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élève

pupil, student

noun ay-LEV Less Common
People & Society Education

Usage Note

Élève is a common-gender noun — un élève, une élève — and refers to a student at primary or secondary school level, not university. University students are called étudiants. Élève also appears in formal titles such as élève officier ('officer cadet'). The verb élever ('to raise, to bring up') shares the same root.

Examples

"Les élèves ont passé un examen."

Natural Translation

The students took an exam.

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