Teenager

Two teens

A teenager, or teen, is someone who is 13 to 19 years old. They can also be described with the term "adolescence". The laws on what teenagers may do varies between countries.

The brain still developing into a person's early or mid-20s. A person becomes a teenager when they become 13 years old. It ends when they become 20 years old. Teenagers who are between 13 and 17 years old are considered both children and teenagers in most countries. Teenagers who are 18 and 19 years old may be regarded as both teenagers and adults.

The way the word is used varies. Some societies have rites of passage to mark the change from childhood to adulthood. These ceremonies may be quite elaborate. During puberty, rapid mental and physical development occurs. Adolescence is the name for this transition period from childhood to adulthood.

"Teenager" is mainly an English word, as many foreign languages do not include a suffix "teen" in their translations of the numbers 13 to 19. In non-English speaking countries, people between these ages may be called adolescents, youths, young adults, or just children, depending on the culture.

The law of each country may set dates when teenagers can do things. So, in the United States, alcoholic drinks are not served to teenagers, and young people on licenced premises (such as bars) need to carry identity cards (ID cards) to verify their age.

The life of a teenager seems to change daily. Constantly exposed to new ideas, social situations and people, teenagers work to develop their personalities and interests during this time of great change. Before their teenage years, these adolescents focused on school, play, and gaining approval from their parents.