adolescenza

adolescence

noun ah-doh-leh-SHEN-tsah Rare

Origin: Latin adolescentia, from adolescere (to grow up)

Usage Note

Adolescenza covers the developmental stage roughly from ages 12 to 18, equivalent to English 'adolescence' or 'teenage years'. It is always feminine and singular in normal use. Contrast pubertà (puberty, the physical onset) and gioventù or giovinezza (youth, a broader span). In adolescenza or durante l'adolescenza are the typical prepositional phrases.

Examples

"L'adolescenza è un periodo di grandi cambiamenti."

Natural Translation

Adolescence is a period of great changes.

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