How to Say "pupil" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “pupil” is “alumno” — use 'alumno' to refer to a male or mixed-gender student, especially a younger one in a primary or secondary school setting.
alumno
ah-LOOM-nohaˈlumno
Examples
El nuevo alumno es muy inteligente.
The new student is very intelligent.
Ese profesor tiene muchos alumnos en su clase.
That teacher has many students in his class.
Soy un antiguo alumno de esta escuela.
I am a former student of this school.
Changing for Gender
This word ends in 'o' because it refers to a male student. If you are talking about a female student, you change it to 'alumna'.
Talking about Groups
In Spanish, the plural 'alumnos' is used for a group of only boys OR a mixed group of boys and girls.
Student vs. Alumno
Mistake: “Using 'alumno' only for people who study hard.”
Correction: Use 'alumno' to describe the relationship with a teacher. Even if someone doesn't study much, they are still an 'alumno' if they are enrolled in the class.
estudiante
es-too-dee-AHN-tehestuˈðjante
Examples
Mi hermana es una estudiante de medicina.
My sister is a medical student.
¿Cuántos estudiantes hay en esta clase de español?
How many students are there in this Spanish class?
El estudiante más dedicado siempre llega temprano.
The most dedicated student always arrives early.
One Form for Both Genders
Unlike many Spanish nouns, 'estudiante' uses the exact same spelling whether you are talking about a male or a female person. The gender is shown only by the article you use: 'el estudiante' (male) or 'la estudiante' (female).
Adjective Agreement
Even though the noun stays the same, any descriptive word (adjective) must change to match the person's actual gender: 'el estudiante alto' (the tall male student) vs. 'la estudiante alta' (the tall female student).
Trying to Change the Ending
Mistake: “Using forms like 'estudianta' or 'estudianto'.”
Correction: The word is always 'estudiante', regardless of the person's gender. The only thing that changes is the article ('el' or 'la').
escolar
ess-koh-LAHRes.koˈlar
Examples
El escolar llevaba una pesada mochila.
The pupil was carrying a heavy backpack.
Los escolares participaron en la excursión.
The schoolchildren participated in the field trip.
Gender and Number
As a noun, 'escolar' works for both genders, like 'el/la estudiante.' To refer to a group of mixed gender, use the plural masculine form: 'los escolares'.
Confusing with 'estudiante'
Mistake: “Using 'escolar' for a university student.”
Correction: While technically correct, 'escolar' usually implies a younger child (K-12). Use 'estudiante' for high school and university levels.
pupila
poo-PEE-lahpuˈpila
Examples
Las pupilas se dilatan cuando hay poca luz.
The pupils dilate when there is little light.
El médico examinó su pupila con una linterna pequeña.
The doctor examined her pupil with a small flashlight.
Sus pupilas brillaban de emoción al ver el regalo.
Her eyes (pupils) sparkled with excitement upon seeing the gift.
Always Feminine
The word 'pupila' is always feminine, regardless of whether you are talking about a man's eye or a woman's eye.
Plural Form
To talk about both eyes, simply add an 's' to make 'pupilas'. It follows the standard pattern for words ending in a vowel.
Confusing with 'Student'
Mistake: “Using 'pupila' to mean a regular classroom student.”
Correction: Use 'alumna' or 'estudiante' for school settings. 'Pupila' for a person is very formal or refers to a legal ward.
Student vs. Eye Pupil
Related Translations
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