Definition
The institution or system of military, physical, and civic training for young men in ancient Greece, particularly the formalized two-year program in Athens.
Etymology
From Greek 'ephebeia' (ἐφηβεία), the abstract noun form of 'ephebos.' This institution became particularly structured during Athens' Classical period and represented a key transition ritual from adolescence to adult citizenship and full participation in the state.
Kelly Says
The Athenian ephebeia was ancient Greece's version of mandatory military service and civics class combined—young men learned combat, loyalty to the state, and democratic participation, making it crucial to how democracy actually functioned on the ground.
Translations
AMአማርኛ
青少年的 (qīngshào nián de)
ching-shaw-nee-an-deh
ARالعربية
شباب (shabab)
sha-bab
BNবাংলা
কৈশোর (kôishor)
koi-shoor
CACatalà
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
CSČeština
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
DADansk
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
DEDeutsch
Ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
ELΕλληνικά
εφηβεία (ephebeía)
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
ESEspañol
ephebeía
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
FAفارسی
دوران جوانی (dorān-e javāni)
do-ran-e ja-va-ni
FISuomi
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
FRFrançais
éphébéia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
GUGU
યુવાન (yūvan)
yoo-van
HAHA
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
HEעברית
עֵפֶב (epev)
eh-peh-v
HIहिन्दी
युवककाल (yuvakālam)
yu-vak-a-lam
HUMagyar
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
IDBahasa Indonesia
masa remaja
ma-sa re-ma-ya
IGIG
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
ITItaliano
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
JA日本語
少年期 (しょうねんき)
sho-nen-ki
KKKK
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
KMKM
កម្រិត (kamrit)
kam-rit
KO한국어
청년기 (cheongnyeonggi)
cheong-nyeong-gi
MRMR
युवककाल (yuvakaal)
yu-va-ka-al
MSBahasa Melayu
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
MYမြန်မာ
အင်းကျွန် (inn-kyun)
in-kyun
NLNederlands
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
NONorsk
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
PAPA
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
PLPolski
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
PTPortuguês
efébeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
RORomână
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
RUРусский
эфебея
eh-feh-beh-ya
SVSvenska
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
SWKiswahili
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
TAதமிழ்
வாலிபர் காலம் (vālipar kālam)
va-li-par ka-lam
TEతెలుగు
యువకుల కాలం (yuvakula kālam)
yu-va-ku-la ka-lam
THไทย
วัยเยาว์ (wai yaow)
wai yaow
TLTL
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
TRTürkçe
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
UKУкраїнська
ефебея
eh-feh-beh-ya
URاردو
شباب (shabab)
sha-bab
VITiếng Việt
thời kỳ thanh niên
tho-i-ki thanh-nien
YOYO
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
ZH中文
少年时期 (shào nián shí qī)
shao-ni-an shi-chi
ZUZU
ephebeia
eh-feh-beh-ee-ah
Ethical Language Guidance
Gender History
Ancient Greek institution (c. 335 BCE onward) of mandatory military and civic training for young men aged 18-20. Women were categorically excluded, embedding male-only access to state resources, military training, and political advancement.
Inclusive Usage
When referencing the historical institution, explicitly note it was male-only. When using as an analogy or in modern contexts, replace with gender-inclusive terminology for youth training or development programs.
Inclusive Alternatives
["youth development program","civic training","military academy (specify if co-ed)","coming-of-age education"]
Empowerment Note
Athenian women participated in religious, artistic, and household leadership roles outside ephebeia structures. Modern history should recover these contributions rather than treating male political channels as the sole marker of social significance.