Cool MateChildish vs Juvenile
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Childish
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Juvenile
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)C1adjective
Most formal: JuvenileMost common: Childish
| Childish | Juvenile | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ//🇺🇸 //ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ// | 🇬🇧 //ˈdʒuː.və.naɪl//🇺🇸 //ˈdʒuː.və.nl// |
| Meaning | Acting like a child, not mature. | Related to young people, especially when they do something wrong. |
| Example | His childish behavior during the meeting annoyed everyone. | The juvenile court handles cases involving minors. |
| Register | Informal | Formal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | childish behavior, childish arguments, childish antics, childish jokes, childish delights | juvenile crime, juvenile justice, juvenile delinquency |
| Antonyms | mature, grown-up, adult | adult, mature |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'childish' with 'childlike'; 'childish' is negative., Using 'childish' to describe good qualities; it's often derogatory., Assuming all children are childish; some exhibit maturity. | Confused with 'young', not recognizing legal implications., Using as a noun when it primarily serves as an adjective., Overgeneralizing to mean any young person, instead of specifically related to wrongdoing. |
| Usage notes | Used in casual contexts to describe immature behavior. Avoid in formal writing or serious discussions. | Commonly used in legal and social contexts to describe young offenders. Less appropriate in casual conversation. |
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Frequently asked questions: Childish vs Juvenile
What's the difference between Childish and Juvenile?
Childish: Acting like a child, not mature. Juvenile: Related to young people, especially when they do something wrong.
Which is more formal: Childish and Juvenile?
Juvenile is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Childish and Juvenile?
Childish is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Childish: His childish behavior during the meeting annoyed everyone. Juvenile: The juvenile court handles cases involving minors.
Can I use Childish and Juvenile interchangeably?
Not always. Childish and Juvenile are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.