teenage
C1Neutral to formal; widely used in written and spoken contexts.
Definition
Meaning
Relating to or characteristic of the period of life between 13 and 19 years old.
Also used to refer broadly to culture, products, or behaviors associated with this age group; can describe someone who is in their teens.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily used as an attributive adjective (e.g., teenage years). The noun form 'teenager' is more common than 'teenage' as a standalone noun.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slight preference in British English for 'teenage' as adjective vs. 'teen-aged' (now rare in both).
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties, though can carry mild negative stereotypes in certain contexts (e.g., 'teenage rebellion').
Frequency
Very high frequency in both varieties; equally common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[adjective] + nounof + [noun] (e.g., the problems of teenage)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Teenage dream”
- “Teenage wasteland (song reference)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare except in marketing (targeting teenage consumers).
Academic
Common in sociology, psychology, demography (teenage development).
Everyday
Very common in general discussion about age and family.
Technical
Used in medical/developmental contexts (teenage psychology).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- She faced typical teenage anxieties about university applications.
- The film explores the complexities of teenage relationships in London.
American English
- He still has a lot of teenage habits, like sleeping until noon.
- Teenage obesity has become a significant public health concern.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My sister is a teenage girl.
- He has three teenage children.
- Teenage boys often enjoy video games.
- Her teenage years were spent in Manchester.
- The programme offers support for teenage parents.
- Teenage rebellion is a common theme in literature.
- The study analysed the impact of social media on teenage self-esteem.
- Policies aimed at reducing teenage unemployment must address skills gaps.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TEEN + AGE = the 'age' where your years end in '-teen' (thirteen to nineteen).
Conceptual Metaphor
TEENAGE IS A TRANSITIONAL PHASE, A BRIDGE BETWEEN CHILDHOOD AND ADULTHOOD.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'подростковый' for all contexts; for 'teenage pregnancy' use 'подростковая беременность', but for 'teenage fashion' consider 'мода для тинейджеров'.
- Do not confuse with 'teenager' (человек 13-19 лет) – 'teenage' is the adjective.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'teenage' as a countable noun (*He is a teenage → He is a teenager).
- Misspelling as 'teen-age' (hyphenated form is archaic).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is a strong collocation with 'teenage'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Modern standard usage is one word: 'teenage'. The hyphenated form 'teen-age' is archaic.
Rarely. The noun form is almost always 'teenager'. 'Teenage' is primarily an adjective (e.g., teenage behaviour).
'Teen' is informal and can be a noun (a teen) or adjective (teen magazines). 'Teenage' is the standard adjective (teenage years).
No. By definition, it relates to ages 13-19 (the '-teens'). A 12-year-old is a 'pre-teen'.