"Study" is the activity of reviewing and preparing; "learn" is the result of having acquired knowledge or a skill.
Verb. To read, review, or practice with the purpose of learning or preparing for something. It is the deliberate process.
She studies for three hours every night.
Ella estudia tres horas cada noche.
He studied medicine at the University of Guatemala.
El estudio medicina en la Universidad de Guatemala.
I need to study for my English exam tomorrow.
Necesito estudiar para mi examen de ingles manana.
Verb. To acquire knowledge, a skill, or new information. It is the result or achievement, not just the process.
Children learn languages much faster than adults.
Los ninos aprenden idiomas mucho mas rapido que los adultos.
I learned how to cook from my grandmother.
Aprendi a cocinar de mi abuela.
She learned the truth about what happened.
Ella se entero de la verdad sobre lo que paso.
Common mistake
Common confusion: "I am studying English" vs "I am learning English." Both are correct but with different emphasis. "Studying" = performing the activity right now or in general. "Learning" = in the process of acquiring the skill over time. Many Spanish speakers use "studying" when "learning" is actually more fitting for describing their progress.
Trick to remember it
"Study" = what you do before you know. "Learn" = what you achieve after studying. You can "study" all night without "learning" much if you are tired. But if you "learn", the knowledge is now yours.
Quick rule
Study = deliberate process (the activity). Learn = result (the acquired knowledge).
Did you know?
"Learn" has a special use "study" does not: receiving information unexpectedly. "I learned that she quit." or "I learned about the accident on the news." In these cases there was no deliberate studying — information was simply received.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
I _____ piano for years, but I never got very good at it.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
My daughter _____ to walk at ten months. We were so proud.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Study = deliberate process (the activity). Learn = result (the acquired knowledge).
Common confusion: "I am studying English" vs "I am learning English." Both are correct but with different emphasis. "Studying" = performing the activity right now or in general. "Learning" = in the process of acquiring the skill over time. Many Spanish speakers use "studying" when "learning" is actually more fitting for describing their progress.
"Study" = what you do before you know. "Learn" = what you achieve after studying. You can "study" all night without "learning" much if you are tired. But if you "learn", the knowledge is now yours.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy