apprenant
The French word apprenant means learner.
apprenant is used to describe a learner. It is a technical term most commonly found in educational theory, instructional design and professional training contexts rather than in casual conversation.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a present participle used as a noun, derived from the verb apprendre (to learn).
Which one should you use?
While élève or étudiant refers to a student in a formal school or university setting, apprenant is a more technical term used in pedagogy to describe anyone undergoing a learning process.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine form of the noun is apprenante. The masculine plural form is apprenants.
Did you know?
- The term apprenant is often used to avoid the hierarchy implied by élève, which literally means 'one who is raised'.
- The verb apprendre is an etymological cousin of the English word 'apprentice', though apprenant is used for a much broader range of people.
- If you call someone an apprenant in a casual setting, they may find it strangely robotic or overly clinical, as it sounds like jargon from a human resources manual.
Examples in context
- Chaque apprenant doit faire ses devoirs.Every learner must do their homework.
- Cet apprenant progresse très rapidement.This learner is progressing very quickly.
- Le manuel est adapté à l'apprenant.The manual is adapted for the learner.
Example conversation
Two teachers are discussing a new student's progress.
- ChloéComment se porte le nouvel apprenant ?How is the new learner doing?
- LucasIl progresse très vite, Chloé.He is progressing very quickly, Chloé.
- ChloéC'est une bonne nouvelle pour nous.That is good news for us.
- LucasOui, c'est un apprenant très motivé.Yes, he is a very motivated learner.
