French word

adolescent

Pronunciation

IPA/adolesɑ̃/

Meaning

  • masculine nounteenager

Example

De nombreux adolescents cherchent un emploi pour l'été.

Many teenagers are looking for a summer job.

Illustration for adolescent (teenager)

More examples

Un adolescent discute souvent avec ses parents.

An adolescent often has discussions with their parents.

Core concept

A young person moving from childhood toward adult roles, with identity and social responsibilities still developing.

Common phrases

  • un adolescent

    an adolescent

  • les adolescents

    adolescents

  • un adolescent rebelle

    a rebellious adolescent

Similar words

ado: A familiar spoken term for a teenager.
jeune: A person who is young in age.
lycéen: A high school student.
mineur: A person who is legally under the age of adulthood.

Definition in French

Personne jeune au stade de l'adolescence, souvent mineure, qui adopte progressivement des rôles sociaux d'adulte.

Word origin

French adolescent comes from Latin adolescens, 'growing up', the present participle of adolescere, 'to grow or mature'.

Usage tips

  • Adolescent is masculine, while adolescente is feminine, and the final t is silent in the masculine form but pronounced in the feminine form.

Other meanings

  • adolescentadjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word