O singular alumnus refere-se a um graduando masculino, e alumna se refere a uma graduanda feminina, e o plural alumnae é um grupo de graduandas femininas.
Estas palavras emprestadas do Latim preservam suas formas plurais originais, e o uso incorreto de tais termos é muito frequente pelo fato de que falantes de Inglês são se familiarizam muito com gêneros e plurais de substantivos latinos.
Se você tiver dificuldades de usar tais termos, uma alternativa é usar alum e alums. Estas formas são muito usadas para substituir a forma tradicional — ainda que sejam consideradas fora do uso formal.
Exemplos
Os escritores abaixo usaram a forma Latina corretamente:
Durkee is one of 31 gay and lesbian Westmont alumni who earlier this month roiled the Christian college in Montecito with an open letter in the college newspaper. [Los Angeles Times]
ast month the Sonoma Valley High School girls’ basketball and volleyball programs held their second annual, and enjoyable, alumnae doubleheader in Pfeiffer Gym. [Sonoma News]
Rundle College alumnus Aaron Goodarzi can’t say enough about the advantages of independent schooling. [Calgary Herald]
Berklee alumna and faculty member Daniela Schächter will also give a guest performance. [Boston Globe]
E os escritores seguintes optaram por usar as formas curtas modernas:
The designer of the new Cowboys Stadium is an alum of Skyline’s architecture program. [Dallas Morning News]
He’s talented, but if he’s to add his name to an illustrious list of Hopeful alums who have gone on to classic success, he’ll have to buck some more recent history. [The Saratogian]
Uma correção: significa ex-aluno e não graduando.
Não. Para ex-aluno(a), ex-alunos(as), empregamos o termo former student(s). 😉
Estás errado.
The term is “alumnus” for men and “alumna” for women. “Alumni” is the plural form.
But the answer to your question is “yes.” If you completed even a single course at a college or university, the school will consider you an alumnus or alumna until the end of time.
I wish I could tell you that this is because they want to do you honor, but the sad truth is in the United States they hope you will contribute money to the school. They keep financial records on all graduates, and have a clear idea what you can afford. The alumni office knows where to find every graduate.