0
Mentee Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary

Can the words 'youth' and 'youngster' be used interchangeably?

Can the words 'youth' and 'youngster' be used interchangeably to refer to a young individual? Can a teenager be called a youngster?
  

Top answer

I'd only call pre-teenagers youngsters. Teenage boys I would refer to as youths . When I say 'refer to' I mean talk about them to somebody else — not address them as such.

— Rover_KE

  • I'd only call pre-teenagers youngsters.
  • Teenage boys I would refer to as youths .
  • When I say 'refer to' I mean talk about them to somebody else — not address them as such.
  • Rover
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
I'd only call pre-teenagers youngsters.

Teenage boys I would refer to as youths.

When I say 'refer to' I mean talk about them to somebody else — not address them as such.

Rover
0
0
I would just add to Rover.
I see the word youngsters being often used by seniors in my college to refer to the younger ones.
Youth, I feel is more common among adults, generally used to refer to a group of young people.
MenteeCan a teenager be called a youngster?
You can call a toddler or a teen as a youngster. No problem.

Warm re
0
0
Rover_KE and Prajwalkr, thanks.
I was wondering if there are any hard and fast rules.
I guess, either word can be used depending on the context and it is also a matter of personal choice.
0
0

I disagree, you don't say youngster party, you do say youth party.

0

Related Questions