childhood
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childhood
The stage of a person's life in which they are a child, typically from birth until the beginning of puberty.
Ich hatte eine sehr glückliche Kindheit auf dem Land.
I had a very happy childhood in the countryside.
The word 'Kindheit' (childhood) consists of 'das Kind' (the child) and the suffix '-heit'. In German, the suffix '-heit' is often used to form abstract feminine nouns from nouns or adjectives.
Freiheit, Gesundheit und Krankheit sind weitere Beispiele mit dieser Endung.
Freiheit (freedom), Gesundheit (health), and Krankheit (illness) are further examples with this suffix.
To talk about this stage of life, you usually use the prepositions 'in' or 'seit'. 'In der Kindheit' (in childhood) describes events during this time, while 'seit der Kindheit' (since childhood) creates a connection to the present.
In meiner Kindheit habe ich viel Zeit bei meinen Großeltern verbracht.
In my childhood, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents.
Common verbs used with 'Kindheit' (childhood) are 'haben' (to have), 'verbringen' (to spend), and 'sich erinnern' (to remember). Childhood is often described more specifically with an adjective.
Er hatte eine unbeschwerte Kindheit.
He had a carefree childhood.
youth
'die Jugend' and 'die Kindheit' are both early stages of life. 'die Kindheit' means the time when someone is a child, usually before puberty. 'die Jugend' comes after that and lies between childhood and adulthood. The words can be confused because both have to do with young people. When talking about small children and early memories, 'Kindheit' fits. When it is about teenagers, first independent decisions, or the time before adulthood, 'Jugend' fits better.
Meine Kindheit verbrachte ich in einem kleinen Dorf am See.
I spent my childhood in a small village by the lake.
In ihrer Jugend war Maria oft mit Freunden auf Konzerten.
In her youth, Maria often went to concerts with friends.