juventud
Lemma Details
Translation: youth; young people; adolescence; young adulthood
Part of Speech: noun
Etymology: From Latin 'iuventus' (youth), derived from 'iuvenis' meaning 'young'. The English cognate 'juvenile' comes from the same Latin root. The Spanish word preserves the original meaning of both the period of being young and the collective group of young people. The Latin root 'iuv-' is related to concepts of helping and supporting, suggesting the vigor and strength associated with youth.
Commonality: 85%
Guessability: 70%
Register: neutral
Example Usage
La juventud es una etapa maravillosa de la vida.
Youth is a wonderful stage of life.
La juventud de hoy tiene más oportunidades educativas.
Today's youth have more educational opportunities.
Pasé mi juventud en un pueblo pequeño.
I spent my youth in a small town.
El ministerio ha creado programas para la juventud.
The ministry has created programs for young people.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'juvenile' in English to remember the meaning relates to youth
- The 'vent' in 'juventud' can remind you of 'adventure' - something associated with youth
- Sounds like 'you-vent-tood' - imagine young people venting their energy and enthusiasm
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
In Spanish-speaking countries, 'juventud' often carries positive connotations of vitality and potential. It's frequently used in political and social contexts to refer to young people as a demographic group. Organizations like 'Juventudes' (youth wings of political parties) are common throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: 'Juventud' is a noun meaning 'youth' or 'young people', while 'juvenil' is an adjective meaning 'youthful' or 'juvenile'.
Confused word:
Tiene un espíritu juvenil a pesar de su edad.
He has a youthful spirit despite his age.
Notes: While related, these words serve different grammatical functions in sentences.
Mnemonic: 'Juventud' ends in '-tud' like other nouns (actitud, aptitud), while 'juvenil' ends in '-il' like other adjectives (infantil, estudiantil).
Explanation: 'Juventud' refers to youth as a concept or collective group, while 'joven' means 'young person' or 'young' as an adjective.
Confused word:
El joven estudia medicina.
The young man studies medicine.
Notes: 'Joven' can be both a noun and an adjective, while 'juventud' is always a noun.
Mnemonic: Think of 'juventud' as the abstract concept (youth), while 'joven' is the concrete person (a youth/young person).