The youth are the future, and they are ultimately defined by the things that they say and do as young people. There are many words to describe youth culture based on their behavior, style, belief, interest, and even vocabulary.
These things are what set the youth apart from other generations in society. The words to describe these things can be both positive and negative, depending on the context and circumstances.
Here are 20 words to describe youth and its culture:
5 positive words that describe youth
Youth is the period between childhood and adulthood which molds us into who we become in the future. Here are five words to describe youth in terms of this particular stage in life:
01Bright-eyed
The term ‘bright-eyed’ describes someone who is full of innocence, energy, and enthusiasm. He/she has not yet faced the major disappointments and heartbreak that life often carries. A bright-eyed person has a positive outlook on the world.
It is a good word to use for young kids who spend their days laughing, chatting with friends, and playing with toys. Often, they are shielded by adults in terms of what they are exposed to.
E.g. “The best part about being a kindergarten teacher is seeing the fresh-faced, bright-eyed students every morning.”
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02Eager
The youth are often eager to go out and explore the world; they want to grow up so that they can have access to certain freedoms that adults experience. This is a good trait because it keeps them motivated and optimistic about the future.
If you can remember, you were likely pretty much the same way as a child as described above.
E.g. “Ryan didn’t sleep a wink last night! He was just so eager about the school’s upcoming camping trip.”
03Imaginative
The youth population is known for having big, limitless imagination. It enables them to see the world in a different light; it also keeps them from ever getting bored.
They look towards the future, create scenarios in their heads, and project their creative ideas onto their futures.
E.g. “Sometimes, Casey comes up with the most imaginative and whimsical stories; I do not doubt that she has a future in literature.”
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04Promising
The youth are full of promise. It is something that is obvious from early on, even if they don’t realize it for themselves.
The youth are the future. and the steps that they take now will influence the direction in which the world goes.
E.g. “Judging by his report card and teacher feedback, I can tell that he will have a promising future in whatever career path he decides to pursue.”
05Unspoiled
As a society, it’s our job to protect our youth from the evils that lurk in the shadows. We take extra care to do that for as long as possible, and it’s done so that they remain unspoiled.
It is good to use this word to portray the innocence of youth in whatever form it may take.
E.g. “With everything happening in the world today, I can’t help but envy the unspoiled youth who are all oblivious to it.”
5 negative words that describe youth
As much as the youth are considered innocent, there are some negative aspects of being young and naive. There are factors that may put them in harm’s way or remove them from being in an advantageous place from time to time.
Here are five negative words to describe youth and its culture:
06Arrogant
Sometimes, youth can be very full of themselves and overestimate what they can do at this young point in their lives. This is not confidence, and it can sometimes turn peers and others away from them.
E.g. “He comes from a wealthy family, so he’s a bit arrogant. He thinks that he’s better than everyone else.”
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07Callow
The truth is that youth are inexperienced and immature, and no matter how smart they believe themselves to be, they have not tackled the biggest hurdles of their lives. This means that they are unequipped to handle most circumstances.
The word ‘callow’ is good to use because it describes fledgling youth.
E.g. “Although I appreciate young, fresh opinions, a callow youth of 17 has no place on the board with other senior members.”
08Impulsive
Youths are notorious for making decisions on a whim, often rash, and without thought of how it can affect them at a later date.
It is good to use for youth who speak or act without thinking; this word is appropriate for youth who end up paying the consequences for not reflecting before doing something.
E.g. “He’s a good lad, a bit impulsive at times, but that’s because he’s overly eager for his age.”
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09Prudent
A prudent person acts with care for the future. This is not the same as being impulsive because he/she may very well know the consequences of the actions. A prudent person will consider all consequence before making a choice.
They simply do what suits them at the moment, or they completely disregard others.
E.g. “My wish for Tina is for her to become a bit more prudent; she’s almost 18 years old. I won’t be able to clean up her messes anymore once she’s an adult.”
10Wayward
Wayward youth are often “problem children” who have no care or perception of right and wrong; they often do whatever they want and just for the heck of it.
