Being a pupil is almost synonymous with being called a student. However, a few differences tell how they can be used in English.
The article below discusses that in-depth.
Pupil vs. Student: Who is a Pupil?
The term “pupil” refers to a young learner enrolled in an educational institution.
It is also used to describe a person under the close supervision of a teacher or a private tutor because he has special needs or is a minor.
For their learning and development, they need special attention and lessons in all subjects. A pupil is usually a child aged 1 to 18.
The word “pupil” has its roots in the Old French word “pupille,” which was derived from the Latin word “pupillus.” “Pupil,” when translated, means “minor, or ward.”
The term “pupil” was initially used in the 14th century and then in the 1560s to refer to a student.
Presently, the term “pupil” is commonly used by Asians and the British to refer to children in the nursery, primary school, and secondary school.
This is entirely different for Americans, especially the residents of the United States.
They refer to their children as “students” regardless of their ages, provided they attend an educational institution.
Pupil vs. Student: Who is a Student?
The term “student” refers to an older learner, a registered person and attends classes in a higher educational institution.
The term “student” is primarily used to refer to someone who is already knowledgeable but is going through further studies to pursue his education in a specific discipline or course to gain mastery of the discipline or course.
A student is already a mature person and does not need any supervision from a teacher.
They can study and learn independently with limited or no guidance at all, unlike a pupil who needs to be guided along the way.
One who is a student is often above the age of 18 years and enrolled in a college or university.
The word “student” comes from the Middle English word “student” or “studiant,” which are from the Old French word “student,” meaning “one who studies.” It, in turn, came from the Latin word “studium,” which means “study.”
The level of supervision needed by a student is generally lower than the supervision that a pupil needs.
This is generally true because a student is advanced in age. So, he is capable of managing himself without constant adult interventions.
Most times, the word “pupil” is used as a subset of the word “student” as a subgroup of learners under a group of students.
Read more: Waitlisted vs. Deferred – What’s the difference?
Pupil vs. Student: Comparison
The differences that exist between the terms “pupil” and “student” are discussed under the following subheadings:
- Connotation
- Origin of the word
- Supervision needed
- Preference
- Age
- Figurative use
1. Connotation:
The word “pupil” describes younger learners that are registered and enrolled in primary educational institutions at an early stage in life. But the word “student” describes an adult learner who has enrolled in a college or university.
2. Origin of the word:
The term “pupil” originates from the Latin word “pupillus,” which when translated means “minor or ward,” while the term “student” comes from their Latin word “stadium,” which means study.
3. Supervision Needed:
Pupils are generally closely guided and supervised by their teachers or private tutors. At the same time, students are rarely given constant and direct supervision and guidance.
4. Preference:
British speakers and Asians commonly use the word “pupil” to denote young learners. In comparison, American speakers prefer to use the word “student” to denote learners of all ages.
5. Age:
It is common knowledge that pupils are those learners below 18 years old while students are those learners who are above the age of 18.
6. Figurative Use:
The word “pupil” cannot be used figuratively. In contrast, the word “student” can be used symbolically to connote adult learners of art and music.
Read more: Occassion or Occasion – Which is correct?
Pupil vs. Student:
Summary:
In summary, this article, Pupil vs Student explains “pupil” and “student” as words that are generally classified as similar in English usage.
But, upon closer examination, they are slightly different and used at different times.
Even though they have their differences, they describe learners enrolled in an educational institution or school. This remains their similarity.
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‘Pupil’ is also used to refer to children who are studying under the guidance of private tutors. The term ‘pupil’ connotes the young child’s need to be closely supervised.
The term ‘student’ denotes that the adult learner requires a marginal degree of supervision.
Key Takeaways
- A pupil is a learner who is enrolled in primary or secondary school and is under the age of 18.
- A student is a learner enrolled in any level of education, including primary, secondary, or higher education.
- Pupils are typically taught by a single teacher and follow a set curriculum, while students have more flexibility in their course selection and may be taught by multiple teachers.
The difference between pupil and student is that while the word ‘student’ is often used as a term of reference for older learners, the word ‘pupil’ is generally used as an appropriate term of reference for younger learners. Children enrolled in primary schools are addressed as pupils.
