adulthood
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adulthood
The stage of life after childhood and adolescence, in which a person is considered physically, mentally, and legally adult.
Mit dem Eintritt ins Erwachsenenalter beginnt für viele ein neuer Lebensabschnitt.
With the entry into adulthood, a new stage of life begins for many people.
The word is composed of 'Erwachsenen' and 'Alter'. 'Erwachsenen' here is a form of the nominalized adjective 'der/die Erwachsene' (the adult). So it literally means 'the age of adult people'.
Das Erwachsenenalter bringt neue Verantwortungen mit sich.
Adulthood brings new responsibilities with it.
This word is often used with verbs that describe a transition or a state. Typical combinations are 'das Erwachsenenalter erreichen' (to reach adulthood) or 'ins Erwachsenenalter eintreten' (to enter adulthood).
Mit 18 Jahren erreicht man in Deutschland das Erwachsenenalter.
At 18, you reach adulthood in Germany.
To describe the transition into this stage of life, you use 'ins Erwachsenenalter' (into adulthood). To describe a state or period of time within this phase, you use 'im Erwachsenenalter' (in adulthood).
Der Übergang ins Erwachsenenalter ist nicht immer einfach.
The transition into adulthood is not always easy.
youth
'die Jugend' and 'das Erwachsenenalter' are opposite stages of life. 'die Jugend' is the time between childhood and being an adult. 'das Erwachsenenalter' begins after that, when a person is considered an adult. So the contrast is: not yet adult on one side, adult on the other. You use 'Jugend' when talking about this earlier period of development, and 'Erwachsenenalter' when referring to life as an adult.
Im Erwachsenenalter muss Finn viele Entscheidungen selbst treffen.
In adulthood, Finn has to make many decisions himself.
In der Jugend probieren viele Menschen verschiedene Hobbys aus.
In their youth, many people try out different hobbies.