Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| étudiant | /e.ty.djɑ̃/ | masculine |
| élève | /e.lɛv/ | feminine, masculine |
In French, the word you choose for 'student' depends on the level of education the person is pursuing.
Which one should you use?
Use étudiant specifically for those in higher education, such as university or college students. Use élève for students in primary or secondary school (K-12).
How does it change in a sentence?
The word étudiant has gender and number variations: étudiante is a female student, étudiants refers to a group of male students or a mixed-gender group and étudiantes refers specifically to a group consisting only of female students. The word élève is the same in both masculine and feminine singular forms, but becomes élèves in the plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/e.ty.djɑ̃/
When do people say it?
The phrase un bon élève is a common idiom used to describe a student who is hardworking and performs well in school.
Did you know?
- In French, a 'star student' or 'teacher's pet' is often called le chouchou, a word that literally translates to 'the cabbage'.
- The word élève is fundamentally linked to the concept of being raised or elevated, as it stems from the verb élever, which means 'to raise' or 'to bring up'.
- A student who is struggling or failing is sometimes colloquially called un cancre, a term with a long history in French literature and school culture.
Examples in context
- Tu es un étudiant.You are a student.This sentence shows how to use étudiant to identify someone's status.Tatoeba #1865755 by nimfeo, translation #1163562 by cntrational
- Es-tu élève, ici ?Are you a student here?This sentence demonstrates a question using élève to ask about school enrollment.Tatoeba #3640108 by sacredceltic, translation #3636354 by CK
- John est bon élève.John is a good student.This sentence uses the idiom élève to describe someone's performance in school.Tatoeba #5367119 by Scorpionvenin14, translation #52725 by CN
- Je suis étudiant(e) à l'université.I am a student at the university.
- Les écoliers et écolières sont en vacances.The students are on vacation.
- Les apprenants ont fait des progrès impressionnants.The students have made impressive progress.
- 449 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Nathan and Chloé meet for the first time at a university cafe.
- NathanSalut ! Tu es étudiant ici ?Hi! Are you a student here?
- ChloéOui, je suis en première année.Yes, I am in my first year.
- NathanMoi aussi, je suis étudiant en art.Me too, I am an art student.
- ChloéC'est super, enchantée Nathan !That's great, nice to meet you Nathan!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “student” translations and entries étudiant, élève, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries élève, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