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Older learners, like those enrolled in colleges and university courses, are called students instead of pupils. The usage of the word ‘pupil’ is deemed inappropriate in such circumstances.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Pupil | Student |
|---|---|---|
| Connotation | This term is used for younger learners enrolled in primary educational institutions at a very early stage in life. | This term is used to connote adult learners usually enrolled in colleges and universities. |
| Origin of the Word | The word ‘pupil’ has its roots from the Latin word ‘pupillus’ meaning ‘ward or minor’ | The word ‘student’ has its roots from the Latin word ‘stadium’ that means study. |
| Supervision Needed | Direct supervision of the teacher is needed by pupils. | Direct and constant supervision is not needed by students. |
| Figurative Use | The word cannot be used figuratively. | It can be used symbolically to connote adult learners of art and music. |
| Preference | The term is preferred by British speakers to denote young learners. | The term is preferred by American speakers to denote learners of all ages. |
What is a Pupil?
A pupil is a term used to commonly refer to young learners. Children usually under the age of 18 are referred to as pupils. The word originates from the Latin term ‘pupillus’ meaning ‘ward’ or ‘minor’.
Pupils require constant supervision under their teachers. They are usually minors which makes them suitable for such close observation and regulation.
Moreover, the term also often includes learners studying under the guidance of private supervisors and tutors.
The term pupil is a preferred term of reference used by the British populace. They implement this distinction between new and old learners quite staunchly.
However, the American population does not strictly adhere to this distinction and often uses the term synonymously with the word student.
What is a Student?
A student is an individual pursuing an education in a specific field of study. Originating from the Latin word ‘stadium’ meaning study, the word ‘student’ is often used to refer to those above the age of 18 years who are enrolled in colleges and universities.
The level of supervision needed by students is generally lower than pupils as they are older and considered capable of managing themselves without constant adult interventions. The word student is often used in an allegorical sense to connote an individual pursuing a course of study in the field of art and music.
Often the word pupil is used as a subset of the word student as it denotes a subgroup of learners under the umbrella term of students.
Main Differences Between Pupil and Student
- The main difference between pupil and student is in terms of the connotation of each term. ‘Pupil’ is considered a better and more suited term for addressing younger learners like young children who are just beginning their educational trajectories. Whereas, ‘student’ is considered to be an appropriate term of reference for older learners including learners enrolled for higher education.
- The meaning of each of these words can also be slightly different. While ‘student’ stands for learners, ‘pupil’ may mean learners under the direct supervision of teachers. Students usually do not require the direct supervision of professors. Moreover, ‘pupil’ can also mean learners under the guidance of private tutors.
- The preference for each term is also quite different among different geographical subgroups of the English speaking populace. The British English speakers prefer the term ‘pupil’ over ‘student’ to refer to young learners and those under the guidance of a private tutor. While American speakers may prefer the term student to refer to both young and adult learners of a discipline.
- Each of these two terms has originated from different words. The word pupil has emerged from the Latin word ‘pupillus’ meaning ‘ward’ or ‘minor’. Whereas, the word student has been derived from the Latin term ‘stadium’ meaning ‘study’.
- Another difference between the two terms is that while ‘student’ can be used figuratively to mean an individual who has dedicated his or her time to the study of a special field like art or music, pupil, however, cannot be used in a figurative sense.
References
- https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/00028312029001141
Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
Grind / Nerd / Bookworm / Swot
Which one of the following words describes a student who studies a lot in American English?
I think the first two choices sound natural.
Maulik V
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asked Apr 12, 2014 at 16:06
2
Grind could work but sounds rather old-fashioned.
Nerd has acquired many subtle connotations beyond studiousness. Currently I think of it as describing someone with a strong or perhaps excessive interest in understanding or analyzing something, but it doesn’t have to be school: one can be a computer nerd, or a Harry Potter nerd, or a Stack Exchange nerd. (Indeed, some of these things might actually be harmful to a person’s studying.) It also can imply a corresponding lack of social skills. When used in reference to one’s self, it can be a term of pride or mild self-deprecation; when used about other people it’s often pejorative.
Bookworm certainly refers to someone who spends a lot of time reading books, but that’s not the same as studying; they might read books unrelated to school.
Swot is specific to British English and is not used in AmE.
answered Apr 13, 2014 at 3:56
Other than swot, all are used in both AmE and BrE. Swot is in BrE as stated on WordWeb.
swot (n — Usage Brit) — An insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious.
