Studente vs. alunno
The Italian words 'studente' and 'alunno' both refer to learners, but they have subtle differences in usage and context.
Studente
'Studente' refers to a student, typically at a high school or university level.
Sono uno studente universitario di medicina.
(I am a university medical student.)
Gli studenti del liceo stanno preparando l'esame di maturità.
(The high school students are preparing for their final exams.)
Alunno
'Alunno' generally refers to a pupil in primary or middle school.
Gli alunni della scuola elementare hanno fatto una gita al museo.
(The elementary school pupils went on a field trip to the museum.)
L'insegnante ha lodato l'alunno per il suo impegno in classe.
(The teacher praised the pupil for his effort in class.)
Summary
While both 'studente' and 'alunno' refer to learners, 'studente' is typically used for older students in high school or university, while 'alunno' is more commonly used for younger pupils in primary or middle school. 'Studente' implies a more advanced level of study, whereas 'alunno' suggests a more basic educational stage.