Inklingo

How to Say "teenager" in Spanish

English → Spanish

adolescente

ah-doh-leh-SEHN-teh/aðoleˈsente/

nounA1
Use 'adolescente' when you specifically want to refer to a person within the age range of 13 to 19 years old.
A young person, appearing to be a teenager, wearing a hoodie and headphones, looking contemplative against a simple background.

Examples

Mi hermana mayor es una adolescente muy responsable.

My older sister is a very responsible teenager.

Los adolescentes de hoy pasan mucho tiempo en línea.

Today's adolescents spend a lot of time online.

Conocí a un adolescente que ya sabía programar.

I met a teenager who already knew how to code.

Gender Flexibility

This word is the same whether you are talking about a boy or a girl. You change the word before it (the article) to show the gender: 'el adolescente' (the male teenager) or 'la adolescente' (the female teenager).

Confusing Noun and Adjective

Mistake: “Usando 'adolescente' como 'teenaged' (e.g., 'el coche adolescente').”

Correction: When using it as a noun, ensure the article matches the person's gender. When using it as an adjective, it describes the age group: 'los años adolescentes' (the teenage years).

joven

/kho-ben//ˈxoβen/

nounA1
Use 'joven' when referring to a young person, which can include teenagers, but also slightly younger or older individuals, emphasizing their general youth.
A young person, appearing to be a teenager, sitting on a park bench and reading a book.

Examples

El joven de la camisa azul es mi primo.

The young man in the blue shirt is my cousin.

Una joven me preguntó la hora.

A young woman asked me for the time.

Los jóvenes de hoy en día usan mucho el móvil.

Young people nowadays use their phones a lot.

Gender is Shown by 'el' or 'la'

The word 'joven' itself doesn't change gender. You show if you're talking about a male or female by using 'el' or 'un' for a male ('el joven') and 'la' or 'una' for a female ('la joven').

Adolescente vs. Joven

The most common mistake is using 'joven' exclusively for teenagers. While 'joven' *can* refer to a teenager, 'adolescente' is more precise for the 13-19 age bracket. If you want to be specific about the teenage years, use 'adolescente'.

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