Difference Between Alumnus & Alumni

Alumnus vs Alumni

The primary difference between alumnus and alumni is that the latter is the plural form of the former. The confusion between these two Latin words may stem from their differing construction rules compared to the English language. The term alumnus is a Latin masculine noun referring to a male graduate or someone who has passed out and is now considered an old male student. Its plural form is alumni. However, the modern usage of the word alumni has evolved to include some changes, which will be discussed in this article.

Key Takeaways

• Alumnus refers to a male graduate or former male student, while alumni is the plural form of alumnus and can include both male and female graduates.
• Alumna is the term for a female graduate or former female student, and its plural form is alumnae.
• The term “graduates” is gender-neutral and can be used to refer to both male and female former students without issue.

What does Alumnus mean?

The Oxford English Dictionary defines alumnus as “a male former pupil or student of a particular school, college, or university.” If you are male and want to say that you are a past pupil of your university, you should say “I am an alumnus.” Using this term correctly is essential to avoid embarrassment or confusion regarding your educational background. It’s worth noting that “alumna” refers to a female graduate or former female student, and its plural form is “alumnae.” So, if you are a female past pupil or a female graduate of an educational institution, you should say “I am alumna.” Using this term correctly is just as crucial as using alumnus and alumni appropriately.

What does Alumni mean?

Alumni is the plural form of alumnus. One of the main differences between the usage of alumnus and alumni is that although the word “alumni” is used to convey the plural form of “alumnus,” it is now often used to represent plural groups of students, regardless of gender. Alumni can refer to groups of male and female graduates. For example, in the sentence “the alumni of Pennsylvania University assembled in the convocation hall,” the word alumni refers to both male and female graduates receiving their degrees at the convocation. This usage demonstrates that the word is no longer strictly used to mean “male graduates” alone.

In some parts of the world, to avoid confusion or potential sexism, separate terms are used for male and female graduates: alumni and alumnae. Consider the sentence “The Governor of the State addressed the alumni and the alumnae of the university during convocation.” The words “alumni” and “alumnae” clearly indicate distinct meanings as “male graduates” and “female graduates.” Conversely, the term “graduates” is used to convey the sense of both “alumni” and “alumnae” without any gender distinction. Therefore, it can be used to refer to either gender or both genders without any issues.

What is the difference between Alumnus and Alumni?

• Alumnus is a Latin masculine noun referring to a male graduate or former male student. Its plural form is alumni.
• Alumni is now used to represent plural groups of students, regardless of gender.
• In some parts of the world, separate terms are used for male and female graduates: alumni and alumnae, to avoid confusion or potential sexism.
• The term “graduates” is used to convey the sense of both “alumni” and “alumnae” without any gender distinction and can be used to refer to either gender or both genders without any issues.