Student Comes From a Word Meaning Eagerness
A student is someone studying. The Latin root means zeal, and British English keeps a distinction between students and pupils.
A student is someone engaged in study. The Latin *studere* meant to be eager or to apply oneself, so a student is defined by effort rather than by enrolment. British English traditionally keeps *pupil* for schoolchildren and *student* for those in further and higher education, though the distinction is fading.
- Someone studying. *A first-year student.*
- Someone with a deep interest. *A student of history.*
- Student as a modifier. *Student loans.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | student | A mature student. |
| Plural | students | Thousands of students. |
| Verb | study | Study medicine. |
| Noun | studio | An artist's studio. |
| Related | pupil | A school pupil. |
How it is used in a sentence
- She is a student at Manchester.Higher education.
- He is a serious student of the game.Not enrolled anywhere.
- Pupils return to school in September.British schools.
The eager family
- Student — one applying themselves
- Study — the activity, and the room for it
- Studio — a workroom, from the same Italian root
- Studious — inclined to study
- Etude — a study piece in music
From Latin *studens*, being eager, from *studere*, to apply oneself. *Studio* reached English through Italian, from the same root.
Student or pupil?
In Britain, pupil traditionally means a schoolchild and student someone in college or university. American English uses student throughout.
Are studio and student related?
Yes. Both come from Latin *studium*, eagerness or application. A studio is a place where one applies oneself.