“Alumna,” “Alumnae,” “Alumni,” “Alumnus,” “Alum,” “Alums”: What’s the Difference?

These six similar words often confuse people — especially when writing about school graduates.
They all come from Latin, where nouns have gender and singular/plural forms.

Let’s go through them one by one.

Alumna (Singular, Female)

Meaning

“Alumna” refers to one female graduate of a school, college, or university.

Examples (10 total)

1. Sarah is an alumna of Harvard University.
2. The speaker was an alumna from the class of 2005.
3. Each alumna received a silver pin.
4. She’s a proud alumna of the art department.
5. That alumna donated generously to the school.
6. The alumna returned to mentor new students.
7. The college honored its most successful alumna.
8. Every alumna is invited to the reunion.
9. She became the first alumna to serve as dean.
10. The program was started by a former alumna.

🧠 Tip:
If you’re talking about one woman, use alumna.

Alumnae (Plural, Female)

Meaning

“Alumnae” is the plural form of alumna, meaning a group of women graduates.

Examples (10 total)

1. The alumnae gathered for the 10-year reunion.
2. All alumnae are invited to the luncheon.
3. The alumnae association raised $10,000.
4. These alumnae are leaders in their fields.
5. Many alumnae returned to visit old professors.
6. The alumnae network is strong and supportive.
7. The alumnae of 2010 founded a charity.
8. Several alumnae joined the mentorship program.
9. The alumnae magazine features career stories.
10. Our alumnae continue to make us proud.

🧠 Tip:
If all graduates are women, use alumnae (pronounced “uh-LUM-nee”).

Alumnus (Singular, Male)

Meaning

“Alumnus” means one male graduate.

Examples (10 total)

1. John is an alumnus of Stanford University.
2. The alumnus donated to the scholarship fund.
3. Each alumnus received a commemorative medal.
4. He’s a well-known alumnus in the tech industry.
5. The alumnus attended the 20th reunion.
6. The alumnus returned to give a guest lecture.
7. A distinguished alumnus was honored at the event.
8. Every alumnus gets lifetime access to the library.
9. The alumnus founded a startup after graduation.
10. The university recognized the alumnus for his work.

🧠 Tip:
If it’s one man, use alumnus (ends in “-us”).

Alumni (Plural, Male or Mixed Group)

Meaning

“Alumni” is the plural of alumnus, referring to a group of male graduates or a mixed group (men and women).

Examples (10 total)

1. The alumni met for a weekend reunion.
2. Many alumni attended the ceremony.
3. The alumni network is global and active.
4. These alumni continue to support the university.
5. The alumni newsletter comes out monthly.
6. The school honored its most successful alumni.
7. Several alumni became professors.
8. The alumni association connects graduates worldwide.
9. The alumni raised funds for a new library.
10. The alumni were proud of the school’s progress.

🧠 Tip:
If the group includes any men, or you don’t specify gender, use alumni.

Alum (Gender-Neutral, Singular)

Meaning

“Alum” is a casual, modern, and gender-neutral word meaning a graduate — male or female.

Examples (10 total)

1. She’s an alum of Yale.
2. He’s a proud alum of the engineering program.
3. I’m an alum of this school.
4. The company was founded by a college alum.
5. That alum just won an award.
6. Each alum gets a free alumni card.
7. Our guest speaker is an alum of the class of 2012.
8. The alum returned to inspire new students.
9. Every alum has a story worth sharing.
10. She’s an alum of both law and business schools.

🧠 Tip:
If you want to keep it simple and gender-neutral, say alum.

Alums (Gender-Neutral, Plural)

Meaning

“Alums” is the plural form of alum, used in casual or modern writing.
It refers to a group of graduates, regardless of gender.

Examples (10 total)

1. The alums gathered for the annual meetup.
2. Many alums work at top companies.
3. The alums stayed in touch after college.
4. The event was hosted by two alums.
5. All alums are welcome to join the club.
6. The alums helped fund a new dorm.
7. The alums newsletter goes out every month.
8. The alums network provides job opportunities.
9. The school thanked its generous alums.
10. Do you know any alums from that university?

🧠 Tip:
If you want a friendly, informal term that covers everyone, use alums.

Quick Comparison Table

How to Remember the Difference

👉 Alumna = one woman
👉 Alumnae = group of women
👉 Alumnus = one man
👉 Alumni = group of men or mixed group
👉 Alum/Alums = gender-neutral (modern English)

💡 Memory Trick:

If you’re not sure or want to keep it simple — use alum (singular) or alums (plural). They’re correct for everyone.

Why It Matters in Modern Writing

While traditional Latin forms (alumnus, alumna, alumni, alumnae) are still used in formal writing,
modern English often prefers alum and alums because they’re gender-neutral and simpler.
Even universities use them on websites, newsletters, and social media.
That’s why Humanizey helps writers and AI-generated content sound natural, up-to-date, and inclusive in tone.

FAQs

1. Can I always use “alumni” for everyone?

Yes, but it’s technically masculine or mixed-gender. For all-female groups, alumnae is more precise.

2. Is “alum” acceptable in professional writing?

Yes. It’s modern and gender-neutral — widely accepted in informal or semi-formal contexts.

3. Is “alumni” singular or plural?

Plural. The singular form is alumnus (for a man) or alumna (for a woman).

4. Which is best for gender-neutral writing?

Use alum (singular) or alums (plural).

Practice: Choose the Correct Word

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. She’s an ___ of Princeton University.
2. The ___ gathered for their 20-year reunion.
3. He’s a proud ___ of MIT.
4. The ___ association raised funds for scholarships.
5. Both ___ went on to become doctors.
6. The university welcomed its newest ___.
7. Among the two graduates, the ___ became a writer.
8. The school honored its most successful ___.
9. She’s one of our earliest ___.
10. Several ___ came back to campus last week.

Answers

1. alumna
2. alumni
3. alumnus
4. alumni
5. alumnae
6. alumni
7. former (alumna)
8. alumni
9. alumnae
10. alums