young

Everyday

1. Young means having lived only a short time; not old. tree →
2. Young can mean at an early stage, just begun: «The night is young». tree →
3. As a noun, an animal's young are its babies. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and everyday life «young» tells the reader about age: «a young girl», «when I was young». In science, animals «feed their young», «care for their young». In maths problems with ages, «younger» means a smaller age: «Tom is 3 years younger than Sam» means subtract 3 from Sam's age. Phrases: «young people», «young at heart», «the youngest child».

Examples

• My little brother is too young to go to school. tree →
• She is the youngest in our class. tree →
• A kangaroo carries its young in a pouch. tree →
• Grandpa says he feels young when he plays football. tree →
• Young children must hold an adult's hand near roads. tree →
• Mia is two years younger than her cousin. tree →
• Birds bring worms to feed their young. tree →
• The young tree has thin branches. tree →
• Did you see the young lady?" tree →

Note

Comparison: young, younger, youngest. Opposite: old. «The young» as a noun means young people in general or baby animals and takes a plural verb. «Younger than» in maths: if Ann is 10 and Ben is 4 years younger, Ben is 10 − 4 = 6. Do not confuse «young» with «yung» (not a word) or «youth» (the time of being young, or a young person).

In Jewish tradition

In these texts it often means a young animal or person, such as a "young bullock" for an offering or a "young man". The youngest is the last-born child.

Interpretation. Offerings had to be animals of a set age, and "of the first year" means a year-old lamb. The tradition notices that in Genesis it is often the younger or youngest child who becomes the important one.

Examples

• one young bullock, one ram, one he-lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering; (Torah NUM.7.15, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his youngest son had done unto him. (Torah GEN.9.24, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter. (Torah GEN.34.19, JPS 1917) tree →
• Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, (Writings JOB.38.39, JPS 1917) tree →
• Wherewithal shall a young man keep his way pure? (Writings PSA.119.9, JPS 1917) tree →
• Both young men and maidens, old men and children; (Writings PSA.148.12, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Comparison: young, younger, youngest. Opposite: old. «The young» as a noun means young people in general or baby animals and takes a plural verb. «Younger than» in maths: if Ann is 10 and Ben is 4 years younger, Ben is 10 − 4 = 6. Do not confuse «young» with «yung» (not a word) or «youth» (the time of being young, or a young person).