French word

adolescence

Pronunciation

IPA/adolesɑ̃s/

Meaning

  • feminine nounteenage years

Example

Son adolescence a été difficile.

His teenage years were difficult.

Illustration for adolescence (teenage years)

More examples

J'ai rencontré beaucoup d'amis pendant mon adolescence.

I met many friends during my adolescence.

Core concept

A changing passage where a child gradually develops adult emotional, social, and bodily patterns.

Common phrases

  • à l'adolescence

    in adolescence

  • pendant l'adolescence

    during adolescence

  • crise d'adolescence

    adolescent crisis

Similar words

adolescent: A young person in the teenage years between childhood and adulthood.
ado: An informal term for a teenager.
puberté: The stage when the body begins sexual maturation.
mineur: A person below the legal age of adulthood.

Definition in French

Phase de transition entre l'enfance et l'âge adulte, caractérisée par des changements émotionnels, sociaux et corporels.

Word origin

French adolescence descends from Latin adolescentia, formed from adolescere, meaning 'to grow up'.

Usage tips

  • Adolescence is feminine in French: use l'adolescence, à l'adolescence, and son adolescence.

Other meanings

  • youthnoun

Opposites

  • âge adulteadulthoodnoun
  • enfancechildhoodnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word