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Comment by Aachen | Hacker News Reader

TIL English teenager isn't necessarily the translation of Dutch tiener. Wikipedia at least says 10–19 for us and 13–19 for English. In German the word teenager is also used and the page gives both definitions on the same page without realising it's self-contradictory

Idk that anyone takes this so literally (as that you're only a teenager if your cardinal age ends in the literal word teen and so twelve is definitely not a teenager), I've always understood it as "in their tens" but that may be my origin

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Where I am, "teens" is 13-19 because they are all suffixed with "teen". Ten, eleven, and twelve are generally called "pre-teens", if anything.

It technically means that, but teen is often synonymous with young adult which is 13-18. The newly an adult period is a year, not two years. 19 year olds are considered to be too old as a default in many teen spaces. https://www.ala.org/yalsa/guidelines/whitepapers/teenspaces

Not very useful without saying where that would be :P

Well, it's useful for explaining my first comment, at least.

But North America, for the curious.

> But North America, for the curious.

Just say canada. I don't understand why canadians always do this.

I'm in Michigan. Is that Canadian now? Will have to update my passport asap.

Then say michigan or america. You may be "in michigan" but are you "from michigan". Why would you say north america unless you have ties to canada.

>You may be "in michigan" but are you "from michigan".

I have literally 0 reason to answer this, it has absolutely nothing to do with the conversation, but to placate whatever weird obsession you have, yes. I was born in Michigan.

>Why would you say north america unless you have ties to canada.

Why do you care? Is North America offensive now or something?

I said "North America" because, for the purposes of this specific conversation, it doesn't matter at all. Except to you, apparently. For some unknown reason.

I try not to be super US-centric on international forums. First time someone's ever started questioning me about it, though.

> Is North America offensive now or something?

North america encompasses the US, Canada AND MEXICO. Not sure what the age range for "teen" is in canada. If you are not canadian, why are you speaking for canadians. Don't think they even use "teen" in mexico as they speak spanish in mexico.

> I try not to be super US-centric on international forums.

HN is an american forum. You can be US-centric if you want. I give you permission.

This has to be one of the most meaningless, pedantic, strangest string of comments I've had the misfortune of participating in.

I cannot possibly muster up enough energy to care about this anywhere near as much as you do.

Good luck, fellow North American.

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