jeunes

Jeunes is a French word that functions as both an adjective and a plural noun. As an adjective, jeune denotes someone or something that is not old; as a noun, les jeunes designate young people as a social group, typically those in adolescence and early adulthood. In standard usage, the term encompasses youth in both everyday speech and formal discourse about age, generation, and policy. The related noun jeunesse refers to youth as a concept or a period of life.

Etymology: Jeune comes from Old French jeune, derived from Latin iuvenis meaning young. The sense of a group of young people emerged in French over time with the plural les jeunes.

Usage: The word appears across many domains. In education and culture, it describes audiences and demographics. In politics and civil society, the label les jeunes is often used for youth wings of political parties or youth organizations, sometimes followed by the party name, and serves to engage young citizens in policy discussions. The term also appears in media and public programs addressing employment, training, and social inclusion for youth.

See also: jeunesse; youth movements; youth wing; francophone terminology.