Janice Lozano
The terminology used to refer to first-year students varies across the world. In the US, first-year students are commonly referred to as freshmen, while in the UK, they are simply called first years. In Scotland, the traditional names for the four years at university are Bejan, Semi, Tertian, and Magistrand. In other countries, such as Albania, Brazil, Germany, and France, first-year students have unique designations, such as fruth, calouros, Ersti, and bleu, respectively. These terms often reflect the students' novice status and the transitionary period of adjusting to university life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| US | Freshman |
| UK | First Year, Fresher |
| Scotland | Bejan ("Bejant" at the University of St Andrews) |
| Albania | Fruth |
| Arab World | Mubtadi' |
| Brazil | Calouros, Bixos ("Bixetes" for girls) |
| Chile | Mechón or Mechona |
| France | Bleu, Bizuth |
| Germany | Erstsemester, Ersti, Ersties ("firsties") |
| Finland | Fuksi |
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What You'll Learn
Freshmen
The term "freshman" is commonly used to refer to first-year students in universities and colleges, particularly in the United States. In US colleges, students might say, "she's a college freshman" to indicate that someone is in their first year. However, the term "freshman" is not exclusive to the US; it is also used in the UK, specifically in England and Wales, where first-year students are often known as "freshers." The term is also used in Scotland, where all universities have a "freshers' week," although the traditional names for the four years at the four ancient Scottish universities are Bejan ("Bejant" at the University of St Andrews), Semi, Tertian, and Magistrand.
In other countries, there are various terms for first-year students. In France, a first-year student at an elite institution is called a "cagne," derived from Middle Age French and meaning "weighed down by books." In Germany, a first-semester student is called an "Erstsemester," or more colloquially, an "Ersti." In Albania, a freshman is called a "fruth," which means "measles," referring to the social transformation that usually occurs in the first year of university. In the Arab world, a first-year student is a "mubtadi," which translates to "beginner" in Arabic. In Brazil, first-year students are called "calouros" or "bixos," a term related to "bicho," meaning "animal."
In some countries, the terminology differs between primary, secondary, and tertiary education. For example, in Finland, a student is called an "opiskelija," while children in compulsory education are called "oppilaat." In New Zealand, children start primary school in "Year One" at age five, and this level of education is referred to as "Year One" through "Year Eight." From Year Nine onwards, students attend secondary school or college.
While the term "freshman" is widely used, some colleges, particularly historically women's colleges, prefer to use the term "first year" instead. Additionally, in the UK, students typically refer to their time at university as "1st Year," "2nd Year," and "3rd Year."
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First years
The term used for first-year students at university varies across the world. In the US, first-year students are commonly referred to as "freshmen", though this term is also used in the UK to refer to students in their first month or two. In the UK more broadly, first-year students are often called "freshers", particularly in England and Wales, though "first years" is also used. In Scotland, the traditional names for the four years at university are Bejan, Semi, Tertian, and Magistrand, though freshers is also used more widely.
In other countries, the terms used for first-year students include "fruth" in Albania, "mubtadi'" in the Arab world, "calouros" in Brazil, "mechón" in Chile, "brucoš" in some Asian countries, and "cagne" in some elite French institutions. In Germany, a first-semester student is called an "Erstsemester", or more colloquially, an "Ersti" or "Ersti". In Finland, a first-year student is called an "opiskelija".
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Frosh
The term "frosh" is used to refer to first-year students in some countries. In Canada, for instance, the student orientation period at universities is often called "Frosh week".
In the United States, first-year students are commonly referred to as "freshmen", a term also used in British English. However, in the UK, "fresher" is used to refer to students in their first month or two, while "first years" is also employed. In Scotland, the traditional names for the four years at university are Bejan, Semi, Tertian, and Magistrand, though all Scottish universities have a "freshers' week".
In Albania, a first-year student is called a "fruth", meaning "measles", referring to the transformation of social skills that usually takes place in the first year of university. In the Arab world, a first-year is a "mubtadi", which translates to "beginner" from Arabic. In Brazil, first-year students are called "calouros" or "bixos" ("bixetes" for girls), derived from "bicho", meaning "animal" or "bug". In France, a first-year student is a "cagne", from the Middle Age French for "weighed down by books". In Germany, a first-year student is an "Erstsemester", or more commonly and colloquially, an "Ersti" or "Erste". In Finland, a first-year student is called a "fuksi".
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Calouros
In Brazil, the term "calouro" refers to a first-year university student. The term is unique to the Portuguese language and originated at the University of Coimbra, deriving from the term "calógero" in Greek, which refers to monks of the Orthodox Church who inhabited Mount Athos and followed the rule of St. Basil.
The term "calouro" is also believed to have origins in Ancient Rome, where animals would pass through a small corridor called "vestibulum" in Latin, meaning "entrance that gives passage to other parts of the house". This later derived into terms related to stables and horses ("vestibular" and "estrebaria"). The analogy is made that, like animals, "calouros" go through a challenging process to enter university, which becomes their new home.
In Brazil, "calouros" are often subjected to "trote estudantil", which involves pranks and jokes by older students, known as "veteranos". These pranks can sometimes become humiliating or aggressive. One such prank is the "Brincadeira do Elefantinho", where "calouros" form a human train, with each person extending their arm under their legs to hold the hand of the person behind them. Another tradition is the cutting of the boys' hair by the "veteranos".
In Portugal, the term "calouro", or "caloiro", is used similarly to refer to new university students who participate in welcome events organized by veteran students, which include pranks and games.
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Erstsemester
In the United States, a freshman is a student in their first year of college or university. The term is also used for high school students in their first year. In British English, first-year students are also called freshmen. However, the term "fresher" is used for students in their first month or two.
At some universities in the United States, the term "first-year" is used instead of "freshman". There are also a few universities in the United States that do not use these terms, usually for historic or traditional reasons.
The term "sophomore" is principally an American English term. It is used for students in their second year of college or university. The term is also used for high school students in their second year.
In Germany, the term "Erstsemester" is used for first-year university students. This is a neuter noun, and the spelling of the word and the article preceding it can change depending on whether it is in the nominative, accusative, genitive, or dative case.
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Frequently asked questions
In the US, first-year university students are called "freshmen".
In the UK, first-year university students are called "first years". At the four ancient Scottish universities, the traditional name for first-year students is "Bejan".
In Germany, first-year university students are called "Erstsemester" or, more colloquially, "Ersties" or "Ersti".
In some French higher education establishments, first-year students are called "bleus" or "bizuths".
In Brazil, first-year students are called "calouros" or, more informally, "bixos".
