Noun A2 — Elementary /tʃaɪld/

Child — Definition, Examples & Pronunciation

A young human being — and a word that carries layers of meaning from family to culture.

Quick Definition

A child is a young human being who has not yet reached adulthood; a son or daughter of any age; or, figuratively, a person whose character has been shaped by a particular time, place, or set of circumstances.

What Does Child Mean?

Child comes from Old English cild, which could refer to a foetus, an infant, or a young person of noble birth. The word has been in continuous use in English for over a thousand years and is related to Gothic kilþei (womb). The archaic literary form childe — as in Byron's Childe Harold — preserves the older sense of a youth of noble descent.

In modern English child covers three overlapping senses. The first and most common is literal: a young human being who has not yet reached adulthood. The second is relational: a son or daughter of any age — parents often refer to their adult offspring as "my child" or "my children". The third sense is metaphorical and slightly formal: a person strongly shaped by a particular era, culture, or place, as in "a child of the internet age".

The irregular plural children is one of the most frequently tested points in ESL classrooms. Unlike most English nouns, child does not form its plural with -s but inherits the Old English plural cildru, to which -en was later added by analogy.

Etymology

Old English cild (infant, foetus, young nobleman) → Middle English child → Modern English child. Related forms: Gothic kilþei (womb); Old High German kind (child). The plural children arose in Middle English from the earlier plural childer + the collective suffix -en, producing a double plural that became standard.

Example Sentences

SentenceLevel & Usage note
The child sat quietly and drew pictures for an hour. A2 — basic subject position, literal meaning
She began learning English as a child and became completely fluent. B1 — temporal phrase as a child
Every child in the class received a certificate at the end of the year. B1 — every child as universal determiner
The report highlighted the long-term effects of poverty on child development. B2 — noun compound child development, formal register
His restless curiosity and disregard for convention mark him as a true child of the Enlightenment. C1 — metaphorical use, elevated written style

Collocations

CollocationExample
young childYoung children learn language very quickly.
only childShe was an only child and grew up without siblings.
foster childThe couple had cared for three foster children over the years.
gifted childThe school ran extra classes for gifted children.
child careThe government increased funding for child care services.
child developmentNutrition plays a crucial role in child development.
inner childThe therapist encouraged her to reconnect with her inner child.
child prodigyMozart is history's most famous child prodigy.
with childIn formal or literary English, with child means pregnant.
child labourInternational laws aim to eliminate child labour worldwide.

Usage Notes

Key Points for ESL Learners

  • Irregular plural: the only correct plural is children — never childs or childrens.
  • Noun adjunct stays singular: write child actor, child psychology, child benefit — the modifier does not take -ren even when the meaning is plural.
  • Relational use: in family contexts, adults frequently refer to their grown-up sons and daughters as their children. Saying "my children are in their thirties" is natural and correct.
  • Register: child is neutral and appropriate in all registers. kid is informal; infant and juvenile are formal or technical. In legal and official documents, child typically means anyone under the age of 18.
  • Metaphorical use: the phrase a child of [era/place] is common in literary and journalistic writing to describe someone whose outlook was formed by a particular context.

Common Mistakes

Watch Out For

There are three childs in the family.

There are three children in the family. (irregular plural — never childs)

She works with childrens from difficult backgrounds.

She works with children from difficult backgrounds. (children is already plural; no -s needed)

The school has a strong children education programme.

The school has a strong child education programme. (noun adjuncts stay singular: child, not children)

Word Family

FormExample
child (noun, singular)The child smiled at the camera.
children (noun, plural)All the children enjoyed the trip.
childhood (noun)She had a happy childhood in rural Wales.
childlike (adjective, positive)He approached every problem with childlike curiosity.
childish (adjective, negative)Stop being so childish about it.
childless (adjective)Many childless couples choose to adopt.
childishly (adverb)He reacted rather childishly to the criticism.

Related Words

ability childhood infant teenager youth parent family education All Common Words →

Practise This Word

Flash Cards Complete the Sentence Vocabulary Quiz Hangman

Frequently Asked Questions about “child”

What is the meaning of child?
A child is a young human being who has not yet reached adulthood. The word also means a son or daughter regardless of age — an adult can still be described as someone's child. A third meaning describes a person who is strongly shaped by a particular era or environment, as in 'a child of the sixties'.
What is the plural of child?
The plural of child is children. This is an irregular plural — never use 'childs' or 'childrens'. Children comes from Old English 'cildru', an old plural form, later extended to 'children' by analogy with other plurals.
What is the difference between child, kid, and infant?
Child is the standard, neutral word for a young person. Kid is informal and widely used in everyday British and American English. Infant refers specifically to a very young child, usually under two years old, and is more formal. Baby is used for the youngest stage before infant.
How do you pronounce child?
Child is pronounced /tʃaɪld/ — one syllable. The 'ch' makes the sound in 'church', and the vowel is the long 'i' sound as in 'my'. The plural children is pronounced /ˈtʃɪl.drən/ — two syllables with the stress on the first.
What does 'child of its time' mean?
'A child of its time' (or 'a child of the times') means something or someone that reflects the attitudes, values, or limitations typical of a particular period. For example: 'The film is a child of the 1980s — big hair, synthesiser music, and optimism about technology.' It is a common metaphorical use of child.
What are common collocations with child?
Common collocations with child include: young child, only child, child abuse, child care, child development, foster child, gifted child, inner child, and child prodigy. In formal or legal contexts you will also see 'child benefit', 'child labour', and 'child protection'.
Is child always singular?
No. Child is singular and its irregular plural is children. When used as a modifier before another noun — called a noun adjunct — it stays singular regardless of meaning: 'child benefit', 'child actor', 'child psychology'. You would not say 'children benefit' in this compound noun role.
What is the adjective form of child?
The main adjective form is childlike, meaning having innocent or endearing qualities associated with a child ('childlike wonder'). Childish also derives from child but carries a negative sense of being immature or silly ('Don't be so childish'). Choose carefully, as the two words have very different tones.
What is the origin of the word child?
Child comes from the Old English word 'cild', which could mean a foetus, infant, or young person of noble birth. It is related to Gothic 'kilþei' (womb) and shares a root with the word 'childe', an archaic term for a youth of noble birth (as in 'Childe Harold'). The word has been in continuous use in English for over 1,000 years.
How can I practise the word child in English?
Use LexFizz's Flash Cards to test child alongside related vocabulary such as childhood, children, and childlike. The Complete the Sentence exercise provides contextualised practice so you can see the word in natural collocations. Reading children's literature in English is also an excellent way to encounter the word repeatedly in context.