Alumnoalumna

Alumnoalumna is a neologism in the Spanish language used to refer to students of any gender. It combines the masculine form alumno with the feminine form alumna to signal inclusion of both male and female students in a single term. The term arises in discussions about gender-inclusive language in Spanish and appears in various practice contexts, especially in informal writing and online communication.

Formation and usage

The word is a portmanteau created to address gender as a factor in referring to a group of students. It is not widely adopted in formal or standard Spanish, and some readers may find it unfamiliar or awkward. Proponents view it as a direct way to acknowledge all genders, while critics worry about readability, orthographic consistency, and alignment with established language norms.

Alternatives

The most common and widely accepted solutions in standard Spanish include el alumnado, a traditional gender-neutral noun referring to the student body as a whole; or using explicitly gender-marked pairs such as alumnos y alumnas. Another widely used neutral option is estudiantes. Style guides and institutions often prefer these forms over coined compounds when aiming for clarity and conformity with prescriptive norms.

Normative status

The Real Academia Española has not established alumnoalumna as a standard form. In many contexts, it remains a minority or experimental usage within inclusive language discussions. Preference varies by region, institution, and publication, with some opting for established neutral terms like alumnado or estudiantes and others permitting explicit gender pairing when necessary.