In an American school or university, the valedictorian is the student who finished at the very top of the class — the best marks over all the years, not just one exam — and who is therefore given the honour of making the farewell speech at the graduation ceremony.

In an American school or university在美國的中學或大學裡, the valedictorian valedictorian is the student who finished at the very top of the class指的是全班成績最頂尖的學生 — the best marks over all the years是這幾年來成績最好的, not just one exam而不是只看一次考試 — and who is therefore given the honour因此被賦予這個榮譽 of making the farewell speech在畢業典禮上致告別詞 at the graduation ceremony。

It is a real title, printed in the programme, and American families treat it as a big deal; the runner-up has a name too, 'salutatorian', the one who gives the welcome.

It is a real title這是一個正式的頭銜, printed in the programme會印在畢業典禮的節目單上, and American families treat it as a big deal美國家庭很看重這件事; the runner-up第二名 has a name too也有個名稱, 'salutatorian'叫做 'salutatorian', the one who gives the welcome是致歡迎詞的那個人。

This is worth knowing because it is very American. British schools do not do this, and Taiwan's system is not quite the same either — our 畢業生代表 is chosen partly by grades and partly by other things, and there is no single official ranked winner in the American sense.

This值得知道 is worth knowing because it is very American是因為這是很美國式的做法。British schools英國的學校 do not do this不這麼做, and Taiwan's system而台灣的制度 is not quite the same either也不完全一樣 — our 畢業生代表我們的畢業生代表 is chosen partly by grades and partly by other things是一部分看成績、一部分看其他條件選出來的, and there is no single official ranked winner in the American sense並沒有像美國那樣一個明確排名第一的正式贏家。

So when you meet 'valedictorian' in a film or an American news story, understand it as both an academic ranking and a speaking role at once. That double meaning is exactly why the word exists.

So所以 when you meet 'valedictorian'當你在 in a film or an American news story電影或美國新聞報導裡遇到 'valedictorian' 這個字, understand it as both請把它理解成同時是 an academic ranking一種學業排名 and a speaking role at once也是一個致詞的角色。That double meaning這個雙重意涵 is exactly why the word exists正是這個字存在的理由。

Say it va-luh-dic-TOR-ee-un, with the stress near the end.

Say it唸法是 va-luh-dic-TOR-ee-un（va-luh-dic-TOR-ee-un）, with the stress near the end重音在接近字尾的地方。