der
Teenager
🧑🎤 What exactly is a Teenager?
Der Teenager refers to a young person between the ages of 13 (dreizehn) and 19 (neunzehn). It's the transitional phase from childhood to adulthood, often characterized by physical and emotional changes, the search for identity, and growing independence.
Although the word "der Teenager" is grammatically masculine, it's often used generically for boys and girls. For specifically female individuals, the form "die Teenagerin" exists.
🚨 Attention: In the plural, the word is "die Teenager" for all genders.
The word is an Anglizismus, meaning it's borrowed directly from English.
Article rules for der, die, and das
Male characters → always masculine.
Caution: Most professions also have their feminine forms (e.g. die Polizistin). Some words can also have two forms: der/die Deutsche, der/die Kranke.
-er → mostly masculine.
1. Caution: many exceptions. 2. almost all -euer nouns are neutral. 3. There are many -er words, we don't list them all.
🧐 Grammar Check: Declension of Teenager
The noun "Teenager" is masculine (männlich) and is declined as follows. There is also a feminine form "Teenagerin".
Declension "der Teenager" (masculine/generic)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Teenager |
| Genitive | des | Teenagers |
| Dative | dem | Teenager |
| Accusative | den | Teenager |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Teenager |
| Genitive | der | Teenager |
| Dative | den | Teenagern |
| Accusative | die | Teenager |
Declension "die Teenagerin" (feminine)
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Teenagerin |
| Genitive | der | Teenagerin |
| Dative | der | Teenagerin |
| Accusative | die | Teenagerin |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Teenagerinnen |
| Genitive | der | Teenagerinnen |
| Dative | den | Teenagerinnen |
| Accusative | die | Teenagerinnen |
💬 Example Sentences
- Der Teenager verbringt viel Zeit mit seinen Freunden. (The teenager spends a lot of time with his friends.)
- Die Sorgen eines Teenagers können sehr vielfältig sein. (The worries of a teenager can be very diverse.)
- Die Eltern gaben dem Teenager mehr Taschengeld. (The parents gave the teenager more pocket money.)
- Ich habe den Teenager gestern im Park gesehen. (I saw the teenager in the park yesterday.)
- Die Teenager organisieren eine Party. (The teenagers are organizing a party.)
- Sie ist eine typische Teenagerin mit vielen Interessen. (She is a typical female teenager with many interests.)
- Das Zimmer der Teenagerin ist oft unordentlich. (The female teenager's room is often messy.)
- Wir helfen den Teenagerinnen bei den Hausaufgaben. (We help the female teenagers with their homework.)
🚀 When and How to Use "Teenager"?
"Teenager" is used to refer to young people in the age group of 13 to 19. It's a common word in everyday conversations, media, and educational contexts.
- Everyday language: "Mein Sohn ist jetzt ein Teenager." (My son is a teenager now.)
- Media: "Die Serie richtet sich an Teenager." (The series is aimed at teenagers.)
- Psychology/Sociology: "Die Entwicklungsaufgaben eines Teenagers sind komplex." (The developmental tasks of a teenager are complex.)
Comparison with "Jugendliche(r)":
"Jugendliche(r)" is a more formal and broader term, often covering the age range from about 14 to the age of majority (18) or sometimes even beyond. "Teenager" specifically refers to the "-teen" years (thirteen to nineteen). However, in daily use, the terms are often used interchangeably.
"Der Teenager" can sometimes sound slightly derogatory when used to describe typical, perhaps challenging, behavior of this age group (e.g., "Typisch Teenager!" - Typical teenager!). "Jugendliche(r)" is generally more neutral.
🧠 Mnemonics for "Teenager"
Mnemonic for the article (der):
Think of its English origin: Often, der stereotypical 'cool guy' or leader in teen movies is male – so use der Teenager. Even when referring to girls generically, the masculine article often sticks (generisches Maskulinum). Alternatively: Der trouble starts when you become der Teenager. 😉
Mnemonic for the meaning:
The word contains the English numbers ending in "-teen" (thirteen to nineteen). Your age during these "teen" years makes you a Teen-Ager.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Jugendliche(r): The most common and often more neutral term for an adolescent or young person.
- Heranwachsende(r): More formal, emphasizing the process of growing into an adult.
- Halbwüchsige(r): Somewhat dated, describes someone no longer a child but not yet fully adult.
- (Colloquial) Teenie: Shortened, often affectionate or slightly diminutive form.
⚠️ Caution: Although "Jugendliche(r)" is often used synonymously, "Teenager" can more specifically refer to the 13-19 age group and sometimes carries a slightly different connotation due to being an English loanword.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum nehmen Teenager immer drei Paar Socken mit zum Zelten? Ein Paar zum Anziehen, ein Paar als Reserve und ein Paar als Kopfkissen! 😉
(Why do teenagers always take three pairs of socks camping? One pair to wear, one pair as a spare, and one pair as a pillow! 😉)
🎤 Teenager Rap
Zwischen dreizehn und neunzehn, das ist die Zeit,
Schule, Freunde, manchmal Streit.
Handy klingelt, Musik laut,
Zukunftspläne werden gebaut.
Mal himmelhoch jauchzend, mal zu Tode betrübt,
der Teenager, der das Leben liebt und schiebt.
Identitätssuche, jeden Tag neu,
Vom Kind zum Erwachsenen, bleib dir treu!
(Between thirteen and nineteen, that is the time,
School, friends, sometimes a climb (strife).
Phone rings, music loud,
Future plans being vowed (built).
Sometimes over the moon, sometimes downcast,
The teenager, who loves life and pushes past.
Search for identity, new every day,
From child to adult, stay true to your way!)
🕵️♀️ Who Am I? A Riddle
Ich bin nicht mehr Kind, doch erwachsen noch nicht weit.
Meine Jahre enden oft auf "-zehn", das ist meine Zeit.
Mein Zimmer ist mein Reich, Musik mein Begleiter.
Launen wechseln schnell, mal ernst, mal heiter.
Wer bin ich? (Lösung: Der Teenager)
(I'm no longer a child, but not yet fully grown.
My years often end in "-teen", that time is my own.
My room is my kingdom, music my guide.
Moods change quickly, from serious to wide (eyed/happy).
Who am I?
Answer: The Teenager)
💡 More Tidbits
Word Origin (Etymology):
The word "Teenager" is a direct import from English. It's composed of "teen" (referring to the numbers from thirteen to nineteen) and "age", with the suffix "-er" denoting a person. It became established in German around the mid-20th century.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Teenager?
The word "Teenager" is masculine: der Teenager (genitive: des Teenagers). It is often used generically for all genders. The specific feminine form is die Teenagerin. The plural for everyone is die Teenager.