This is a good word to use for youth who are hard to control and unpredictable. Normally, this word is for youth with whom you have a difficult time getting along.
E.g. “It hurts me because Riley is so full of promise, yet wayward in his outlook on life.”
Youth culture includes all of the things that make it unique in terms of how it relates to society; for example, youth use certain slang words or listen to certain types of music that represent the youth culture. It is what makes the youth who they are.
Here are five positive words to describe youth culture:
11Curious
Youth culture is all about finding out how one generation fits into society. It’s about finding themselves within the circumstances of current pop culture.
The youth are willing to try and experience different things so that they can get to the point of discovering who they are. They are eager and ready to learn. They always want to know more.
E.g. “The kids are going to be curious, of course. How else will they discover what they like and don’t like?”
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12Dauntless
The word dauntless is used to describe a feeling of fearlessness and courage. Today’s youth are very determined to live out their lives on their own way – proudly and loudly.
E.g. “I wish that I had the courage at my age to be myself. I applaud the dauntless youth of this generation.”
13Eventful
Youth culture is always eventful. There’s always something happening, like gossip about who is doing what or who is going where.
There’s always something to do, whether it’s hanging out at home, using Facetime with friends, or hitting the town. Youth always find some way to keep themselves entertained.
E.g. “My daughter and her friends are always up to something in their very eventful lives.”
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14Passionate
Youth culture is very passionate. The beliefs and the passion that make up the culture are felt very deeply; they mean a lot to them.
Perhaps, it’s due to hormones, or it’s simply because they have the drive and eagerness of being young.
E.g. “It brings me great pride to know that my son and his peers are passionate about human rights and equality.”
15Vibrant
Vibrant is a good word to describe youth culture because it means being full of life and energy. Although it sometimes shifts very quickly, the pace is often upbeat and lively for youth. They are always busy creating good memories with friends or their peers.
E.g. “I spent some time chaperoning my daughter’s class trip to Paris. and the vibrant energy coming from the group reminded me so much of my youth.”
Sure, youth culture may be fun and vibrant, but there are also some drawbacks. Here are five negative words to describe youth culture:
16Careless
Careless and reckless can be used interchangeably when describing youth culture. Nowadays, many of the actions of youth seem to have no consideration or cautiousness.
This reduces their ability to avoid harm, danger, or error.
E.g. “Drinking and driving are not only careless. but they are also very stupid. We are losing too many of our youth to this horrible practice.”
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17Combative
It would appear as though, due to the generational gap, the youth is always in combat or defense mode. They are always ready to argue, fight, or debate about things; this is true even when there is no need to do any of those things.
Combative is a good word to use for youth who have little to no respect for their elders, and they refuse to use logic to resolve simple issues.
E.g. “I find it hard to discuss with today’s youth because they are super combative and argumentative; it’s worse because it’s often for no reason at all.”
18Fickle
Youth culture is very fickle. One minute something is cool and trendy, and the next minute, it’s lame and/or offensive.
Their loyalties may change in the blink of an eye, which means so may their feelings.
E.g. “I never take what they say too seriously because of their fickle nature. By next week, they’ll be talking about something else.”
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19Naive
There is an obvious naivety amongst young people which is the fault of age and a lack of experience. Sometimes, they lack the wisdom to make good decisions, and they often demonstrate poor judgment.
E.g. “These kids can be so naive at times. They believe everything that they read on social media!”
20Rebellious
Being rebellious is a stage through which youth must pass and get over successfully. However, it is still a part of youth culture.
There is a blatant disregard for authority; they believe that they know best in an effort to carve out their own identities, which need to be separate from their parents and those around them who have expectations.
It is a natural part of human development. It may take many forms, from piercings and tattoos to talking back and staying out past curfew.
E.g. “Even though I’m not a strict parent, my teenager insists on being rebellious, just like her peers.”
Lastly
Youth culture is something that changes over the years. and what may have been normal to you back then is surely going to differ from what’s happening with today’s youth.
These words to describe youth are based on today’s youth, youth culture, and the experience that they are currently having.
