Alumna vs. Alumnae vs. Alumni vs. Alumnus – Which is Correct?

The terms alumna, alumnae, alumni, and alumnus all refer to graduates of an institution, but they differ in gender and number. Alumnus is a single male graduate, alumna is a single female graduate. Alumni is the plural for male graduates or a mixed-gender group, while alumnae is the plural for female graduates. All four terms are correct and used based on context.

Alumna, Alumnae, Alumni, or Alumnus – Which is Correct?

All four terms—alumna, alumnae, alumni, and alumnus—are grammatically correct and widely used in English to refer to former students or graduates of a school, college, or university. The distinction lies in their Latin origins, which dictate their gender and number. Alumnus is singular masculine, alumna is singular feminine. Alumni is the plural masculine form, often used for mixed-gender groups, and alumnae is the plural feminine form. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for precise communication, especially in formal contexts like academic institutions or professional networking.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

To remember the difference, focus on the endings and their common associations in English:

• -us for singular male: Think of masculine names ending in “-us” (e.g., Marcus, Brutus). Alumnus = one male.
• -a for singular female: Think of feminine names ending in “-a” (e.g., Maria, Anna). Alumna = one female.
• -i for plural male/mixed: Think of Latin plurals like “cacti” or “octopi” (even if technically incorrect for octopus). Alumni = multiple males or a mixed group.
• -ae for plural female: This one is less intuitive in common English, but if you remember “-a” for singular female, “-ae” is its plural. Alumnae = multiple females.

A simple mnemonic: “An us is one guy, an a is one gal. For all guys or mixed, say -i; for all gals, say -ae.”

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
Alumna	Noun	A single female graduate	She is a proud alumna of the university.
Alumnae	Noun	Multiple female graduates	The alumnae gathered for their annual reunion.
Alumnus	Noun	A single male graduate	He is a distinguished alumnus of the law school.
Alumni	Noun	Multiple male graduates; often used for mixed-gender groups	The college welcomes all alumni to the homecoming game.

How to Use Alumna

Alumna refers specifically to a single female graduate. It is a formal term, often used in academic contexts, university publications, and official communications to denote a woman who has completed her studies at a particular institution. While formal, its use is standard and not considered overly academic or stuffy when referring to a graduate.

Example 1: Dr. Anya Sharma, a renowned astrophysicist, is a distinguished alumna of our physics department.

Example 2: The scholarship was established by a generous alumna who wished to support future generations of female students.

Example 3: Every year, the university honors one exceptional alumna for her contributions to society.

What are the different forms of Alumna?

Alumna is the singular feminine form. Its plural form is alumnae. There are no other forms in terms of tense or degrees, as it is a noun.

Etymology of the word Alumna

The word alumna comes directly from Latin, where it means “nursling” or “foster daughter.” It is the feminine singular form of alumnus, which meant “foster son” or “pupil.” Both are derived from the verb alere, meaning “to nourish, to rear, to bring up.” The sense of “graduate” evolved from the idea of being “nourished” or educated by an institution.

How to Use Alumnae

Alumnae is the plural form of alumna, used exclusively to refer to multiple female graduates. This term maintains the same formal tone as its singular counterpart and is commonly encountered in women’s colleges, sorority contexts, or when specifically addressing a group composed solely of female graduates from any institution. It is crucial to use this form when the group is entirely female to maintain grammatical accuracy and respect for the Latin origins.

Example 1: The annual gala brought together hundreds of alumnae from various graduating classes.

Example 2: The university’s office of advancement organized a special networking event for its accomplished alumnae.

Example 3: A panel discussion featuring successful female entrepreneurs was a highlight for many attending alumnae.

What are the different forms of Alumnae?

Alumnae is the plural feminine form. Its singular form is alumna. As a noun, it does not have other forms related to tense or degrees.

Etymology of the word Alumnae

Alumnae is the Latin feminine plural form of alumna. Like alumna, it traces back to the Latin verb alere (“to nourish, rear”). Its specific plural ending reflects classical Latin grammar for feminine nouns of the first declension.

How to Use Alumnus

Alumnus refers to a single male graduate. Similar to alumna, it is a formal term predominantly used in academic settings, university communications, and professional bios to identify a man who has graduated from a particular educational institution. Using alumnus correctly demonstrates an understanding of precise grammatical distinctions.

Example 1: John Smith, a celebrated author, is a proud alumnus of our literature program.

Example 2: The keynote speaker for the commencement ceremony was a distinguished alumnus of the business school.

Example 3: As an alumnus, he frequently volunteers his time to mentor current students.

What are the different forms of Alumnus?

Alumnus is the singular masculine form. Its plural form is alumni. As a noun, it does not have other forms related to tense or degrees.

Etymology of the word Alumnus

The word alumnus originates from Latin, meaning “nursling” or “foster son,” and by extension, “pupil.” It derives from the verb alere, which means “to nourish, to rear, to bring up.” The transition to meaning “graduate” reflects the nurturing role of an educational institution in bringing up or educating its students.

