children in Sindhi سنڌي
children in Tamil தமிழ்
children in Telugu తెలుగు
children in English
- children⇄children, noun.
plural of child.
Ex. The mother took good care of her children.
Noun (plural)
/ˈʧɪldrən/
The word "children" is derived from the Old English word "cild" (meaning "offspring" or "young person") and the plural form of this word, which became "children" in Middle English. The transformation of "cild" into "children" occurred over time due to phonetic shifts in the English language.
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | Niños | nee-nyos |
| French | Enfants | ahn-fahn |
| German | Kinder | kin-der |
| Italian | Bambini | bam-bee-nee |
| Portuguese | Crianças | kree-an-sas |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 孩子 (Hái zi) | hai-zi |
| Japanese | 子供 (Kodomo) | ko-do-mo |
| Korean | 어린이 (Eorini) | eo-ri-ni |
| Russian | Дети (Deti) | dye-tee |
| Arabic | أطفال (Atfal) | at-fal |
| Hindi | बच्चे (Bacche) | bach-che |
| Bengali | শিশুরা (Shishura) | shi-shu-ra |
| Telugu | పిల్లలు (Pillalu) | pil-la-lu |
| Gujarati | બચ્ચે (Bacche) | bach-che |
| Marathi | बालके (Balke) | baal-ke |
| Tamil | குழந்தைகள் (Kuzhandhaigal) | ku-zhan-dhai-gal |
| Malayalam | കുട്ടികൾ (Kuttikal) | kut-ti-kal |
| Punjabi | ਬੱਚੇ (Bachche) | bach-che |
| Kannada | ಮಕ್ಕಳ (Makkala) | mak-ka-la |
The pronunciation of "children" is generally consistent across English-speaking regions, though slight variations in the articulation of the "ch" sound and vowel sounds may occur in different accents, such as American, British, and Australian English.
The term "children" has been used since the Old English period, with references found in ancient texts. The concept of childhood as a separate stage of life became more pronounced during the Middle Ages and early modern periods, as the social and economic role of children evolved. In the past, children were often viewed more as small adults, with less distinction made between childhood and adulthood. The term gradually shifted in meaning to emphasize the vulnerability and developmental stage of young humans.
The concept of "children" varies greatly across cultures, with different expectations for their roles in society. In some cultures, children are seen as important contributors to the family economy, while in others, childhood is regarded as a time for education and personal development. In many Western cultures, there is a strong emphasis on the rights and protection of children, with child welfare being a central issue. Meanwhile, in some non-Western cultures, the emphasis may be on more communal care of children by extended family or local communities.
Children represent the future of societies and cultures, and their upbringing plays a critical role in shaping the future of a nation. In modern societies, children are often seen as requiring education, protection, and guidance. The protection and welfare of children is a key issue in global discussions on human rights. With rapid advances in technology, children are also increasingly exposed to digital environments, which brings new concerns about their safety and development.