If you see there, on the same page, grind, nerd, and wonk are used in North America. However, please note that not all terms mean a studious person. Ah, I just said it! If you want to be neutral and stay clear for the term and only concerned with a lot of studies, studious looks preferred choice to me though it’s plain and simple.
answered Apr 12, 2014 at 16:28
Maulik VMaulik V
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Nerd and bookworm are certainly more common words for me, but I speak proper, er, I mean, British English.
answered Apr 12, 2014 at 16:23
MMJZMMJZ
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«Bookworm» is a quaint and extremely mild, old-fashioned epithet for someone who is always reading. «Nerd» is a little meaner, and also a little more childish (for example, it wouldn’t be insulting, when talking to another parent, to remark that their child is more of a bookworm than yours, but it would be insulting to remark that their child is more of a nerd). I have never heard the other two, but I haven’t been in school for a while.
answered Apr 12, 2014 at 16:24
hunterhunter
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The terms you indicated have acquired other meanings. For example:
- nerd — Someone who earns about $80k starting salary after college. Some can make this after high-school.
These are the most natural and useful terms to describe one who studies a lot.
-
studious — spending a lot of time studying or reading. He is quiet and studious.
-
scholarly — involving or relating to serious academic study. He is the scholarly type; I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a PhD.
The following are the common slang terms used in American English. Note that all slang terms may be interpreted as derogatory:
-
pointy-head — A very common term in AmE for someone who studies a lot. This can be male or female. It can also refer to a family of aliens that actually have pointy heads and live next door. Hey pointy-head where are you going? The library? Ha ha!
-
bluestocking — This can refer to intellectual women in particular. Hey bluestocking where are you going? The library? Ha ha!
answered Apr 12, 2014 at 17:22
CoolHandLouisCoolHandLouis
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#1
I wonder if anyone could clearly explain the difference between the words pupil and student in English. Thanks for your time.
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#2
I wonder if anyone could clearly explain the difference between the words pupil and student in English. Thanks for your time.
Hello,
If you type pupil student into the Dictionary Look-up box at the top of the page, set to English, you get, for example, this previous link.
Hope that helps!
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#3
Thanks for your link. I’ve read that the word pupil is a bit obsolete and now all teachers address the people they are teaching as students, not pupils. Anyone who can tell me about that?
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#4
Thanks for your link. I’ve read that the word pupil is a bit obsolete and now all teachers address the people they are teaching as students, not pupils. Anyone who can tell me about that?
Blackrosie, what exactly is your question? Can you give us a sample sentence that you read or that you want to write so we can comment?
Nun-Translator
moderator
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#5
My question is: Is it correct to call, let’s say for example a 12-year-old boy, a student or should I call him a pupil? Is there any difference in use?
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#6
OK, but you said you just read the answer in another thread. Is that the information you were looking for, or is there something else?
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#7
A French lecturer working in Britain said she was surprised that all teachers said ‘students’, not ‘pupils’ and, like her, I was taught the word student could only be used for people studying at university whereas the word pupil was used for primary and secondary school. Is that true?
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#8
A French lecturer working in Britain said she was surprised that all teachers said ‘students’, not ‘pupils’ and, like her, I was taught the word student could only be used for people studying at university whereas the word pupil was used for primary and secondary school. Is that true?
Some English teachers in continental Europe continue to use words that have become rare or archaic in much of the English-speaking world. I believe this is one such case; even a first grader is commonly called a student in many (most?) English-speaking countries.
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#9
Thanks for your helpful comment.
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#10
My question is: Is it correct to call, let’s say for example a 12-year-old boy, a student or should I call him a pupil? Is there any difference in use?
If the 12 year old boy attends school he could be called either a pupil or a student. I hear both terms used in the western U.S. An instructor is more apt to use the word
pupil
to refer to those being instructed and a parent would be more apt to use the word
student
to refer to their child.
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#11
In the UK in the vernacular it would always be «pupil» when refering to a primary or secondary school attendee,
as in «My Tommy’s a pupil at Westwood High».
The term «student » to refer to anyone not at university would
not have been used until it started to infiltrate BE in the 80s ,mainly used by professionals in the education system to include
those in secondary school.
Last edited: Dec 30, 2008
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#12
There’s enough evidence out there on the internet (what’s that?) to indicate that
- pupil is still used for kids at school and that
- student is used for further education.
What is the border line when it is further?
Of course, student potentially sounds better, but in my days students were those idiots that spent too much time drinking etc and not actually learning much. Thus «students» was often used pejoratively.
GF..
Actually looking at the definitions of thers word in more than one dictionary is interesting. There is some evidence that pupil may be more used in the UK (& the old dominions?) than in the US
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#13
In the UK in the vernacular it would always be «pupil» when refering to a primary or secondary school attendee,
as in «My Tommy’s a pupil at Westwood High».
The term «student » to refer to anyone not at university would
not have been used until it started to infiltrate BE in the 80s ,mainly used by professionals in the education system to include
those in secondary school.
