Is the Plural of Youth “Youths”?
The word “youth” refers to the period of life between childhood and adulthood, typically associated with young people. It’s often used in the singular form to describe the collective experiences or qualities of young individuals. However, when it comes to its plural form, there is some debate and confusion surrounding whether “youths” is correct.
The Singular Form:
In its singular form, “youth” generally refers to a young person or to the period of life characterized by adolescence and early adulthood. It can also represent the collective characteristics or qualities of young people as a group.
Example of Singular Usage:
- “The youth of today are incredibly tech-savvy.”
In this context, “youth” is used to describe the concept of young people collectively, and it does not necessarily need to indicate a specific number of individuals.
The Plural Form:
The plural form of “youth” can technically be “youths”, though its usage is less common. “Youths” refers to multiple young people or individuals who belong to the category of youth.
Example of Plural Usage:
- “The youths of the community participated in the event.”
In this case, “youths” refers to a specific group of young individuals, and it is grammatically correct. However, the term “youth” is often used in its singular form when referring to the general concept or collective group of young people, which is why “youth” is frequently seen without the “s” in many contexts.
When “Youth” Is Used Collectively:
It’s important to note that when “youth” is used collectively to refer to young people as a group, it does not take the plural form, even if it’s talking about more than one individual.
Example of Collective Usage:
- “Youth are the future leaders of our world.”
Here, “youth” refers to the entire group of young people as a collective, and it remains singular, despite referring to multiple individuals.
Context Matters:
The use of “youths” is more likely in situations where you are referring to distinct groups of young people, whereas “youth” is used more generally. The choice between “youth” and “youths” often depends on whether the speaker is referring to the abstract concept of youth or to specific individuals.