Inklingo

How to Say "pupil" in Spanish

English → Spanish

alumno

/ah-LOOM-noh//aˈlumno/

nounA1general
Use 'alumno' for a general student, especially a younger one in primary or secondary school, without specifying the exact level.
A young child sitting at a wooden desk with a backpack and a stack of books, looking happy.

Examples

El nuevo alumno es muy inteligente.

The new pupil 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-teh//estuˈðjante/

nounA1general
Choose 'estudiante' for any learner, but it's particularly common for those in higher education or when emphasizing the act of studying.
A simple colorful storybook illustration of a child wearing a backpack and holding a closed book, representing a student.

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-LAHR/es.koˈlar/

nounB1general
Use 'escolar' specifically for a primary or elementary school pupil, focusing on their status as a schoolchild.
A young elementary-aged student, smiling, wearing a backpack and holding a single closed book.

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.

Choosing between 'alumno' and 'estudiante'

Learners often wonder whether to use 'alumno' or 'estudiante'. While both can refer to a pupil, 'alumno' is more common for younger children in school, whereas 'estudiante' is broader and frequently used for older students or university levels. 'Escolar' is the most specific, reserved for younger, primary-level pupils.

Related Translations

Learn Spanish with Inklingo

Interactive stories, personalized learning, and more.