Preteen

/priˈtin/ noun

Definition

a child between the ages of approximately 9 and 12, before becoming a teenager

Etymology

compound word formed from prefix 'pre-' meaning 'before' and 'teen', first used in American English around 1950s

Kelly Says

The preteen years are sometimes called 'tweens' - that awkward phase where kids are too old for toys but too young for dating!

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