age of majority
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age of majority
The legal status that a person attains upon reaching a legally defined age (18 in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland), at which point they become fully legally capable and criminally responsible.
Mit Erreichen der Volljährigkeit durfte sie endlich ihren Führerschein machen und alleine Auto fahren.
Upon reaching the age of majority, she was finally allowed to get her driver's license and drive a car on her own.
The word is made up of three parts: 'voll' (complete), '-jährig' (related to years of life), and the ending '-keit', which forms a noun. So it literally means the state of having reached the full years.
Die Volljährigkeit bringt viele neue Rechte und Pflichten mit sich.
The age of majority brings many new rights and responsibilities with it.
The most common and important combination is 'die Volljährigkeit erreichen' (to reach the age of majority). The prepositions 'mit' (at/with) and 'ab' (from/as of) are also often used to describe the point in time or the consequences.
In Deutschland erreicht man mit 18 Jahren die Volljährigkeit.
In Germany, you reach the age of majority at 18.
Although 'Volljährigkeit' (age of majority) is a legal term, it is also often used in everyday language when talking about becoming an adult. It marks an important stage of life.
Meine Tochter freut sich schon sehr auf ihre Volljährigkeit nächstes Jahr.
My daughter is already really looking forward to reaching the age of majority next year.
adulthood
'das Erwachsenenalter' and 'die Volljährigkeit' are both connected to someone becoming an adult. However, 'das Erwachsenenalter' means an entire stage of life after childhood and adolescence. It can include physical, mental, and social maturity. 'die Volljährigkeit' is more specifically legal: you reach it at a certain age, for example at 18, and receive certain rights and duties. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with being an adult. In practice: for life as an adult, you say 'Erwachsenenalter'; for the legal status, you say 'Volljährigkeit'.
Mit der Volljährigkeit darf er den Vertrag selbst unterschreiben.
Upon reaching the age of majority, he is allowed to sign the contract himself.
Im Erwachsenenalter ändern sich oft die Wünsche und Pläne für die Zukunft.
In adulthood, wishes and plans for the future often change.