How to Use Alumni

Alumni is the plural form of alumnus, used to refer to multiple male graduates. More commonly and significantly, alumni has become the default term in English for a group of graduates of mixed genders. When an institution refers to “all its graduates,” regardless of gender, alumni is the accepted and most frequently used term. While technically masculine plural in Latin, its inclusive use for mixed groups is standard in modern English.

Example 1: The university’s annual fundraising campaign relies heavily on the generosity of its alumni.

Example 2: All alumni are invited to attend the upcoming career fair to connect with current students.

Example 3: The association for former students is known simply as the “Alumni Association.”

What are the different forms of Alumni?

Alumni is the plural masculine form, also commonly used for mixed-gender groups of graduates. Its singular form is alumnus. As a noun, it does not have other forms.

Etymology of the word Alumni

Alumni is the Latin masculine plural form of alumnus. Like its singular counterpart, it is rooted in the Latin verb alere (“to nourish, rear”). Its adoption into English, particularly its expanded usage to encompass mixed-gender groups, reflects how language evolves to serve practical communication needs, often simplifying complex gendered plurals.

Related Concepts

Understanding broader grammatical concepts, particularly those rooted in Latin, can help clarify the distinctions between alumna, alumnae, alumni, and alumnus.

• Latin Plurals: Many English words, especially in academic and scientific fields, retain their original Latin plural forms. This is why we have words like datum/data, curriculum/curricula, and medium/media. The -us/-i and -a/-ae endings are classic examples of Latin masculine and feminine pluralizations, respectively.
• Gendered Nouns in English: While modern English has largely moved away from grammatical gender for nouns, some words, particularly those borrowed directly from languages like Latin, retain gendered forms. Recognizing these helps in accurate usage, even if the gender is more about grammatical origin than biological sex in all contexts (e.g., alumni for mixed groups).

Examples from Media and Literature

• “As a proud alumna of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she often speaks fondly of her training there.” – The Guardian, June 2024
• “The university’s annual report highlighted the achievements of its distinguished alumni, spanning various industries worldwide.” – Forbes, May 2026
• “A special mentorship program connects current students with successful alumnae, fostering a strong network of female leaders.” – University of California Press, 2023
• “The Nobel laureate, an alumnus of Cambridge University, credited his foundational education for his scientific breakthroughs.” – New York Times, April 2026
• “Our goal is to create a vibrant community where all alumni, regardless of their gender or graduation year, feel connected.” – Official statement from a university alumni association, 2025

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. Dr. Evelyn Reed, a prominent historian, is an esteemed __________ of our history department.
2. The annual reunion welcomes all __________ to campus for a weekend of festivities and networking.
3. Several successful female entrepreneurs, all __________ of the business school, participated in the panel discussion.
4. Mark Chen, a recent __________ of the engineering program, has already secured a position at a top tech firm.
5. The university sent invitations to its former students, hoping many __________ would attend the homecoming game.

Answer Key

1. alumna
2. alumni
3. alumnae
4. alumnus
5. alumni

Alumna Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Female graduate	A woman who has completed a course of study at a school, college, or university.
Former female student	A woman who previously attended an educational institution.

Alumnae Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Female graduates	Multiple women who have completed a course of study at an institution.
Former female students	Multiple women who previously attended an educational institution.

Alumnus Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Male graduate	A man who has completed a course of study at a school, college, or university.
Former male student	A man who previously attended an educational institution.

Alumni Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Graduates	Individuals who have successfully completed a course of study at an educational institution.
Former students	Individuals who previously attended an educational institution.
Old boys/girls (informal, specific)	An informal term for former students, often used in British English for single-sex schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Can I use “alumni” to refer to a single graduate?
No, alumni is a plural term. You should use alumnus for a single male graduate or alumna for a single female graduate.

Question 2: Is it ever acceptable to use “alumni” for a group of only women?
While technically alumnae is the correct term for a group of only women, alumni is often used as a gender-neutral plural for any group of graduates, including those composed entirely of women, especially in less formal or broader contexts. However, using alumnae is more precise when referring exclusively to female graduates.

Question 3: Why do these words have different endings?
The different endings (-us, -a, -i, -ae) reflect their origins as Latin nouns, which follow specific rules for grammatical gender (masculine, feminine) and number (singular, plural). English borrowed these words directly, retaining their original inflections.

Conclusion

Mastering the distinctions between alumna, alumnae, alumni, and alumnus is a mark of precise communication. While alumni has become a common catch-all for groups of graduates, understanding the singular and gender-specific plural forms allows for greater accuracy, particularly in formal academic or professional settings. By remembering that alumnus is a single male, alumna a single female, alumni multiple males or a mixed group, and alumnae multiple females, you can confidently navigate these terms.

Pro Tip: When in doubt about a mixed-gender group, alumni is the safest and most widely accepted plural. However, for specific gendered groups or individuals, using the precise Latinate term enhances clarity and demonstrates a strong command of language, which can significantly bolster your professional reputation.