How to Say Years in Spanish (Años) — Understanding Time, Language, and Culture Around the World

November 3, 2025 - By Michel Stova

Have you ever thought about how we talk about time — not just live it?

When I first started learning Spanish, I stumbled upon a sentence: “Tengo veinte años” — “I am twenty years old.”
At first, it seemed simple. But soon, I realized it carried a cultural layer beyond translation. The Spanish word “años” doesn’t just mark the passage of time — it celebrates growth, memory, and the rhythm of life itself.

Across the world, every language measures years differently, yet every culture attaches emotion and meaning to it. Whether it’s the Turkish “yıl,” the Japanese “nen,” or the Arabic “sanah,” the way we say years reveals how humanity values time.

Let’s explore the beautiful linguistic ways we measure life, one year at a time.

📘 Table: How to Say “Years” in Different Languages

Language	Word/Phrase for “Years”	Cultural Insight
Spanish	Años	Used for age, anniversaries, and time expressions; plural of “año.”
English	Years	A neutral term marking time or age; used in daily conversation.
French	Années / Ans	“Années” emphasizes duration; “ans” is used for age.
Italian	Anni	Often used in celebrations like “buon anno” (happy new year).
German	Jahre	Used for both age and general time; formal and direct.
Turkish	Yıl / Sene	“Yıl” is modern Turkish, “sene” has Persian roots.
Arabic	Sanah (سنة)	Deeply connected to lunar and religious calendars.
Japanese	Nen (年)	Used with numbers, e.g., “san-nen” = three years.
Mandarin (Chinese)	Nián (年)	Symbolizes prosperity and new beginnings.
Hindi (India)	Saal (साल)	Common in conversation; used in age and time.
Swahili	Miaka	Reflects community celebrations and passage of time.
Zulu	Iminyaka	Often tied to ancestral remembrance.
Maori	Tau	Signifies both age and seasonal cycles.
Hawaiian	Makahiki	Refers to a year-long harvest festival period.
Russian	Gody (Годы)	Often used poetically, referring to “passing years.”

🇪🇸 How to Say Years in Spanish (Años)

The Spanish word for “years” is “años” (pronounced AH-nyos).

It’s the plural form of año (“year”), and it plays a central role in Spanish expressions about time and life.

Tengo 25 años → I am 25 years old.
Feliz Año Nuevo → Happy New Year.
A lo largo de los años → Over the years.

Cultural Insight:
In Spanish-speaking cultures, time is celebrated, not feared. From birthdays (cumpleaños) to anniversaries (aniversarios), “años” marks not just the passage of time — but milestones filled with memories, wisdom, and joy.

Learning how to say years in Spanish helps you understand the emotional rhythm of Spanish-speaking life — where every year is a story worth telling.

🇪🇺 How to Say Years in European Languages

Europe’s expressions for time reflect centuries of philosophy, history, and tradition.

French — Années / Ans: “Années” refers to time duration (e.g., ces dernières années = these past years), while “ans” expresses age.
Italian — Anni: Common in phrases like molti anni fa (“many years ago”).
German — Jahre: Represents precision; Germans often say vor vielen Jahren (“many years ago”).
Greek — Chronia (Χρόνια): Root of the English “chronology,” symbolizing deep ties to time and wisdom.
Portuguese — Anos: Used just like Spanish, in both time and age expressions.

European languages see years as more than numbers — they’re markers of human experience, often intertwined with cultural celebrations and history.

🌏 How to Say Years in Asian Languages

Asian cultures treat time with reverence and spirituality.

Japanese — Nen (年): Integral to systems like “nengō” (era name); reflects history and tradition.
Chinese — Nián (年): Associated with the Chinese New Year (Xīn nián kuài lè — Happy New Year).
Korean — Nyeon (년): Used in phrases like saehae bok mani badeuseyo (Happy New Year).
Hindi — Saal (साल): Deeply tied to festivals and milestones — naya saal mubarak ho (Happy New Year).
Arabic — Sanah (سنة): Common in religious greetings like kul ‘am wa antum bikhair (“may you be well every year”).
Turkish — Yıl / Sene: “Yıl” is modern and formal; “sene” carries poetic tone.
Thai — Pi (ปี): Used in Buddhist calendars; Thailand counts years differently than the Gregorian calendar.
Indonesian — Tahun: Borrowed from Malay; central to holidays like Tahun Baru (New Year).