That makes sense to me as well.
I had a look around some school websites.
Primary schools still sometimes refer to pupils — but mostly they talk about children.
Secondary schools (11-18) seem to refer to pupils or students.
So in my part of the world it would be entirely natural to talk about pupils of these schools. Many of the schools do.
But that is not to say that the pupils or their parents do the same. I think the need for the term does not often arise in normal conversation amongst parents or children. So «My Tommy goes to Westwood High.» «I go to Eastland Prep.»
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#14
When I was at school in the 70’s we were pupils up until ‘O’ levels (GCSE’s now) when aged about 15.
If we stayed on or went to college to do ‘A’ levels or foundation courses (before going to polytechnic/university) we became students at that point.
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#15
I was a pupil until I went to university, when I became a student (after which I learned quite a lot actually, and rarely drank too much).
My only contact with the UK (school) education system now is through two friends who are both primary school teachers — they still refer to pupils.
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#16
A French lecturer working in Britain said she was surprised that all teachers said ‘students’, not ‘pupils’ and, like her, I was taught the word student could only be used for people studying at university whereas the word pupil was used for primary and secondary school. Is that true?
When I taught secondary school 25 years ago, I always referred to my students, and this was also the universal practice of my fellow teachers. I never called them «pupils», nor did I ever hear any other teacher use the word, although I certainly am not ignorant of the existence of the term.
I think there is an AE/BE difference here.
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#17
When I was 32 and in college, one of my, Czech, teachers would address us as pupils. Considering the fact that most of the students were my age or older and most of them had families, ti did sound a bit funny. I do realize that there is no red borderline dividing these two terms there should be some kind of common sense-a pupil meaning young, uneducated while a student should be used for people of certain age who have studied and learned and ate no «dummies» anymore.
The question is: does it have to do something with respect inn the teacher-student relationship? That’s the way most of us felt about it and that’s why we didn’t like it very much
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#18
In Canada (actually, in Ontario — I’m not sure about other provinces), the word pupil is uncommon and it would certainly sound strange to me. All the teachers and parents I know only ever talk about «students». Unlike the example from British English above, you’d probably never hear a sentence like «My Tommy is a pupil at _________.»
If pupil is used at all, I suspect it might be used to refer to elementary school students. But really, the only time I hear or use this word is when talking to my optometrist
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#19
My trusted adviser on things like this is my wife, who retired after 30 years of teaching at the elementary, middle-school and junior-high level. (Oregon, Montana and Indiana)
Her comment is that the young humans thirsting for knowledge therein were always called «students» regardless of grade level.
As an additional comment, note that these schools had «student councils.» I never heard of a «pupil council.»
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#20
As an additional comment, note that these schools had «student councils.» I never heard of a «pupil council.»
This is very true. No one really says «pupil council» because it just sounds wrong, although technically it is still okay, and i have heard it before.
There truley is no significant difference between ‘pupil’ and ‘student’. I think it more has to do with the situation you use them in.
For example, I am a dance ‘student’. No one would ever say I am a Dance ‘pupil’. But that does no mean that ‘Dance pupil’ is incorrect. It just isn’t common, ‘dance student’ just sounds better.
LGT
Senior Member
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#21
Just resurrecting an old thread to see if anyone has anything further/more concrete to add on this.
I think of pupil as a little more old-fashioned than student and would prefer the former for younger children, i.e. «my 8-year old twins are pupils at the local primary school».
I’m struggling, however, with how to translate élèves attending collège or lycée — students does I think sound more appropriate but are there any hard and fast rules about when to use one as opposed to the other? My Collins English dictionary says that a student is » a person following a course of study in a school, college or university», whilst a pupil is «a student who is taught by a teacher». This seems to emphasise the method of study, as it were.
Neither the Times style guide nor that of the Guardian has anything to say on the subject; it may simply be that it’s a matter of personal preference. any input much appreciated!
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#22
I draw an alliterative line and refer to ‘primary (school) pupils’ and ‘secondary (school) students’.
LGT
Senior Member
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#23
That’s a good idea, Pickarooney! Just to confuse matters further, thought, what would you do for middle school attendees?!
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#24
That’s a good idea, Pickarooney! Just to confuse matters further, thought, what would you do for middle school attendees?!
I’ve never been in a situation which involved middle schoolers (I don’t know what a middle school is exactly). Most likely ‘student’ though.
