German word

minderjährig

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈmɪndɐˌjɛːʁɪç/

Meaning

  • adjectiveunderage

Example

Die minderjährigen Gäste dürfen keinen Alkohol bestellen.

Underage guests may not order alcohol.

Illustration for minderjährig (underage)

More examples

Der minderjährige Schüler braucht die Einwilligung der Eltern.

The underage student needs parental consent.

Core concept

A person stands just below a clearly marked adulthood threshold, with age determining which side of the boundary applies.

Common phrases

  • minderjährige Gäste

    underage guests

  • minderjähriger Zeuge

    underage witness

  • minderjährig bleiben

    remain underage

Similar words

volljährig: Having reached the legally defined age of adulthood.
erwachsen: Fully grown or mature in behavior and judgment.

Definition in German

Nicht volljährig; eine Person, die das gesetzliche Alter für Volljährigkeit noch nicht erreicht hat.

Word origin

The compound combines German minder, meaning "less" or "fewer," with jährig, formed from Jahr, meaning "year," and -ig, so it describes someone with fewer years.

Usage tips

  • Minderjährig is an adjective and stays lowercase before a noun, as in minderjährige Gäste; the noun forms are Minderjähriger and Minderjährige.

Opposites

  • volljährigof legal ageadjective
  • erwachsenadultadjective

Related words

  • Minderjährigkeitunderage statusnoun
  • Minderjährigerminornoun

Word lists with this word