Across Asia, the concept of years carries spiritual and social importance — blending timekeeping with emotional meaning.

🌍 How to Say Years in African Languages

In Africa, time is often tied to memory, wisdom, and the rhythm of nature.

Swahili — Miaka: Used in miaka mingi iliyopita (“many years ago”).
Zulu — Iminyaka: Reflects age and life stages; ancestors are honored through years of remembrance.
Amharic — Amat (አመት): Used both for years and seasonal cycles in Ethiopia’s ancient calendar.
Yoruba — Odun: Also means festival or celebration — a year marked by renewal.
Hausa — Shekara: Common in northern Africa, especially in greetings for the new year.
Akan — Mfe: Rooted in Ghanaian cultural expressions of legacy and continuity.
Somali — Sannad: Represents cycles of prosperity and faith.

African languages reflect a living relationship with time — where years are remembered, celebrated, and respected as part of the human journey.

🌺 How to Say Years in Indigenous & Island Languages

Island and Indigenous cultures often tie time to the land, the moon, and the seasons.

Maori — Tau: Means both “year” and “season,” reflecting cyclical living.
Hawaiian — Makahiki: Refers to a sacred yearly festival celebrating harvest and peace.
Samoan — Tausaga: Signifies both the passing year and its natural cycles.
Cherokee — Ulihelisdi: Connected to ceremonial events marking time and gratitude.
Tahitian — Matahiti: Means “year” and links directly to agricultural cycles.
Fijian — Yabaki: Represents both calendar years and life’s stages.

In these cultures, years are not abstract — they are sacred markers of harmony between people and nature.

💬 Cultural Insights: The Meaning of “Years” Through Time

The way we speak about years reveals our relationship with life itself.
In Spanish, “años” celebrates life’s milestones; in Arabic, “sanah” blesses peace; in Chinese, “nián” brings fortune.

Every civilization uses “years” as a mirror — of growth, wisdom, and the unending rhythm of existence.

Language doesn’t just measure time — it gives it meaning.

🌸 Proverbs About Years and Time

Spanish: “Los años enseñan más que los libros.” — “Years teach more than books.”
Turkish: “Yıllar geçse de dostluk kalır.” — “Even as years pass, friendship remains.”
Chinese: “A year’s plan starts with spring.”
Swahili: “Miaka haingoji mtu.” — “Years wait for no one.”
Italian: “Gli anni passano, i ricordi restano.” — “Years pass, memories remain.”

Every saying reminds us: the passage of time is universal, but how we honor it defines us.

❓ FAQs

Q1: What does “años” mean in Spanish?
“Años” is the plural of “año” and means “years.” It’s used in expressions of age, time, and celebration.

Q2: How do you pronounce “años”?
Pronounced AH-nyos (the “ñ” has a soft “ny” sound, like in “canyon”).

Q3: What’s the difference between “año” and “años”?
“Año” = one year, “Años” = multiple years.

Q4: Why does the word “años” use the letter ñ?
The letter “ñ” (enye) is unique to Spanish; it evolved from the Latin “nn,” symbolizing a soft nasal sound.

Q5: How do Spanish speakers celebrate years?
Through birthdays (cumpleaños), anniversaries (aniversarios), and New Year (Año Nuevo), reflecting gratitude for time.

❤️ Conclusion: The Language of Time

Whether you say años, years, nián, or yıl, every culture speaks the language of time differently — but all share the same heartbeat: life moves, memories grow, and wisdom deepens.

So next time you say “tengo veinte años” or celebrate Feliz Año Nuevo, remember — you’re not just marking time. You’re celebrating the story of your life, written one beautiful year at a time.

🎯 Now it’s your turn!
How do you say “years” in your language? Share it in the comments and join our global celebration of time and culture!