When you think of the word "student" in French, étudiant (or its feminine form, étudiante) probably comes to mind first. And you'd be right! It's the most common term, especially for university-level learners.

However, French has a variety of words to describe learners of all ages and in different educational settings. Whether you're talking about a primary school pupil, a high schooler, or even an apprentice, there's a specific term for that.

As you continue your journey learning French, you are a student yourself! So, let's explore nine different ways to say "student" and discover the perfect word for every context.

The general 'student' (primary/secondary school) – un/une élève

The most common and general term for a student in French, particularly for anyone in preschool through high school, is un élève (for a male student) or une élève (for a female student). It directly translates to 'pupil'.

A key point for learners is that the noun élève itself does not change based on gender. The gender is indicated only by the article that precedes it: un for masculine and une for feminine. This is a common pattern for French nouns ending in a silent -e.

The plural form is simply les élèves or des élèves. This is used for a group of male students, female students, or a mixed group. Context usually clarifies the composition of the group.

Crucially, élève is used for students in l'école primaire (elementary school), le collège (middle school), and le lycée (high school). It is not used for university students. For students in higher education, you must use the word un étudiant or une étudiante.

Beyond the school context, élève can also be used more broadly to mean 'pupil' or 'disciple' of a master in a particular field, like art, music, or philosophy. For example, you could say someone was l'élève de Platon (the pupil of Plato).

💡 * Il y a trente élèves dans la classe de ma fille.

C'est une excellente élève, toujours la première à finir ses exercices.

Les élèves du lycée organisent une fête pour la fin de l'année.

Le professeur a demandé aux élèves de se taire.

The 'university student' – un étudiant/une étudiante

The 'university student' – un étudiant/une étudiante

In French, the specific terms for a student in higher education (university, college, etc.) are un étudiant for a male student and une étudiante for a female student. This is a crucial distinction from the general word for 'pupil'.

Unlike étudiant(e), the word un/une élève is used for students in primary school (école primaire), middle school (collège), and high school (lycée). You would not call a university student an élève.

This distinction is not just a grammatical formality; it's a fundamental part of how the education system is discussed in French. Using the correct term immediately clarifies the person's level of education. For instance, a job posting might specify it's for étudiants.

The noun étudiant(e) is directly derived from the verb étudier, which means 'to study'. This link helps to remember its specific application to those whose primary occupation is higher-level study.

💡 * Ma sœur est étudiante en médecine à Paris.

Les étudiants bénéficient d'une réduction sur les transports en commun.

C'est un étudiant étranger qui vient d'Italie.

Je suis élève au lycée, mais l'année prochaine, je serai étudiant à l'université.

The 'pupil' (elementary school) – un écolier/une écolière

An écolier (masculine) or écolière (feminine) is the specific French term for a pupil or student at the elementary school level.

This word is exclusively used for children attending l'école primaire or l'école élémentaire, which in France typically covers students from ages 6 to 11.

While un élève is a general term for a student up to high school, écolier is more precise. It helps distinguish from a middle school student (un collégien), a high school student (un lycéen), or a university student (un étudiant).

Here are the different forms:

un écolier: a male pupil
une écolière: a female pupil
des écoliers: multiple male pupils or a mixed group
des écolières: multiple female pupils

Using écolier/écolière correctly shows a deeper understanding of French culture and its education system, adding precision to your vocabulary.

💡 * Ma petite sœur est une écolière en classe de CE1. (My little sister is a pupil in 2nd grade.)

Les écoliers jouent dans la cour de récréation. (The elementary pupils are playing in the schoolyard.)

Chaque écolier doit apporter son propre cahier. (Each pupil must bring their own notebook.)

C'est la rentrée pour des milliers d'écoliers français. (It's the first day of school for thousands of French pupils.)

The 'high school student' – un lycéen/une lycéenne

To say 'high school student' in French, you use un lycéen for a male student and une lycéenne for a female student.

These words are derived from lycée, the French term for high school. The lycée typically covers the last three years of secondary education (equivalent to U.S. grades 10-12), preparing students for the final exam known as the baccalauréat.

Remember to match the gender. Use un lycéen for a boy and une lycéenne for a girl. The plural for a group of boys or a mixed group is des lycéens, while a group of only girls is des lycéennes.

It's important not to confuse a lycéen(ne) with a collégien(ne), which is a middle school student. The collège is the school level just before the lycée in France.

💡 * Mon fils est lycéen en classe de première. (My son is a high school student in 11th grade.)

C'est une excellente lycéenne, toujours première de sa classe. (She's an excellent high school student, always top of her class.)

Les lycéens manifestent contre la réforme. (The high school students are protesting against the reform.)

Ma sœur n'est pas encore lycéenne, elle est au collège. (My sister isn't a high school student yet, she is in middle school.)

The 'middle school student' – un collégien/une collégienne

In French, a middle school student is called un collégien for a male and une collégienne for a female. These terms are specific to this level of education.

These nouns derive from le collège, the French word for middle school (roughly grades 6-9). This is a critical distinction for English speakers, as collège in French does not mean university-level 'college'.

A collégien or collégienne is typically between 11 and 15 years old. They are in the four years of school between elementary school (école primaire) and high school (lycée).

Always pay attention to gender. Use un collégien for a boy and une collégienne for a girl. The masculine plural, des collégiens, is used for a group of all boys or a mixed-gender group of students.

It's important not to confuse a collégien with an elementary school student (un écolier / une écolière) or a high school student (un lycéen / une lycéenne). Each term is specific to its educational stage.

💡 * Ma petite sœur est maintenant collégienne. (My little sister is a middle school student now.)

