Studentas

Studentas is a masculine noun in Lithuanian that denotes a person who studies at a university, college, or other higher education institution. The feminine counterpart is studentė, and the plural is studentai. As a term in everyday language, it generally refers to someone enrolled in tertiary education rather than a pupil in primary or secondary school.

Etymology: The word is a loanword in Lithuanian, most likely borrowed from Polish student, which in turn derives from Latin studēns “one who studies.” The form studentas is the standard masculine noun used in modern Lithuanian.

Usage and contexts: In academic and administrative contexts, a student may be described as a student of a certain faculty or program. It is common to pair the term with phrases like studento pažymėjimas (student ID) or studentų teisės (students’ rights). The term is used for both full-time and part-time learners at higher education institutions.

Gender and grammar: The word follows Lithuanian noun declension. The basic form is studentas (nominative singular). Other forms reflect gender and number changes: studentė (feminine), studentai (plural).

Historical note: The concept of a student in Lithuania has long been linked with the university tradition, including institutions such as the University of Vilnius, established in 1579. In modern Lithuanian, studentas is commonly used across universities and colleges throughout the country.