How old are you?
'Quanti' = KWAHN-tee; 'anni' = AHN-nee. Double 'n' in 'anni' — hold it a beat longer.
Appropriate in casual social settings among peers. In Italy, asking age is less taboo than in some other cultures, though you should read the situation. Avoid asking older people unless they raise the topic first.
Italian uses 'avere' (to have) for age, not 'essere' (to be). So 'Quanti anni hai?' literally means 'How many years do you have?' The answer is 'Ho X anni' — I have X years. This is a fundamental A1 structure.
Hai più o meno la mia età?
Are you roughly my age?
Indirect and polite — avoids a direct request for a number.
Sei maggiorenne?
Are you of legal age?
Context-specific — used at venues, events, or when it matters legally.
Quanti anni compie? (formal)
How old are you turning?
Formal and polite — 'compiere anni' means to turn a specific age.
Italians often figure out age early in a conversation to calibrate how formal or informal to be. Being the same age ('coetanei') is a bonding moment that often shifts conversation to 'tu' immediately.