Kid? Teen? Young Adult? What the Heck Do You Call Those People?

Doodlebug · Apr 9, 2010

Okay, here's a really stupid newbie question!

I'm nearly finished writing a YA fantasy novel. My main characters are 17 - 19 years old.

So my question is: when I'm referring to these characters (3rd person pov), what the heck do I call them? IMHO, 'teen' or 'teenager' sounds too young (not to mention too 21st century), but 'young lady' or 'young man' sounds too formal. And I really don't consider them quite adults.

Again, this is a strange question, but I'm hoping you can give me some insight!

Many, many thanks

inkspatters · Apr 9, 2010

I used to read a lot of fantasy books and I think "youth" was a popular one. But also, you could make up a term specific to your world (assuming this is alternate-reality fantasy) if you think no existing options really work

PoppysInARow · Apr 9, 2010

If teenager sounds too modern, then I like young man/young woman. Youth is a good one. I also like switching between boy and man/ girl and woman when the place calls for it. If your mc is acting chilidish, refer to her as a girl, when she's more adult, refer to her as a woman.

Just do what feels comfortable.

Danthia · Apr 10, 2010

I just used boy and girl if my protag viewed them as peers, and man and woman if she viewed them as adults.

shaldna · Apr 10, 2010

I'm with janice on this. I'm a boy and girl/ man and woman person too.

goddessofthehunt · Apr 11, 2010

This was handy. I have a group of characters that are always together, and I can't constantly refer to them as "they" or list all their names all the time. I think I'm over-using "teen" so maybe I'll throw in a few "youths" in there to break up the repetition. The gender-neutrality required for having a co-ed group can be a bit frustrating at times

cryaegm · Apr 11, 2010

19 and younger, I just call them girls/boys. 20 or older, I just call them either female/male, man/woman.

Tuuli · Apr 11, 2010

It depends on the time period. In the older days (like centuries ago), when life spans were shorter, today's teen would be a young man or woman. The weight of the world was already on their shoulders. Having sex and babies at 15 was common place (though they were usually married by then). It just depends on the world you've created. But I agree that teenager is too modern.

suki · Apr 11, 2010

Tuuli said:
It depends on the time period. In the older days (like centuries ago), when life spans were shorter, today's teen would be a young man or woman. The weight of the world was already on their shoulders. Having sex and babies at 15 was common place (though they were usually married by then). It just depends on the world you've created. But I agree that teenager is too modern.

It also depends on POV. In Omnicient or distant third, you have more latitude. But in 1st person or close 3rd person, you should use the words the character would use to describe that person or persons. So, would your character call a 17 year old male a boy? a man? a guy? etc.

And two 17-year-old female characters in the same story might use different terms, depending on their perspectives - ie, a more mature, more sexualized 17-year-old, who views that male as an equal, might call him a man. But a less sexualized female character might call him a boy.

~suki

Doodlebug · Apr 21, 2010

PoppysInARow said:
If teenager sounds too modern, then I like young man/young woman. Youth is a good one. I also like switching between boy and man/ girl and woman when the place calls for it. If your mc is acting chilidish, refer to her as a girl, when she's more adult, refer to her as a woman.

Just do what feels comfortable.

Youth has always struck me as exclusively male for some reason.

In my draft, I also used both boy/man and girl/woman, and so I'm glad that someone else does, too!

Thanks for your input everyone. It was very helpful!

Poetoffire · Apr 22, 2010

For me, if it's in first person it depends on the societal values of the time. Third person depends on how archaic the third-voice is. If there's no modern connections, don't call them teens. Does society think they are kids, youths, young (wo)men, or adults?

Mark_Young · Apr 22, 2010

My story uses inksplatter's suggestion, to a degree.

Yhenn -- an unmarried young female Quann (person with wings) from 14-21 years of age.
Ghett -- a young male Quann from 16-30 years of age, and typically physically fit (term used for married or unmarried males).

But that's just me. I think youth works but also young man and young lady.

Kid? Teen? Young Adult? What the Heck Do You Call Those People?

Doodlebug

inkspatters

The coordinates keep changing...

PoppysInARow

Danthia

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

goddessofthehunt

Queen of inane tangents.

cryaegm

Snakecakes

Tuuli

Research Addict

suki

Opinionated

Doodlebug

Poetoffire

Professional Cynic

Mark_Young

The creative AW noob.