minimum age
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minimum age
The age set by law or by rules that a person must have reached in order to be allowed to do a specific thing, for example vote, drive a car, or sign a contract.
In Deutschland liegt das Mindestalter für den Führerschein bei 18 Jahren, kann aber durch begleitetes Fahren auf 17 gesenkt werden.
In Germany, the minimum age for a driver's license is 18, but it can be lowered to 17 through accompanied driving.
The word is made up of 'Mindest-' and 'Alter' (age). 'Mindest-' is a form that means 'minimum'. So the word literally means 'minimum age'.
Das Mindestalter für den Kauf von Spirituosen ist 18 Jahre.
The minimum age for buying spirits is 18.
To express what the minimum age applies to, you use the preposition 'für' (for) followed by the accusative.
Gibt es ein Mindestalter für die Nutzung dieses sozialen Netzwerks?
Is there a minimum age for using this social network?
Common verbs used with 'Mindestalter' (minimum age) are 'liegen bei' (to be at), 'betragen' (to amount to/be), 'erreichen' (to reach), 'festlegen' (to set), 'anheben' (to raise), or 'herabsetzen' (to lower).
Die Regierung plant, das Mindestalter für Wahlen herabzusetzen.
The government plans to lower the minimum age for elections.
age limit
'Altersgrenze' and 'Mindestalter' both describe an age that is important in a rule. 'Mindestalter' always means the lower limit: you have to be at least that old in order to be allowed to do something. 'Altersgrenze' is more general. It can be a lower limit, but also an upper limit, for example for certain jobs or for retirement. That is why learners may confuse the words when talking about rules based on age. If someone is only allowed to do something from a certain age onward, 'Mindestalter' is more precise. If the meaning is just generally a limit based on age, 'Altersgrenze' fits better.
Wer Auto fahren möchte, muss das vorgeschriebene Mindestalter erreicht haben.
Anyone who wants to drive a car must have reached the required minimum age.
Für diesen Kurs gibt es keine feste Altersgrenze.
There is no fixed age limit for this course.