Forms used to express age: rok, lata, lat

What changes: the word for “year”

In Polish, when you say someone’s age, the noun changes form:

How to choose fast: look at the last digits

1. Check the last two digits first.

   • If it is 11–14 → always lat.

2. If it is not 11–14, check the last digit:

   • Ends in 1 → rok

   • Ends in 2–4 → lata

   • Ends in 0 or 5–9 → lat

The “teen trap” (11–14) — the most common mistake

Even though 12 ends in 2 and 14 ends in 4, Polish treats 11–14 as one group.

• 12 → 12 lat (not 12 lata)

• 14 → 14 lat (not 14 lata)

Why “rok” has no “one”

When talking about age, Polish usually does not add jeden (“one”).

• Moja córka ma rok. (normal)

• Moja córka ma jeden rok. (sounds unnatural in this context)

Mini self-check (use this before speaking)

• Is the number 11–14? → say lat.

• If not: last digit 1 → rok.

• If not: last digit 2–4 → lata.

• Everything else → lat.

High-frequency examples you will actually use

One practical note: the question uses “lat”

The fixed, standard question is:

• Ile masz lat? (informal)

• Ile pan/pani ma lat? (formal)

Answer with Mam + number + rok/lata/lat.