jeune

Jeune is a French adjective meaning "young" or "youthful." It describes age, vitality, or a rough sense of newness in people, animals, or things, and is widely used in everyday speech as well as in formal writing. Examples include un homme jeune (a young man), une femme jeune (a young woman), or un arbre jeune (a young tree). The word can also describe more abstract senses, such as a jeune œuvre (a young work) or a jeune génération (the younger generation).

In terms of grammar, jeune has the same form for masculine and feminine singular: le/la jeune. Its plural is jeunes, used for both genders: les jeunes (the young people). The noun form un jeune or une jeune refers to a young person, with the plural les jeunes signifying young people collectively or the youth as a demographic.

Etymologically, jeune derives from Old French, ultimately tracing back to Latin iuvenis, meaning "young." It is closely related to the noun jeunesse (youth) and to phrases such as jeune génération (younger generation) and jeunesse in cultural or demographic discussions.

Usage notes and nuance: the term is neutral and common in both spoken and written French. It can describe physical age or convey a sense of vigor, freshness, or potential associated with youth. In certain contexts, it can imply inexperience, though this depends on accompanying words and tone rather than the word itself. Jeune is also found in proper nouns and titles in French-language media and literature, where it may contribute to connotations of vitality or modernity.