Ergen

Ergen is a Turkish noun that refers to an adolescent person or someone in the stage of adolescence. The term is derived from ergenlik, the period of adolescence, and is used in everyday language as well as academic, medical, and educational contexts in Turkey. In Turkish usage, ergen denotes a person who is undergoing puberty and social, cognitive, and emotional development; the exact age range varies but roughly corresponds to the international definition of adolescence, commonly placed between about 10 and 19 years old.

Use and nuance: While neutral, the term can appear in both clinical and informal contexts. In education and health discourse, ergen is involved in discussions on topics such as school performance, mental health, risk behaviors, and family communication. The noun ergenlik describes the stage itself, whereas ergen describes the individual.

Development: Adolescence involves physical changes, hormonal shifts, identity exploration, and developing autonomy. In Turkish research and policy, programs aim to support ergen through counseling, sexual education, and youth services, with attention to gender, cultural expectations, and social media influence.

See also: adolescence, puberty, ergenlik.