LGT
Senior Member
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#25
Thanks Pickarooney
In some counties in the UK (mainly Midlands, I think) middle schools are still the norm although I think they’re generally being phased out. They cater to children from the ages of 9 — 13 (i.e. year 5 through to year 8). You then go on to high school at age 13, starting in year 9.
Certainly, when I was at middle school (around 15 years ago) we were referred to as pupils.
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#26
Whenever I tell people about my élèves (who are in lycée), I always use the word student. That being said, the word pupil is not one that I would ever use.
I agree with this post:
When I taught secondary school 25 years ago, I always referred to my students, and this was also the universal practice of my fellow teachers. I never called them «pupils», nor did I ever hear any other teacher use the word, although I certainly am not ignorant of the existence of the term.
I think there is an AE/BE difference here.
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#27
Well, I went to school (in the BE use of that word: ages up to 17-18) in the 60’s in the UK and the distinction was pretty clear — pupils were at school and students were at university or college.
Then I went to university and was a student.
It seems as though in AmE the word pupil has not been used for so long that it’s considered quaint or antique (or at least old-fashioned). In the UK it seems that, after I left in the mid-70’s, the word student started being used for humans of younger age and that BrE usage is now converging on that of AmE, possibly inresponse to the evolution of the education system and the general desirability of euphemisms and status
Current status: «Pupil would only ever be used in a BrE situation and may sound quaint even to the younger humans in that setting»?
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#28
I just wish I could use this forum to justify my reason to use «student» more than «pupil» in the material I am working with right now.
>It is difficult to deal with those who do not understand that language evolves.<
Moderator may delete this comment since it is off-topic, but yes, just want to voice it out.
Last edited: Sep 12, 2013
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#29
Pupil vs. student: when and where we should use each term? (Primary school? secondary? university?)
<Second question removed. Nat>
Last edited by a moderator: Aug 30, 2016
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#30
Moderator note: Geri’s thread has been merged with an earlier thread.
Please scroll up for earlier comments. It should be clear that there is variation between AmE and BrE. Pupil appears obsolescent in AmE but is still used in BrE, particularly for children at primary school. Children, schoolchildren (schoolboy, schoolgirl) are other alternatives.
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#31
This updated discussion has been moved from another thread, where it was off-topic.
Cagey, moderator
Yes, both on the morning commute and the evening commute.
You’re right. My comment wasn’t quite right.
I think you’re right, in AmE, and that’s why the WR Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English I quoted earlier (and below) doesn’t limit the word’s meaning to traveling regularly between one’s home and «place of work». If, just like in BE, it was only about one’s place of work, then the example sentence «He commutes to work by train» would be a little odd, because «commutes» and «to work» are redundant.
You misunderstood my comment, dojibear. I was only talking about the «commute + to school» part, not the whole sentence. Also, as I realized in post #24, «commute + to school» is not odd at all IF you think the speaker is someone who works at a school, which at least BE speakers in this thread did. In other words, if the three example sentences in the original post were all preceded by «I’m a student, and», BE speakers would definitely have pointed out that pupils/students in the UK don’t say «commute + to school» despite the topic of the thread being about whether «commute» can mean both directions.
(In BE student refers only to young people at university or equivalent — 18 year-old and older, typically. Pupil is someone who is younger than that going to school, not university or college)
Last edited by a moderator: Jul 22, 2017
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#32
(In BE student refers only to young people at university or equivalent — 18 year-old and older, typically. Pupil is someone who is younger than that going to school, not university or college)
I see. So, you say «primary/secondary school pupils» instead of «primary/secondary school students». That’s really good to know.
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#33
(In BE student refers only to young people at university or equivalent — 18 year-old and older, typically. Pupil is someone who is younger than that going to school, not university or college)
Not any more, Julian.
They call them students these days according to a UK primary school teacher who takes part in the Italian-English forum (she corrected me when I said the same thing you have just said).
The times they are a’ changin’.
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#34
Not any more, Julian.
They call them students these days according to a UK primary school teacher who takes part in the Italian-English forum (she corrected me when I said the same thing you have just said).
The times they are a’ changin’.
I almost put a disclaimer related to «era» (or even (a)eon) in my post . Still, it will apply to a lot of historical English (if that now refers to >30 years ago
) Is the change driven by influence of AE or PC I wonder.
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#35
I almost put a disclaimer related to «era» (or even (a)eon) in my post
. Still, it will apply to a lot of historical English (if that now refers to >30 years ago
) Is the change driven by influence of AE or PC I wonder.
I’ve been out of the country for 36 years myself.
