How to Say "adolescence" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “adolescence” is “adolescencia” — use 'adolescencia' when you want to refer to the specific biological and psychological stage of life between childhood and adulthood, typically the teenage years.
Use 'adolescencia' when you want to refer to the specific biological and psychological stage of life between childhood and adulthood, typically the teenage years.
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Choose 'juventud' when you want to talk about the general state or period of being young, often with a focus on the energy, spirit, and experiences of youth, rather than just the developmental stage.
Learn more →ah-doh-leh-SEN-syahaðolesˈθenθja
Examples
La adolescencia es una etapa de muchos cambios.
Adolescence is a stage of many changes.
Tuve una adolescencia muy feliz en mi pueblo.
I had a very happy adolescence in my town.
Muchos padres encuentran difícil la adolescencia de sus hijos.
Many parents find their children's teenage years difficult.
Gender and Articles
This is a feminine word. Always use 'la' or 'una' with it. Remember that words ending in '-encia' are almost always feminine.
Describing 'In your teens'
In Spanish, we don't usually say 'in my teens.' Instead, we say 'en mi adolescencia' or 'cuando era adolescente' (when I was a teenager).
Adolescencia vs. Adolescente
Mistake: “Él es una adolescencia.”
Correction: Él es un adolescente. Use 'adolescencia' for the time period and 'adolescente' for the person.
hoo-ven-TOODxuβenˈtuð
Examples
Mi abuela siempre dice que la juventud es el mejor tesoro.
My grandmother always says that youth is the best treasure.
Pasé mi juventud en un pueblo pequeño de la costa.
I spent my youth in a small town on the coast.
A pesar de su juventud, ya tiene mucha experiencia laboral.
Despite his young age (youth), he already has a lot of work experience.
Always Feminine
Remember to always use feminine words like 'la' or 'una' before 'juventud', even though it doesn't end in '-a'.
Singular Concept
Even though it refers to a long period of time, 'juventud' is used in the singular form (like 'childhood' in English).
Adolescencia vs. Juventud
Learners often use 'adolescencia' when they mean the broader concept of 'youth' or 'young adulthood' that 'juventud' implies. Remember that 'adolescencia' is more about the specific phase of being a teenager, while 'juventud' can encompass a longer, more general period of being young and energetic.
Related Translations
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