iuventus
In Latin, the word for youth is iuventus.
iuventus represents the abstract idea of youth, referring to the part of life following childhood.
Meaning: part of life following childhood (noun)
Which one should you use?
While iuventus refers to the abstract concept, iuvenis is the term used to refer to a young person directly and adolescentia refers specifically to the stage of adolescence.
How does it change in a sentence?
The genitive form, meaning 'of youth', is iuventutis. If you are using the word as a direct object in the accusative singular, use iuventutem.
Did you know?
- In certain classical contexts, the word iuventus can imply not just a stage of age, but the collective military strength of a nation's young men.
- In Roman society, the transition from iuvenis to vir was marked by the ceremony of the toga virilis, where a youth traded his childhood clothing for a white toga.
- The Latin word iuventus is a distant relative of the Proto-Celtic word *yuwantūts, showing that these two ancient language families shared a common ancestor for the concept of 'youth'.
Examples in context
- Iuventus ventus.Youth is like the wind.This sentence is useful for illustrating the comparison between youth and the wind using iuventus.Tatoeba #11028800 by carlosalberto, translation #11028810 by carlosalberto
- Iuventus est brevis.Youth is short.This sentence is useful for illustrating the common sentiment that youth is short using iuventus.Tatoeba #13518764 by rul, translation #12313927 by Covered
- Iuventus est aetas uberrima.Youth is the most fruitful age.
- Umbra innocens pueritiae submersa est in adolescentia.The innocent shadow of childhood is submerged in adolescence.
- Nonne dilectus noster iuvenculus?Isn't he our beloved young man?
- In pubertate maiora speramus.We hope for greater things in youth.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Marcus and Claudia discuss their memories of being young.
- MarcusAmavi meam iuventutem.I loved my youth.
- ClaudiaEt ego, Marce.I did too, Marcus.
- MarcusIuventus cito fugit.Youth flies quickly.
- ClaudiaIta est, sed memoria manet.It is so, but the memory remains.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iuventus, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
