der / die  Jugendliche

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈjuːɡntlɪçə/

📖 What does 'der/die Jugendliche' mean?

'Jugendliche' is a nominalized adjective (an adjective used as a noun) referring to a person in the phase of youth, typically between the ages of about 14 and 18 (sometimes up to 21). There isn't a strictly defined age limit; it describes the transition from child to adult.

• der Jugendliche: Refers to a male person of this age.
• die Jugendliche: Refers to a female person of this age.
• die Jugendlichen (plural): Refers to a group of young people of either sex or a group of only male or only female adolescents.

🚨 Important: Since it's a nominalized adjective, it is declined like an adjective! The ending changes depending on case, number, gender, and the preceding article (definite, indefinite) or pronoun.

🧠 Grammar of 'Jugendliche' in Detail

'Jugendliche' is declined like an adjective used as a noun. The declension depends on the article (definite: der/die/das, indefinite: ein/eine) or the absence of an article.

Declension of der Jugendliche (masculine)

Declension of die Jugendliche (feminine)

Declension of die Jugendlichen (plural)

The plural form is the same for both genders.

Example Sentences ✍️

• Der Jugendliche wartet auf den Bus. (The male youth is waiting for the bus. - Nominative, masc.)
• Das Fahrrad des Jugendlichen ist neu. (The male youth's bicycle is new. - Genitive, masc.)
• Ich helfe dem Jugendlichen bei den Hausaufgaben. (I help the male youth with homework. - Dative, masc.)
• Siehst du den Jugendlichen dort drüben? (Do you see the male youth over there? - Accusative, masc.)
• Die Jugendliche liest ein Buch. (The female youth is reading a book. - Nominative, fem.)
• Die Tasche der Jugendlichen liegt auf dem Tisch. (The female youth's bag is on the table. - Genitive, fem.)
• Er gibt der Jugendlichen einen Rat. (He gives the female youth some advice. - Dative, fem.)
• Wir treffen die Jugendliche später. (We will meet the female youth later. - Accusative, fem.)
• Die Jugendlichen organisieren eine Party. (The youths are organizing a party. - Nominative, plural)
• Die Meinung der Jugendlichen ist wichtig. (The opinion of the youths is important. - Genitive, plural)
• Der Bürgermeister spricht mit den Jugendlichen. (The mayor speaks with the youths. - Dative, plural)
• Man sollte Jugendliche ernst nehmen. (One should take youths seriously. - Accusative, plural, no article)
• Ein Jugendlicher hat den Wettbewerb gewonnen. (A male youth won the competition. - Nominative, masc., indefinite)
• Eine Jugendliche fragte nach dem Weg. (A female youth asked for directions. - Nominative, fem., indefinite)

🗣️ How to Use 'Jugendliche'?

'Jugendliche' is used in everyday language as well as in more formal contexts (e.g., law, sociology, pedagogy).

• Everyday use: "Die Jugendlichen von heute sind ganz anders." (Today's youths are completely different.) or "Mein Sohn ist jetzt Jugendlicher." (My son is a youth/adolescent now.)
• Formal use: In the Jugendschutzgesetz (Youth Protection Act) or in studies about the behavior of adolescents.
• Difference from 'Teenager': 'Teenager' (from English) is often used synonymously, but strictly speaking, only refers to people aged 13 (thir*teen*) to 19 (nine*teen*). 'Jugendliche' is a broader term and the native German word.
• Difference from 'Jugend': 'Jugend' refers to the life phase itself, while 'Jugendliche' refers to the people in that phase. ("Er ist in der Jugend." - He is in his youth. vs. "Er ist ein Jugendlicher." - He is a youth.)
• Plural: The plural 'die Jugendlichen' is very commonly used to refer to young people as a group.

⚠️ Pay attention to the correct declension depending on the context!

💡 Mnemonics for 'Jugendliche'

For the article: Think of the 'person': Der Mann (the man) is ein Jugendlicher, die Frau (the woman) is eine Jugendliche. The article matches the biological gender.

For the meaning: The word comes from 'Jugend' (youth - the time of being young). So, ein Jugendlicher or eine Jugendliche is a person who is currently in their Jugend.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but different words:

• Jugend (die): Refers to the life phase (youth), not the person.
• jung: The adjective from which 'Jugendliche(r)' is derived. ("Er ist jung." - He is young. vs. "Er ist ein Jugendlicher." - He is a youth.)

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt ein Jugendlicher den anderen: "Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Krokodil?"
Der andere: "Hä? Zwischen was?"
Der erste: "Na, je grüner, desto schwimmt!"

(Translation: One youth asks another: "What's the difference between a crocodile?" The other: "Huh? Between what?" The first: "Well, the greener, the swims!")

(This is a typical, somewhat silly German 'anti-joke', playing on nonsensical comparisons, popular among youths sometimes.)

📜 Poem about Youth

Zwischen Gestern und Morgen

Der Jugendliche träumt, die Jugendliche lacht,
Zwischen Kindheit und dem, was das Leben dann macht.
Mal laut, mal leise, auf eigenen Wegen,
Voller Fragen, Hoffnungen und Segen.

Die Welt entdecken, Grenzen finden,
Sich selbst verstehen, sich überwinden.
Die Jugendlichen suchen ihren Platz,
Ein bunter, wilder Lebensschatz.

Between Yesterday and Tomorrow

The male youth dreams, the female youth laughs,
Between childhood and what life then crafts.
Sometimes loud, sometimes quiet, on their own ways,
Full of questions, hopes, and blessed days.

Discovering the world, finding limits near,
Understanding oneself, overcoming fear.
The youths are searching for their place,
A colorful, wild treasure of life's race.

🧩 Riddle

Ich bin kein Kind mehr, doch erwachsen noch nicht,
Mal zeig ich ein ernstes, mal ein lachendes Gesicht.
Ob männlich (der) oder weiblich (die) – wir sind viele,
Auf dem Weg ins Leben, verfolgen wir Ziele.

Wer bin ich (in männlicher und weiblicher Form)?
(Who am I - in male and female form?)

I'm no longer a child, but not yet grown,
Sometimes I show a serious face, sometimes a laughing one is shown.
Whether male (der) or female (die) – we are many,
On the path of life, pursuing goals aplenty.

Solution: der Jugendliche / die Jugendliche (the male youth / the female youth)

➕ More Information

• Word Origin: Derived from the adjective 'jugendlich' (youthful), which in turn comes from the noun 'Jugend' (youth) (Middle High German 'jugent', Old High German 'jugund'). It describes the state of being young.
• Legal Definition: In German law (e.g., Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz - Young Persons' Employment Act, Jugendgerichtsgesetz - Juvenile Court Act), there are specific age limits. Often, a person between 14 and under 18 is considered a 'Jugendlicher'. Persons aged 18 to under 21 are sometimes considered 'Heranwachsende' (adolescents/young adults), to whom juvenile criminal law may still apply.
• Nominalized Adjectives: 'Jugendliche(r)' is a great example of a common phenomenon in German: adjectives used as nouns and capitalized (e.g., der/die Angestellte - employee, der/die Bekannte - acquaintance, der/die Deutsche - German person). However, they are still declined like adjectives!