I have no idea why this has come about and I’m also pretty sure ‘pupils’ is still used , regardless of what the teachers say. I still have trouble talking about an 11-year-old student. Anyway, this is for another thread….
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#36
Awww….I just learned about «pupil» yesterday, and now I have to un-learn it?
Someday I will learn to speak British English…after I get fluent in Japanese, which may be easier…
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#37
I’ve heard both pupil and student my whole life in the U.S. I would definitely say student is more common at all levels but I’ve heard pupil on many occasions. Perhaps it has to do with the context and the age of the speaker. (But I’ve never heard pupil as a reference to college/university students.)
I have a sense (but could be wrong) that pupils might be used more in plural contexts.
Some of my favorite words to describe a student include:
- Motivated
- Studious
- Analytical
- Proactive
- Focused
If the student is performing poorly, some adjectives could be:
- Unfocused
- Distracted
- Underachieving
- Missing the mark
Below is a long list of adjectives to describe students and samples of how to use those words in a sentence.
1. Words to Describe a Student’s Ability
Excellent Work
A Natural Learner – “Sam is a natural student. She’s got an in-built desire to learn and grow, and always comes into the classroom ready to absorb more knowledge.”
Critical Thinker – “Sam is an impressive critical thinker.”
Excellent – “Sam is an excellent student. She turns up on time, is always prepared, and keen to contribute her ideas to class discussions.”
Exceptional – “Sam has been exceptional student which is reflected in her top grades that she earned throughout the year. She will go on to her next year of school with a great reputation for diligence and persistence.”
Exemplary – “Sam should be proud that she is an exemplary member of the class. He participation is second to none and other students look to her for guidance on what to do in the classroom.”
Fantastic – “Sam is a fantastic student and I’m so sad to see her leave. She’s come to class every day with a big smile on her face and a willingness to get involved in all the classroom tasks. Best of luck next year Sam!”
Impressive – “Sam is a very impressive student who has given a great effort even when she wasn’t the most naturally talented student at a particular task. Her hard work always carried her through.”
Independent Thinker – “Sam is an independent thinker. She’ll never take anything on face value, but instead uses her logic and critical thinking to come to a conclusion on her own.”
Read Also: 13+ Examples Of The Word “Academic” In A Sentence
Knowledgeable – “Sam is an incredibly knowledgeable student. Perhaps one day I will see her on the set of Jeopardy and be proud to know I was a part of hear learning story.”
Outstanding – “Sam has been an outstanding student all year long due to her ability to focus, support others, and perform under pressure.”
Overachiever – “Sam has been an overachiever all year and I wouldn’t want it any other way! If I set her a task, she goes about not only completing it, but doing the extra research to make sure she impresses me with her knowledge!”
Smashing Success – “Sam is a smashing success! She’s put an incredible amount of work into her own self-growth and development, and it has really paid off. Well done, Sam!”
Read More: 223 Copy-and-Paste Report Card Comments
Meeting the Benchmark
Adequate – “Sam’s performance has been adequate throughout the year. However, I would like to see her step up her focus and study more diligently next year to increase her grades overall.”
Average – “Sam’s work is matching the average of her age group. By acting upon the feedback she is given in class, she can continue to improve on her academic skills to grow her grades.”
Capable – “Sam is a capable learner who I can trust to put her head down and make an effort in every task. I encourage her to continue working hard to see steady improvement over time.”
Competent – “Sam is a competent learner who can address all the required tasks at her year level. She’s also competent at social aspects of learning including groupwork and presentations.
Keeping Up – “Sam is keeping up with all her classmates and easily passing all assessment tasks she has been assigned. With more focus in class, I am confident Sam can improve her grades even more in the future.”
Meets Standard – “Sam meets standards across all subjects and exams. I am pleased with her progress and believe she will continue to improve and grow in the coming years.”
On Track – “Sam is well and truly on track to end the year with some good results. She needs to continue to maintain her study schedule to ensure she performs well in upcoming exams.”
Satisfactory – “Sam has been a satisfactory student. She regularly passes the exams with ease and is progressing nicely.”
Sufficient – “Sam’s work is sufficient to pass on to the next course. She has satisfactorily met all the required outcomes. To improve further, I would recommend re-reading the exam questions twice so she doesn’t miss key points in the questions.”
Read More: Metaphors for Students
Needing Improvement
Disappointing – “Sam’s work has been disappointing of late. She needs a reset after some time off in order to re-engage with more motivation and enthusiasm.”
Makes Easy Errors – “While I know Sam has good skills and knowledge, she continues to make easy errors. She needs to slow down and re-read the question to make sure she addresses the question properly.”
