🧒 A preteen 👧 For preteens

subteen

4.8

A child younger than thirteen who is about to become a teenager

noun
/ˈsʌbˌtiːn/

Neologism

: preadolescente

As a subteen, she was eager to join the older kids in their games.

Examples

Many subteens enjoy reading adventure books and playing sports after school.
Many subteens enjoy playing video games.
The summer camp offers special activities for subteen children.
The subteen group meets every Saturday.
At the summer camp, there are fun activities designed especially for subteen campers.
As a subteen, he loved to ride his bike with friends in the neighborhood.
Many subteens often gather at the park to play soccer after school.

Synonyms

young person

vssubteen

777 1.0

A child or teenager who is not yet an adult

is narrower, applying only to children under thirteen approaching teenage years

youngster

vssubteen

213 1.0

A child or teenager who is not yet an adult

is narrower, meaning under thirteen and especially those nearly teenage

tween

vssubteen

12 2.9

A child between childhood and the teenage years, usually aged 9 to 12

is any child under thirteen focusing on those nearing the teenage years

preadolescent

vssubteen

1 4.3

A child aged nine to twelve who is not yet a teenager

is the general label for under thirteen children approaching teenager age

preteenager

vssubteen

2.1

A child aged about nine to twelve who is not yet a teenager

is any child under thirteen rather than only the nine to twelve group

Antonyms

teenager

885 1.0

A person between 13 and 19 years old

Surface Forms

subteen singular

subteens plural

Morphology

subteen = teen (transparent) = sub + teen

The noun is derived by productive prefixation of 'sub-' to 'teen', denoting a person younger than a teen, which is directly inferable.

Etymology

Subteen joins the prefix sub- meaning 'under' with teen meaning 'teenager' or someone aged 13 to 19. That gives the simple image 'under teen', so a subteen is a child who is not yet thirteen, often close to becoming a teen.