Is 12 years old considered a teenager?

[RJDiogenes]

A teenager is anyone with an age ending in "teen." And anyone who disagrees can meet me on the lava fields for a throwdown.

 

[Amaris]

To me, a teenager is a teenager at 13, and 10-12 is preteen. but 12/13 meh, not that big a deal to make such a difference really.

 

[Davros]

To be a teenager, the word "teen" has to be part of the number designating that person's age.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

To me, a teenager is a teenager at 13, and 10-12 is preteen. but 12/13 meh, not that big a deal to make such a difference really.

Dammit, J., stop being so accommodating on everything. This is demographic life or death we're talking about here. How will we know if we're targeting 'Wizards of Waverly Place' at the right people, Mr. Allen? HOW?

 

[Amaris]

To be a teenager, the word "teen" has to be part of the number designating that person's age.

Not necessarily. As mentioned above, in some languages, the word "teen" is a part of that age ("twelveteen" for example). Teen years don't start on a definitive line.

To me, a teenager is a teenager at 13, and 10-12 is preteen. but 12/13 meh, not that big a deal to make such a difference really.

Dammit, J., stop being so accommodating on everything. This is demographic life or death we're talking about here. How will we know if we're targeting 'Wizards of Waverly Place' at the right people, Mr. Allen? HOW?

Oh, shit, I didn't know it was that critical! I'm going to get a measuring stick, and a mop. I'll be back!

 

[Davros]

To be a teenager, the word "teen" has to be part of the number designating that person's age.

Not necessarily. As mentioned above, in some languages, the word "teen" is a part of that age ("twelveteen" for example). Teen years don't start on a definitive line.

The word teenager being an English word, would not have it's definition changed because another language uses another word.

 

[Amaris]

To be a teenager, the word "teen" has to be part of the number designating that person's age.

Not necessarily. As mentioned above, in some languages, the word "teen" is a part of that age ("twelveteen" for example). Teen years don't start on a definitive line.

The word teenager being an English word, would not have it's definition changed because another language uses another word.

Do we only count English ages? If we do, do we use miles or kilometres? Do we start tossing in random vowels such as in aether or colours?
Does this make a 12 yaear ould English persuon a teenagaeur or perhaps just a childe or prue-taeen?

 

[Davros]

If you ask the definition of an English language term, what would other languages have to do with it?

 

[Amaris]

If you ask the definition of an English language term, what would other languages have to do with it?

We're not talking about just words, but the definitions behind being a teenager, which is something that would include age, maturity, mental and emotional comprehension, and so simply saying "this word means you're a teenager" is not ounly too cout and driede, but also too absolute, and as we've all leaurned, it's impourtant tou loouk at aebsoulutes.

I believe you are in erruor.

 

[scotpens]

Would it not be better to refer to a 12 year old, etc as a "Preen" (derived from Pre-Teen)?

Well, I suppose a lot of them do spend quite a bit of time preening.

We're not talking about just words, but the definitions behind being a teenager, which is something that would include age, maturity, mental and emotional comprehension . . .

Well, no, that's not the only criterion, of course, just one factor. The deciding factor is age, I'd say. Technically, you're a teenager at 11. And I think it's around that age that one starts to get into music, first crushes and the like, too, which is what I associate with being a teenager.

You’re both confusing “teenage” with “adolescence.” Teenagers, by definition, are persons between ages 13 and 19. You know, the numbers that have “teen” at the end.

 

[Davros]

If you ask the definition of an English language term, what would other languages have to do with it?

We're not talking about just words, but the definitions behind being a teenager, which is something that would include age, maturity, mental and emotional comprehension, and so simply saying "this word means you're a teenager" is not ounly too cout and driede, but also too absolute, and as we've all leaurned, it's impourtant tou loouk at aebsoulutes.

I believe you are in erruor.

My response is based only on the question posed in the title. Based on that, the only sensible response is the one I gave. From my understanding for children between 10 and 12 the current term in use is "tween".

You’re both confusing “teenage” with “adolescence.” Teenagers, by definition, are persons between ages 13 and 19. You know, the numbers that have “teen” at the end.

Exactly

 

[scotpens]

Yeah, in some parts of Britain "Tweenager" is commonly used to describe someone in their early twenties who maintains the personality and level of responsibility of a teenager.

Hmm, I didn’t know that. Should people who maintain the personality and level of responsibility of a teenager into their thirties and forties be called “thirnagers” and “fornagers”?

(Yes, I know there’s already a word for them. They’re called “guys.”)

 

[Brent]

twelve does not end in teen, thirteen does, 13 is the beginning of the teenage years. 13-18 you are considered a teen, at 18, you are a "young adult", at 21 you are an "adult"

its just really that simple

 

[RoJoHen]

So what do you do with the 19- and 20-year olds? 19 still ends in "teen."

 

[Biffette]

19 is still considered a teenager. Age 19 is included in statistics involving teen pregnancies.

 

[Lord Garth]

I loosely think of an adolescent as 10-20. It depends on the person and their circumstances, so there's some give and take on either end. There's no fixed age.

A teenager is 13-19.

 

[trampledamage]

Besides all of this, why bother saying teen if you're going to give the age anyway - CNN could have just said Boy, 12, or Girl, 12.

 

[Amaris]

Besides all of this, why bother saying teen if you're going to give the age anyway - CNN could have just said Boy, 12, or Girl, 12.

Good point. Apparently, though, this is serious business.

 

[RJDiogenes]

Well, it's always weird to me how eager people are sometimes to dilute the meanings of words.