waithood

Questions

What does waithood mean?

A period of limbo faced by young college graduates in developing countries, in which activities belonging to the traditional transition into adulthood, such as marriage and buying a home, are put off to allow the securing of employment or money.

Where does waithood come from?

Coined by Diane Singerman in 2007 as a blend of wait + adulthood, modelled after the earlier term wait unemployment; see the citations page.

How to pronounce waithood

1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “waithood”.
2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “waithood”.
4. Repeat and practice — Say “waithood” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.