Learn Dutch: Hij is de student. - He is the student.

Is is the form of the verb zijn (to be) that goes with hij (he), zij (she), and het (it). It works exactly like English: 'he is' translates to hij is.

Why does this sentence use de student instead of het student?

In Dutch, every noun takes either de or het for the word 'the'. Words for people and professions almost always take de. Since a student is a person, it is a de-word.

How do I pronounce hij? Is it just like the English word 'hi'?

Not quite! The Dutch ij sound is unique. It sounds like a mix between the 'ay' in 'say' and the 'i' in 'hi'. Start with a short 'eh' sound (like in 'bed') and glide into an 'ee' sound.

Can I use student for a child in elementary school?

No, in Dutch, a student specifically refers to someone studying at a university or college. For a child in primary or secondary school, you would use the word leerling.