Ich bin Student
The English phrase "I am a student" is translated into German as Ich bin Student.
This phrase is used to identify your current occupation or status as someone who is studying. It is important to note that Student specifically refers to someone studying at a university or a higher education institution. It is not used for children in primary or secondary school.
Which one should you use?
While Student is reserved for university-level students, the word Schüler is used to refer to a pupil or student in primary or secondary school (K-12).
How does it change in a sentence?
German nouns change based on the gender of the speaker. If the speaker is female, the noun must take the feminine ending -in, making the phrase Ich bin Studentin.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often incorrectly include the indefinite article ein when stating their profession or status in German. Instead of saying "Ich bin ein Student", you should say Ich bin Student.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Ich bin Student, aber er nicht.I am a student, but he isn't.This sentence is useful for showing a contrast between yourself and another person using Ich bin Student.Tatoeba #1407039 by Zaghawa, translation #256687 by CK
- Ich bin Student an der Hyogo-Universität.I am a student at Hyogo University.This sentence is useful for stating which specific university you attend using Ich bin Student.Tatoeba #483400 by Espi, translation #261625 by Swift
- Ich bin Student an der Universität London.I am a student at the University of London.Tatoeba #629844 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #255953 by CN
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Julian and Hannah meet for the first time at a party.
- JulianHallo, ich bin Julian. Und wer bist du?Hello, I am Julian. And who are you?
- HannahIch bin Hannah. Was machst du beruflich?I am Hannah. What do you do for a living?
- JulianIch bin Student und studiere Medizin.I am a student and I study medicine.
- HannahDas ist ja toll, Julian!That is great, Julian!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Ich, Student, bin, ich, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