Messy – “Sam’s work is often very messy which makes communication of ideas difficult. With some focus on improved handwriting, Sam can write faster, cleaner, and more effectively to improve her communication skills.”
Missing the Mark – “Unfortunately Sam has been missing the mark with her tasks. We need to redouble our efforts to learn how to read a question carefully so Sam knows what is expected of her in class.”
Struggling – “Sam has been struggling in her learning this year and this is reflected in her grades. With some effort and focus, we can turn this around before the end of the year.”
Substandard – “Sam’s work has been substandard and less than I know she is capable of. Too much focus on social life is negatively impacting her performance in class.”
Talented – “Sam is naturally talented at academic tasks and picks up new skills very easily.”
Underachieving – “Sam is underachieving this year which is cause for concern. Disruptions in her studying and lack of focus in class are key factors in this lack of success so far this year.”
Unfocussed – “Sam is unfocussed in class which is reflected in her grades so far. As the year goes on, I hope to work with Sam to keep up focus and develop strategies to reduce procrastination.”
Unsatisfactory – “The work submitted has been unsatisfactory this year. I believe Sam can do better than she has been doing so far. Continued submission of insufficient work may lead to a requirement to repeat some exams.”
Read More: Words to Describe a Teacher
2. Words to Describe a Student’s Attitude and Behavior
Positive Attitude
Active Learner – “Sam is an active learner who loves to get hands-on and throw herself into a task with enthusiasm.”
Ambitious – “Sam is an ambitious student who will push herself to meet her personal best at all times.” (see also: examples of ambition).
Attentive – “Sam is attentive in class, showing her interest in self-improvement and getting the most out of each class.”
Collaborative – “Sam’s collaborative mindset makes her a good team member. She will listen to her peers and take their ideas in mind when coming up with a group plan.”
Compassionate – “Sam is a compassionate classmate who often looks out for her peers and makes sure everyone is okay.”
Consistent – “Sam’s work is consistently at a high standard. I can rely on her to always put her best foot forward.”
Curious – “Sam is curious learner who is always asking questions and wants to know more and more about whatever topic we are covering in class.”
Diligent – “Sam is a diligent learner who will put her head down and work hard to achieve her personal goals.”
Easy-going – “Sam is an easy-going classmate who is always happy to learn. However, she should remember to put 100% into each task.”
Focused – “Sam is an incredibly focused student who doesn’t easily get distracted by the goings on around her. She loves her books and is keen to continue to fill her mind with knowledge.”
Funny – “Sam is a funny student who brightens up the students around her and always sees the lighter side in life. This makes her inclusive and good at welcoming other learners into her groups.”
Goal-Oriented – “Sam is a goal-oriented learner. She will set herself a series of small goals at the beginning of the week and work toward them diligently. Well done, Sam!”
Helpful – “Sam is always helpful around class. She will support her fellow students when they need peer support, and will always volunteer to help adults and teachers in an activity.”
Independent Worker – “Sam is an independent worker who is happy to get on with her work alone. She is good at conducting self-guided research as well. While her study skills are excellent, it would be good to see her working on group work skills to build more confidence in groups.”
Inspired – “Sam is an inspired learner. She is often coming to class with questions she thought up overnight and she consistently seeks new opportunities to learn.”
Introspective – “Sam’s introspective nature makes her good at reflecting on her weaknesses and identifying avenues for self-improvement. Well done, Sam!”
Leader – “Sam is a leader among her peers. Other students will look to her for guidance in class, and she is often takes a leadership role during group work.”
Mature – “Sam is a mature student who I can trust to work independently without my oversight. I can trust her to approach me for help when she assesses she needs it.”
Motivated – “Sam is a motivated learner who will regularly go ahead of her classmates to seek out more knowledge and information on the topics.”
Polite – “Sam is a reliably polite student in class who will always go out of her way to ensure people around her are comfortable within the learning space.”
Prepared – “Sam comes to class prepared to learn. She will often ensure she is early to class to make the most out of her learning.”
Reflective – “Sam is a reflective student. She will regularly be able to tell you both her strengths and weaknesses, and she can tell you about what went well and what did not go so well during an activity.”
Self-aware – “Sam is impressively self-aware. She will be able to report on her own progress and identify when she needs additional help. She is always willing to re-focus her attention when required and seek out help if she is not sure about what to do.”
Studious – “Sam is a studious learner who will commit herself to her studies and remain committed until she has achieved her goals.”
