Studente vs. alunno
The Italian words studente and alunno both refer to learners, but they have subtle differences in usage and context.
Studente
A1Studente 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
A2Alunno 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.