01
der Mitschüler
classmate
A male person who attends the same school or class as you.
example
Er hat sich mit einem Mitschüler für die Projektarbeit zusammengetan.
He teamed up with a classmate for the project work.
der Mitschüler
classmate
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of the prefix 'mit-' (together) and the noun 'der Schüler' (the student/pupil). A Mitschüler is therefore literally a student who attends school together with you.
EXAMPLE
Mein bester Freund war auch mein Mitschüler in der Grundschule.
My best friend was also my classmate in elementary school.
Grammar trap
'Der Mitschüler' (the classmate) is a noun of the n-declension. This means it takes the ending '-n' in all cases except the nominative singular.
EXAMPLE
Hast du den neuen Mitschüler schon kennengelernt?
Have you already met the new classmate?
Usage context
This word is used exclusively in a school context to describe boys or men who attend the same class or school.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seinen Mitschülern bei den Hausaufgaben geholfen.
He helped his classmates with their homework.
Compare with
Mitschüler vs Schüler
student / pupil
'der Schüler' and 'der Mitschüler' both belong to the school context. 'Schüler' is the general word for a person who attends a school. 'Mitschüler' is said from another person's perspective when both people attend the same school or class. So you can be a Schüler without being a Mitschüler of a particular person. The confusion arises because every Mitschüler is also a Schüler, but 'Mitschüler' always means sharing a school or class with someone.
Mitschüler
Nach der Pause erklärt mir ein Mitschüler die Matheaufgabe noch einmal.
After the break, a classmate explains the math problem to me again.
Schüler
Julian ist ein ruhiger Schüler und meldet sich nur selten im Unterricht.
Julian is a quiet student and rarely raises his hand in class.
In real life
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