Italian · People & Family

"Teenager" in Italian: adolescente

l'adolescente

Say it: ah-doh-leh-SHEN-tehmasculine / feminine · l'adolescentenoun/adoleˈʃɛn.te/

Teenager in Italian is l'adolescente (ah-doh-leh-SHEN-teh), same form for masculine and feminine. Ragazzo/ragazza is broader—boy/girl or young person.

School talk

Mia figlia è un'adolescente ora.
My daughter is a teenager now.
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How to pronounce adolescente

Say it

ah-doh-leh-SHEN-teh

/adoleˈʃɛn.te/

Adolescente stresses SHEN: ah-doh-leh-SHEN-teh. Soft sc before e = sh.

"Teenager" in Italian: quick reference

ItalianEnglish
l'adolescentethe teenager

Default noun.

gli adolescentiteenagers

Plural.

età adolescenzialeteenage years

Formal/descriptive.

un gruppo di adolescentia group of teenagers

Public spaces.

How to use adolescente in real life

  1. 1School talk

    Mia figlia è un'adolescente ora.

    My daughter is a teenager now.

    Un'adolescente.

  2. 2Park scene

    Gli adolescenti giocano a basket lì.

    The teenagers are playing basketball there.

    Gli adolescenti.

  3. 3Film rating note

    Il film parla agli adolescenti.

    The film speaks to teenagers.

    Agli adolescenti.

Mistakes English speakers make with adolescente

Incorrect: È un teenager.

Correct: È un adolescente.

Use adolescente.

Incorrect: La adolescente sono stanchi.

Correct: Gli adolescenti sono stanchi. / L'adolescente è stanco/a.

Match number and article.

Good to know

Adolescente sounds slightly more formal than ragazzo in casual chat, but schools and news prefer it for the age band. Parents use it when roles shift.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Talking about a cousin's age

  1. ChatPal

    Tuo cugino è ancora un adolescente?

    Is your cousin still a teenager?

  2. You

    Sì, è un adolescente di quindici anni.

    Yes, he's a fifteen-year-old teenager.

  3. ChatPal

    Gli adolescenti crescono in fretta.

    Teenagers grow up fast.

  4. You

    Verissimo.

    So true.

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"Teenager" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Teenager" in Italian

Same for boys and girls?

Yes: adolescente; plural adolescenti.

Vs ragazzo?

Ragazzo is broader; adolescente marks the teen years.

Article?

L'adolescente (elides).

Pronunciation?

ah-doh-leh-SHEN-teh.

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