childhood - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
childhood Word Meanings
- the period of a child's life
- youth or early life stages
- the time when one is a child
childhood Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
childhood Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
US
/ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
childhood Word Etymology
child + hood = state or condition of being a child. Origin: Old English → Middle English → Modern English. Imagine a child playing in a colorful playground, symbolizing joy and innocence.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I place my palm on a dusty photo album and push the cover open, feeling the air shift. I move my eyes across the tiny pictures, turn the page and bring the present back to the time when I was a child. The memory settles in my chest, I hold onto it as if it were a favorite toy, and the room grows softer. That small shift shows me how childhood was the start of growing up, a time I keep close as I grow taller.
Real Context
Childhood is the broad span from birth through adolescence, often focusing on early years. In everyday English, childhood evokes memories of family, play, safety, and learning basic skills. The term can be used to discuss development, education, or nostalgia. Learners frequently confuse childhood with infancy or adolescence, or imagine it as a fixed age rather than a life stage with different milestones. In usage, you might talk about 'childhood experiences,' 'childhood friends,' or 'in my childhood I learned to ride a bike.' The concept varies culturally: some languages have a single word that covers early life, while others separate infancy, childhood, and adolescence. The challenge is choosing the right collocations and verb tenses when describing past experiences.
Usage Reminders
- - Use childhood for the early life period, not a single year.
- - Do not use childhood to describe adulthood.
- - Pair with adjectives like happy, difficult, nostalgic.
- - Common collocations include childhood memories, childhood friend, childhood home.
- - Be mindful of tense when describing past childhood events.
Common Misconceptions
- Childhood lasts only until age 5 and ends abruptly.
- Childhood and infancy are the same thing.
- Childhood ends the moment you start school.
- All cultures define childhood exactly the same way.
- Childhood memories are always happy.
Thinking Differences
Explain to an English speaker (meta, keep short)
Learning Tips
- Practice collocations: childhood memories, a happy childhood, in my childhood I learned
- Differentiate infancy, childhood, adolescence when speaking of ages
- Use a simple past for past experiences related to childhood
- Describe people and places from childhood with adjectives like; joyful, challenging, carefree
- When referring to culture, mention how childhood norms differ by country
- Avoid treating childhood as a single fixed age
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'childhood'?
A.A short period during adulthood when one changes careers.
B.The state of being old and retired from work.
C.The period of life when a person is a child, typically from birth until adolescence.
D.The professional act of caring for children.
Step 2: Usage
Which sentence uses the word 'childhood' correctly?
A.He entered childhood last year and immediately took a full-time job.
B.She remembers her childhood friends and the games they played in the neighborhood.
C.The technician recorded the childhood of the machine in the log.
D.They childhood the papers before sending them to the client.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is most similar in meaning to 'childhood'?
A.infancy
B.adulthood
C.youth
D.retirement
Step 4: Opposite Words
Which word is an opposite (antonym) of 'childhood'?
A.infancy
B.adulthood
C.adolescence
D.playtime
Step 5: Mastery
Which of the following real-life examples best illustrates the meaning of the word without using it?
A.Paying taxes and applying for a mortgage after buying a house.
B.Learning to read in primary school and playing with neighborhood friends during the early years.
C.Working full time for several decades and saving for retirement.
D.Voting in national elections and running for public office.
Related Listening
🌱 Lite (Beginner)
🔥 Advanced
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