Inklingo

How to Say "student" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “student” is “alumno” — use 'alumno' when referring to a student in a general educational setting, like primary or secondary school, or when the specific level of study isn't the main focus.

English → Spanish

alumno

ah-LOOM-nohaˈlumno

nounA1general
Use 'alumno' when referring to a student in a general educational setting, like primary or secondary school, or when the specific level of study isn't the main focus.
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 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

nounA1general
Choose 'estudiante' when specifically referring to someone studying at a higher education level, such as college or university, or when emphasizing their role as a learner.
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').

estudiantil

es-too-dyan-TEELestuðjanˈtil

adjectiveB1general
Use 'estudiantil' as an adjective to describe things, places, or situations related to students or student life, rather than a person.
A colorful backpack, a stack of books, and a pencil case sitting on a wooden desk.

Examples

Me encanta el ambiente estudiantil de esta ciudad.

I love the student atmosphere of this city.

La tarjeta estudiantil te da descuentos en el cine.

The student card gives you discounts at the cinema.

Los representantes estudiantiles se reunieron con el director.

The student representatives met with the director.

A Gender-Neutral Adjective

This word is the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. You don't need to change the ending to 'a' or 'o'—just use 'estudiantil' for everything!

Making it Plural

Because the word ends in a consonant (l), you add '-es' to make it plural: 'los grupos estudiantiles'.

Using 'estudiante' as a descriptor

Mistake: “La vida estudiante es difícil.”

Correction: La vida estudiantil es difícil. (Use 'estudiante' for the person, and 'estudiantil' to describe the life or things related to them).

pingüino

nounA1slang
This is informal slang used in Chile for students, especially those wearing uniforms. Avoid using it in formal contexts or outside of Chile.

Examples

El pingüino camina sobre el hielo.

The penguin walks on the ice.

Alumno vs. Estudiante

The most common confusion for learners is between 'alumno' and 'estudiante'. While both mean 'student', 'estudiante' is often preferred for university or college-level learners, while 'alumno' is more general and can apply to younger students. When in doubt for higher education, 'estudiante' is usually a safe bet.

Related Translations

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