En tant que collégien, il doit choisir ses options pour le lycée. (As a middle school student, he has to choose his electives for high school.)

Les collégiens ont une sortie scolaire au musée demain. (The middle school students have a field trip to the museum tomorrow.)

C'est une collégienne très studieuse. (She is a very studious middle school student.)

The 'classmate' – un/une camarade de classe

The 'classmate' – un/une camarade de classe

The most common and direct translation for 'classmate' in French is camarade de classe. The word camarade is what's known as an epicene noun, meaning its form doesn't change for gender. You only change the article: un camarade de classe for a male classmate and une camarade de classe for a female classmate.

This term is standard across all levels of education, from primary school (école primaire) to university (université). It neutrally describes the relationship between students sharing a class, without implying friendship.

It is important not to confuse a camarade de classe with an ami(e) (friend). While a classmate can certainly be a friend, the term itself simply means you study together. You can have many classmates but only a few close friends among them.

💡 * J'ai demandé les devoirs à un camarade de classe. (I asked a classmate for the homework.)

Sophie n'est pas seulement une camarade de classe, c'est ma meilleure amie. (Sophie isn't just a classmate, she's my best friend.)

Tous mes camarades de classe sont très sympathiques cette année. (All my classmates are very nice this year.)

C'est une ancienne camarade de classe que j'ai revue par hasard. (She's an old classmate that I ran into by chance.)

The 'apprentice' or 'trainee' – un/une apprenti(e)

The 'apprentice' or 'trainee' – un/une apprenti(e)

The term apprenti(e) refers to someone who is learning a specific trade or profession, often through a formal apprenticeship program that combines on-the-job training with classroom study. It's distinct from a general student (étudiant) or an intern (stagiaire).

This word has both masculine and feminine forms. You use un apprenti for a male apprentice and une apprentie for a female apprentice. Notice the addition of the final 'e' for the feminine version.

💡 * Il a commencé comme apprenti mécanicien dans le garage de son oncle. (He started as an apprentice mechanic in his uncle's garage.)

L'entreprise est fière de former la prochaine génération d'apprentis. (The company is proud to train the next generation of apprentices.)

Elle est une apprentie boulangère très talentueuse. (She is a very talented apprentice baker.)

The 'learner' (in a course or program) – un/une apprenant(e)

The 'learner' (in a course or program) – un/une apprenant(e)

The word apprenant (or apprenante for a female) translates directly to 'learner.' It's a more modern and specific term than étudiant (student) and is commonly used in the context of professional training, language schools, and adult education.

While an étudiant is typically someone enrolled in a university or a formal academic institution, an apprenant is anyone actively engaged in a learning process, often outside of traditional schooling. It emphasizes the action of acquiring a new skill or knowledge, making it the perfect word for someone in a French course or a vocational program.

The term comes from the present participle of the verb apprendre (to learn). Don't forget to match the gender: un apprenant for a male learner and une apprenante for a female learner.

💡 * Les apprenants de ce cours sont très motivés. (The learners in this course are very motivated.)

Chaque apprenante recevra un certificat à la fin de la formation. (Each female learner will receive a certificate at the end of the training.)

Notre plateforme en ligne est conçue pour les apprenants adultes. (Our online platform is designed for adult learners.)

The 'intern' or 'trainee' – un/une stagiaire

In French, the primary term for an 'intern' or 'trainee' is un stagiaire (for a male) or une stagiaire (for a female). The spelling of the noun itself does not change; only the article (un or une) indicates the gender. This makes it a crucial vocabulary word for academic and professional settings.

A stagiaire is a person undertaking a stage, which translates to 'internship,' 'work placement,' or 'training period.' This is typically a temporary position, often required as part of a university degree or a professional training program, aimed at gaining practical, hands-on experience.

To talk about doing an internship, the French use the verb phrase faire un stage. This literally means 'to do an internship.' It's the most common way to express that you are interning or looking for an internship.

It's useful to distinguish stagiaire from un apprenti / une apprentie ('an apprentice'). An apprenticeship (apprentissage) is typically a longer-term contract that combines work with formal, vocational training, leading to a specific qualification. A stage, in contrast, is usually shorter and more focused on gaining temporary experience.

💡 * L'entreprise a embauché un nouveau stagiaire pour l'été.

Marie est la stagiaire responsable de ce projet.

Je dois faire un stage de six mois pour valider mon master.

En tant que stagiaire, tu assisteras à toutes les réunions de l'équipe.

Are there other ways to say 'student' in French?

Our list features the most essential ways to say 'student' in French, from élève to étudiant. But the language offers even more nuance, with specific terms for different levels of study, old-fashioned words, and modern slang you might hear in a university courtyard.

You can expand your vocabulary by doing an online search for “vocabulaire du système éducatif français” (vocabulary of the French education system) to discover terms for different types of students and schools.

When you encounter a new word for 'student', pay close attention to its context. For example, potache (an old, informal term for a high schooler) has a very different feel from the more formal normalien (a student of the prestigious École Normale Supérieure). Always check the usage before trying it yourself.

Pay attention when you watch French films or series set in schools or universities. Listening to how characters talk about their studies and their status as students is an excellent way to learn these terms naturally.

For a deeper dive into words related to studying and education, the Larousse or WordReference dictionary entries for 'élève' and 'étudiant' are fantastic resources. They often provide synonyms, context, and example sentences.

I hope this article has helped clarify how to talk about students in French. Let's finish with an inspiring quote from Victor Hugo on the power of learning: 'Celui qui ouvre une porte d'école, ferme une prison.' (He who opens a school door, closes a prison.)

'9 ways to say "student" in French'