How to Say "youthful" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “youthful” is “joven” — use 'joven' when referring to someone who is young in age, or to describe a spirit that is lively and energetic, often in comparison to someone older.
Use 'joven' when referring to someone who is young in age, or to describe a spirit that is lively and energetic, often in comparison to someone older.
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Choose 'juvenil' to describe a look, style, or spirit that is characteristic of young people, or that retains a youthful quality despite age.
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Use 'jovencita' specifically to describe a person, usually female, who has a notably youthful appearance, often implying a fresh or innocent look.
Learn more →kho-benˈxoβen
Examples
Mi hermano es más joven que yo.
My brother is younger than me.
Es una mujer muy joven de espíritu.
She is a very young-at-heart woman.
La población de esta ciudad es bastante joven.
The population of this city is quite young.
One Form for Masculine & Feminine
'Joven' is special because it looks the same whether you're talking about a guy ('un hombre joven') or a girl ('una mujer joven'). You just change the word before it.
Making it Plural
To talk about more than one young thing, you add '-es' to the end, making it 'jóvenes'. For example, 'los chicos jóvenes' (the young boys).
Forgetting the Plural '-es'
Mistake: “Los estudiante joven son inteligentes.”
Correction: Los estudiantes jóvenes son inteligentes. Because 'estudiantes' is plural, 'joven' needs to become plural too by adding '-es'.
hoo-beh-NEELxuβeˈnil
Examples
Mi abuelo tiene un espíritu muy juvenil.
My grandfather has a very youthful spirit.
Ella prefiere la moda juvenil.
She prefers youthful/junior fashion.
One Form for All
This word doesn't change to match boys or girls! Whether the person you're describing is male or female, 'juvenil' stays exactly the same.
Avoid 'Juvenila'
Mistake: “una chica juvenila”
Correction: una chica juvenil
ho-ven-SEE-taxoβenˈsi.ta
Examples
Ella tiene una cara jovencita y alegre.
She has a youthful and cheerful face.
Esta es mi prima jovencita.
This is my young cousin (female).
Agreement is Key
Like all Spanish adjectives, 'jovencita' must match the noun it describes in number and gender. Since it ends in '-a' it only describes feminine nouns.
Joven vs. Juvenil
The most common confusion is between 'joven' and 'juvenil'. Remember that 'joven' primarily refers to age or a generally energetic spirit, while 'juvenil' describes a style or demeanor *like* that of a young person, often applicable even to older individuals.
Related Translations
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