French · People & Family

"Teenager" in French: adolescent(e)

l'adolescent(e)

Say it: lah-doh-leh-SAHNnoun/la.dɔ.lɛ.sɑ̃/

Note: informal: l'ado

A teenager in French is l'adolescent or l'adolescente. Informal speech loves l'ado. Un ado de quinze ans is a fifteen-year-old teen.

Family chat

Mon cousin est un adolescent de seize ans.
My cousin is a sixteen-year-old teenager.
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How to pronounce adolescent(e)

Say it

lah-doh-leh-SAHN

/la.dɔ.lɛ.sɑ̃/

ah-doh-leh-SAHN. Nasal -ent. Feminine adolescente sounds the t: ah-doh-leh-SAHNT. Ado: ah-DOH.

"Teenager" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
l'adolescent(e)the teenager

Full form.

un ado / une adoa teen (informal)

Everyday speech.

l'adolescenceadolescence

The life stage.

un adolescent de… ansa teenager of… years

Age detail.

How to use adolescent(e) in real life

  1. 1Family chat

    Mon cousin est un adolescent de seize ans.

    My cousin is a sixteen-year-old teenager.

    Un adolescent.

  2. 2School gate

    Les adolescents sortent à seize heures trente.

    The teenagers leave at 4:30.

    Les adolescents.

  3. 3Film

    Le film parle d'une adolescente à Paris.

    The film is about a teenage girl in Paris.

    Une adolescente.

Mistakes English speakers make with adolescent(e)

Incorrect: Un teenager.

Correct: Un adolescent / un ado.

Use adolescent or ado, not English teenager.

Incorrect: Une adolescent.

Correct: Une adolescente.

Feminine adds e: adolescente.

Good to know

Parents say les ados for the whole teen group. Magazines target la presse ado. Official forms still prefer adolescent(e).

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Talking about a cousin

  1. ChatPal

    Ton frère est encore un adolescent ?

    Is your brother still a teenager?

  2. You

    Oui, un adolescent de dix-sept ans.

    Yes, a seventeen-year-old teenager.

  3. ChatPal

    Il passe le bac bientôt ?

    Is he taking the bac soon?

  4. You

    L'année prochaine.

    Next year.

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"Teenager" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Teenager" in French

How do you say teenager in French?

L'adolescent(e); informal: l'ado.

What is ado?

Short everyday form of adolescent.

Gender forms?

Adolescent (m), adolescente (f).

How do you pronounce adolescent?

ah-doh-leh-SAHN.

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