Thoughtful – “Sam is a thoughtful student. She can often be seen planning things out ahead. She will also ask very insightful questions in class, showing her deep thinking skills.”
Trustworthy – “Sam is a trustworthy student who is often called upon to take up leadership positions within the class. This is a reflection of her maturity for her age.”
Negative Attitude
Selfish – “While Sam is a kind student, she can at times be selfish when it comes to sharing resources or sharing her time with her peers.”
Rude – “We have been working on some rude behavior that Sam has exhibited in class, and it would be good to see more development in maturity in the future.”
Boisterous – “Sam is a boisterous student who responds well to physical, hands-on learning but struggles during quiet learning times.”
Misbehaving – “Sam has been misbehaving regularly in class, which may be a reflection of some of the disrupted learning that she’s experienced.”
Reserved – “Sam is a reserved student who has a kind personality but needs more encouragement to come out of her shell and share her thoughts with her classmates. This will help both her academically and socially.”
Unsettled – “Due to a tough year, Sam has been somewhat unsettled which has negatively impacted her learning and development.”
Talkative – “Sam is a very talkative and sociable student. While this is nice in some situations, talking during quieter periods is often inappropriate. Coming to control her behavior based on the situation would be beneficial for Sam.”
Lazy – “Unfortunately Sam has come to class unprepared and with incomplete homework of late. She appears to have become somewhat lazier in class. It would be good to see a reset to re-gain some motivation she had earlier in the year.”
Unmotivated – “While Sam started the year with good motivation, she has become unmotivated as the year progress. Social distractions are at times getting in the way of her work.”
Uninspired – “Sam is feeling increasingly uninspired in class. We have worked together to develop personal interest projects to help with her motivation, but knuckling down with subjects that are not her favorite is also required.”
Unfocused – “Sam has been somewhat unfocused recently. Developing a stronger attention span may help her make the most out of each lesson.”
Disinterested – “Sam remains disinterested in most lessons and subjects in class. With some effort to identify personal interests and how they connect to our lessons, I do hope her interest can improve over time.”
Daydreamer – “Sam is a thoughtful student but at times her thoughts take her away from the lessons. She is often caught daydreaming instead of completing assigned tasks.”
Distracted – “Sam is consistently distracted in class by nearby objects, friends or her own thoughts.”
Lone Wolf – “Sam is a lone wolf student who doesn’t make efforts to connect with her peers. She is a lovely person and with more confidence and time, I do hope she finds her feet socially.”
Snarky – “While Sam is often a lovely student, she can at times make snarky and defensive comments that prevent her from truly taking on constructive feedback.”
3. Words to Describe a Student’s Learning Style
Mathematical – “Sam has a mathematical mind that helps her work through issues of logic very effectively. While encouraging her strengths, I would like to also see her experimenting with creative and literature projects.”
Scientific – “Sam’s scientific curiosity is a great strength. She loves to engage in inquiry based learning projects and thinks about big picture questions.”
Kinesthetic – “As a kinesthetic learner, Sam excels at hands-on activities and using her hands to complete tasks.”
Musical – “Sam’s musical talent has given her added confidence this year. She learns well through rhythm and hands-on activities.”
Creative – “Sam is a highly creative student who flourishes when allowed to take projects in her onw directions. Her artistic and literary talents are developing very well.”
Sporty – “Sam is a sporty student who loves to head outside to let off some steam and get involved in physical activities. She sometimes needs this high level of activity so she can settle in class later on.”
Philosophical – “Sam is a contemplative learner. She will spend a lot of time thinking through big-picture philosophical questions.”
Logical – “Sam’s logical mind makes her a strong mathematical and scientific thinker.”
Analytical – “Sam is a highly analytical student. She can be given problems to solve and she will go about finding solutions based on her own critical and analytical insights.”
Academically minded – “Sam is an academically minded student. She will be studious about getting to work on math and literature subjects. She at times struggles with sporting and physical activities.”
A Sponge – “Sam has the mind of a sponge. She will absorb whatever new knowledge she can come across. This curiosity will serve her well throughout her education.”
- Related: 273 Adjectives to Describe a Teacher
- Related: 107 Adjectives to Describe School
Conclusion
The above words to describe a student can be useful for teachers looking to write about a student in an end of term report. They might also be useful for students writing about themselves in a reflective writing task, or people writing about students in creative writing tasks!
I’m sure there are many more adjectives you could use, and often times it’s best to simply genuinely reflect on how you would describe the student you’re thinking about.
Chris Drew (PhD)
Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education.