Jüngling

Jüngling is a masculine German noun meaning a young man or youth, typically a male in late adolescence or early adulthood. The term is most common in historical, literary, or religious contexts and often carries connotations of vitality, promise, or moral testing. In contemporary usage, the everyday equivalent is usually “junger Mann,” while Jüngling can sound archaic or literary.

Etymology and grammar: Jüngling is formed from the adjective jung (young) with the suffix -ling, which in German often denotes a person belonging to a group or a younger form of something. The word is attested in older German texts as jundeling or jündling, evolving into the modern Jüngling. The standard plural is Jünglinge; the genitive singular is Jünglings.

Usage and context: Historically, Jüngling appears in sermons, religious writings, and classical literature to describe a male youth, often highlighting virtue, potential, or moral testing. It also appears in biblical translations and patristic texts to render the idea of a youth. In art history and aesthetics, the term is used to describe youthful male figures, for example in descriptions of statues or sculptural types that emphasize youth and form, sometimes referred to as Jünglingsfiguren.

See also: Jugend, Jünglingstatue, Kouros, Jünglingsfigur, Junggeselle.

The term remains a philological and literary marker for youth, distinct from more neutral contemporary expressions like junger Mann.