This has always been a question in my mind, since I suspect the usage varies in different languages.
When I ‘turn 23’ does that mean I’ve completed my 22nd age, and have just begun the 23rd?
Or is it that I’ve completed my 23rd age, and am now beginning 24th?
A native English speaker’s response would be appreciated
Many thanks
10 Answers
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It means your 23rd birthday. You turn 23 on your 23rd birthday.
I don’t know what those other people are talking about. YEs, you have lived 23 years by then for the reason they give, but that doesn’t answer the question or eliminate the confusion. You can get your driver’s license when you turn 16. If you told a teenager that meant the day before his 17th birthday, he would be crying or furious or both. It means his 16th birthday or as soon thereafter as he can manage.
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It means you’ve completed your 23rd year and are starting on the 24th. When a child turns 1, he has just completed his first year. It’s like this being the 21st century, the years from 2000 through 2099.
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When you turn 23, it means you have lived for exactly 23 years and 0 days. So you’ve completed your 22nd year and started your 23rd.
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You’ve just had your 23rd birthday therefore you’ve just turned 23 but if really want to get confused you are in your 24th year.
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When you turn 23 it means it has been 23 years since you were born, so you just completed your 23rd year.
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You’ve completed 23 years.
Think about it. When you are 1 years old, you have finished 1 year.
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You have just begun the 23rd. At that point you say to people who ask “I am 23”.
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You’ve completed your 23 years, and are heading towards 24. 🙂
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It’s that you’ve completed your 23rd year of life.
We say that babies are turning 1 year old when they have been alive for one year (so they have completed one year of their life). So when you’ve been alive for two years, you turn two… etc