elle est âgée, mais elle travaille encore.
Il est âgé, mais il garde son humour.
Le vin est âgé de vingt ans.
Il est âgé, mais il est très lucide.
La population âgée est en croissance.
Il est âgé, mais il est très actif.
Il est âgé, mais son âme reste jeune.
La sagesse vient avec le fait d'être âgé.
Il est âgé, ce qui est un privilège.
Le monde est âgé de milliards d'années.
Il est âgé, mais il apprend encore.
Elle est âgée, mais elle est élégante.
Il est âgé, mais il est très fort.
Il est âgé, mais il a des projets.
ترکیبهای رایج
Idioms & Expressions
"d'un certain âge"
middle-aged or older
Il est d'un certain âge.
polite"avancé en âge"
very old
Il est avancé en âge.
formal"âge d'or"
the best time
C'est son âge d'or.
neutral"âge de raison"
age of maturity
Il a atteint l'âge de raison.
formal"âge ingrat"
awkward teenage years
C'est l'âge ingrat.
casualEasily Confused
Both mean old.
Vieux is less polite.
Il est vieux vs Il est âgé.
Both relate to time.
Ancien is for objects or former roles.
Ancien bâtiment.
Noun vs Adjective.
Âge is the noun.
Quel est votre âge?
Verb vs Adjective.
Vieillir is the action.
Il vieillit.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + être + âgé
Il est âgé.
Subject + être + âgé + de + [number] + ans
Il est âgé de 20 ans.
C'est + une + personne + âgée
C'est une personne âgée.
Adverb + âgé
Il est très âgé.
Comparaison + âgé
Il est plus âgé que moi.
خانواده کلمه
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
مرتبط
How to Use It
8
Formality Scale
اشتباهات رایج
Missing the verb être.
Missing feminine agreement.
Missing the noun 'ans'.
Vieux can be rude.
Wrong plural agreement.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine an old clock.
Politeness
Always use âgé for seniors.
Respect
French culture values age.
Agreement
Check gender/number.
Accent
Don't skip the accent.
Verb
Don't forget être.
History
Latin roots.
Flashcards
Use sentences.
Context
Use in formal writing.
Structure
Âgé de + age.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Âgé sounds like 'Ah, J'ai' (Ah, I have... years).
Visual Association
A grandfather clock.
Word Web
چالش
Describe your family members using âgé.
ریشه کلمه
Latin
Original meaning: Duration of life
بافت فرهنگی
Always prefer âgé over vieux to be polite.
Direct translation is 'aged'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Medical
- Patient âgé
- Soins aux personnes âgées
Family
- Mon grand-père est âgé
Sociology
- Population âgée
Travel
- Réduction pour les personnes âgées
Conversation Starters
"Comment s'occuper des personnes âgées?"
"Quel est l'âge idéal?"
"Est-ce que vous connaissez quelqu'un d'âgé?"
"Pourquoi respecter les personnes âgées?"
"L'âge est-il un chiffre?"
Journal Prompts
Write about an elderly person you admire.
How do you feel about getting older?
What does 'âgé' mean to you?
Describe a senior citizen in your life.
سوالات متداول
8 سوالNo, âgé is more polite.
Add an 's'.
No, use 'ancien' or 'vieux'.
Yes, add an 'e'.
It is standard and respectful.
Être.
Âgé de 50 ans.
No, it is for older people.
خودت رو بسنج
Il ___ âgé.
Needs third person singular.
Which is correct?
Feminine agreement needed.
Âgé is more polite than vieux.
Yes, it is considered more respectful.
Word
معنی
Basic antonyms.
Standard age structure.
امتیاز: /5
Summary
Âgé is the respectful, standard way to describe someone who is old in French.
- Polite term for old
- Requires être
- Needs agreement
- Standard usage
Memory Palace
Imagine an old clock.
Politeness
Always use âgé for seniors.
Respect
French culture values age.
Agreement
Check gender/number.
مثال
Mon grand-père est très âgé, il a 90 ans.
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واژههای بیشتر general
à cause de
A2Because of; on account of (a neutral or negative cause).
à côté
A2Next to; beside.
à côté de
A2Next to, beside.
À droite
A2To the right; on the right side.
À gauche
A2To the left; on the left side.
à la
A2To the (feminine singular), indicates direction or location.
à laquelle
B2To which; at which (feminine singular).
à mesure que
B2As; while; in proportion as.
abrégé
B1An abstract, summary, or abridgment.
absence
A2The state of being away from a place or person.
