Inklingo
← Dictionary

adolescentes

/ah-doh-leh-SEHN-tehs/

teenagers

Three young people, two girls and one boy, sitting together on a wooden park bench, looking at something off-screen and laughing, illustrating a group of teenagers.

Visualizing adolescentes (teenagers) as young people interacting in a public setting.

adolescentes(Noun)

m/fA2

teenagers

?

young people between childhood and adulthood

Also:

adolescents

?

formal term for young people

📝 In Action

Los padres están preocupados por el uso de internet de sus adolescentes.

A2

The parents are worried about their teenagers' internet use.

Las adolescentes prefieren ir de compras que quedarse en casa.

B1

The female teenagers prefer to go shopping rather than stay home.

Es difícil entender a los adolescentes a veces.

A2

It is difficult to understand adolescents sometimes.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • jóvenes (young people)
  • chicos (kids/boys (informal))

Antonyms

Common Collocations

  • grupo de adolescentes – group of teenagers
  • padres de adolescentes – parents of teenagers

💡 Grammar Points

Gender-Neutral Noun

Even though this word ends in '-es', it is gender-neutral. It refers to both male and female young people. Use 'los' for mixed groups or boys, and 'las' for groups of only girls.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Singular/Plural

Mistake: "Using 'adolescente' when referring to multiple people."

Correction: Always remember the final 's' for plural: 'dos adolescentes' (two teenagers).

⭐ Usage Tips

The Root Word

The singular form is 'adolescente' (ending in -e). Since it ends in a vowel, you add '-s' to make it plural, which is why it becomes 'adolescentes'.

A single young person with colorful clothes sitting alone on a grassy hill, resting their chin on their hand, looking pensive and introspective, representing an adolescent trait.

Depicting the adolescente (adolescent) phase, often characterized by introspection and emotional complexity.

adolescentes(Adjective)

m/fB1

adolescent

?

describing traits or issues

📝 In Action

La etapa de cambios adolescentes puede ser muy estresante.

B1

The stage of adolescent changes can be very stressful.

Están estudiando los patrones de sueño adolescentes.

B2

They are studying adolescent sleep patterns.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • juveniles (youthful)

Common Collocations

  • problemas adolescentes – adolescent problems
  • actitudes adolescentes – adolescent attitudes

💡 Grammar Points

Adjective Agreement

Since 'adolescentes' is already plural, it can describe any plural noun, whether masculine (los cerebros adolescentes) or feminine (las actitudes adolescentes).

⭐ Usage Tips

Use with Abstract Nouns

This adjective is often paired with abstract nouns like 'comportamiento' (behavior) or 'crisis' to describe things specific to that age group.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: adolescentes

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'adolescentes' as an adjective?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I say 'one teenager'?

The singular form is 'adolescente.' You would say 'un adolescente' (a male teenager) or 'una adolescente' (a female teenager). Remember to drop the 's' at the end.

Does 'adolescentes' refer to both boys and girls?

Yes, absolutely! It is the general term for both. If you are talking about a mixed group, use 'los adolescentes.' If you are only talking about young women, use 'las adolescentes'.