Youth(s)
Hello,
Can you please tell me if I can use "youth" to talk about young people or if I need its plural form "youths"?
Thank you
Top answer
When used countably, "youth" means an individual young person, normally male ("a youth"; "some youths"). Uncountably, it can mean young people in general ("the youth of the nation") or the state of being young ("youth is wasted on the young"). The uncountable sense is not used to mean a non-general group of young people.
- When used countably, "youth" means an individual young person, normally male ("a youth"; "some youths").
- Uncountably, it can mean young people in general ("the youth of the nation") or the state of being young ("youth is wasted on the young").
- The uncountable sense is not used to mean a non-general group of young people.
- For example, you cannot say "the car was surrounded by youth"; it would need to be "youths" in this case.
- To me, the word "youth" in the countable sense has slightly negative connotations.
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When used countably, "youth" means an individual young person, normally male ("a youth"; "some youths"). Uncountably, it can mean young people in general ("the youth of the nation") or the state of being young ("youth is wasted on the young"). The uncountable sense is not used to mean a non-general group of young people. For example, you cannot say "the car was surrounded by youth"; it would n
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