five-year-old

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "five-year-old" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe the age of a child or an object that is five years old. Example: "My neighbor has a five-year-old who loves to play in the park."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

Nor a five-year-old.

Independent

Five-year-old Gudiya was missing.

The New York Times

I have a five-year-old daughter.

The Economist

Five-year-old boy.

The New York Times

"a five-year-old - imagine!" She continued.

The New Yorker

Even our five-year-old was entranced.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Twenty-five-year-old Nic DeNinno was in 3rd Platoon.

The New Yorker

Eighty-five-year-old Capt.

The New Yorker

Thirty-five-year-old children!

The New Yorker

How did a twenty-five-year-old pull it off?

The New Yorker

I was a thirty-five-year-old from Atlanta.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing age, use "five-year-old" before a noun (e.g., "five-year-old child") as a compound adjective. When it follows a noun, it should be "five years old" (e.g., "The child is five years old").

Common error

Avoid using hyphens incorrectly. "My child is five-year-old" is incorrect; the correct form is "My child is five years old". The hyphen is only used when "five-year-old" acts as an adjective before the noun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "five-year-old" functions primarily as a compound adjective. It modifies a noun to indicate that the noun is of that age. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Reference

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "five-year-old" is a grammatically correct and very common compound adjective used to describe someone or something that is five years of age. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used and understood. The most frequent contexts are in News & Media, followed by Science and Formal & Business settings. Remember to use "five-year-old" before a noun and "five years old" after a linking verb. Avoid misusing hyphens in your writing to maintain grammatical correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

child aged five

Rephrases the age using 'aged' instead of a hyphenated adjective.

child of five years

Expresses the age using 'of' instead of a hyphenated structure.

a five-year-old child

Adds the redundant but sometimes emphatic noun "child" after the age descriptor.

five-year-old kid

Uses the more informal term "kid" instead of "child".

youngster aged five

Replaces "child" with the synonym "youngster" and uses the "aged" construction.

preschooler

Identifies the person as being of preschool age; less precise.

toddler (approaching school age)

Describes someone slightly younger but nearing five years old. This phrase assumes they are about to turn 5.

a little kid

A more general term indicating a very young child; less specific about age.

early childhood age

Broader term referring to the developmental stage around five years old.

infant transitioning to childhood

Describes a period from infancy to childhood in which the person is nearly five.

FAQs

How do I properly use "five-year-old" in a sentence?

Use "five-year-old" as a compound adjective before a noun, like in "a "five-year-old" boy." When it follows the noun, say "five years old," as in "The boy is five years old."

Is it correct to say "a child of five year" instead of "five-year-old"?

While grammatically acceptable, "a child of five years" is less common. "Five-year-old" is more concise and frequently used in modern English.

What are some similar terms to describe a "five-year-old" child?

You can use terms like "child aged five", "preschooler", or simply describe them as being in their "early childhood age".

What's the difference between "five-year-old" and "five years old"?

"Five-year-old" functions as an adjective describing a noun (e.g., "a "five-year-old" car"), whereas "five years old" is used after a linking verb to state someone's or something's age (e.g., "The car is five years old").