alumnos
ah-LOOM-nohs
📝 In Action
Los alumnos de esta clase son muy aplicados.
A1The students in this class are very diligent.
Hay veinte alumnos y quince alumnas en el instituto, por lo que decimos '35 alumnos'.
A2There are twenty male students and fifteen female students in the high school, which is why we say '35 students'.
La profesora recibió a los nuevos alumnos en el aula.
A1The teacher welcomed the new students into the classroom.
💡 Grammar Points
Plural for Mixed Groups
Even if the group contains both male and female students, Spanish uses the masculine plural form ('alumnos') to refer to the whole group.
Masculine Noun Rule
Since this word ends in '-os', it is plural. In Spanish, nouns ending in '-o' are usually masculine, requiring masculine articles like 'los' (the) or adjectives that end in '-os' (e.g., 'buenos alumnos').
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Plural Rule
Mistake: "Using 'alumnas' when talking about a mixed group of 50 students."
Correction: Use 'alumnos'. 'Alumnas' is only correct if the group is 100% female.
⭐ Usage Tips
Singular vs. Plural
Remember the singular forms: 'el alumno' (one male student) and 'la alumna' (one female student). 'Alumnos' means two or more students.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: alumnos
Question 1 of 2
If a class has 10 boys and 10 girls, how do you correctly refer to the whole group?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'alumnos' the same as 'estudiantes'?
Yes, they mean the same thing (students). 'Alumnos' is often slightly more formal or used more in reference to school-age children or pupils, while 'estudiantes' is very general and can refer to university students or anyone studying.
Why does 'alumnos' (masculine plural) include female students?
This is a fundamental rule in Spanish grammar: when a plural noun refers to a group containing both males and females (or masculine and feminine objects), the masculine plural form is always used. It's a grammatical rule, not a commentary on gender.