A
ay
A (character) means the first letter of the English alphabet. Example: “The word "apple" starts with an a.”
character
1
The first letter of the English alphabet.
"The word "apple" starts with an a."
article
1
Used before a singular noun to mean "one" or "some", without pointing to a specific example.
"She bought a car last week."
"Can I have a glass of water?"
prep
1
Per, each — used in expressions of rate or frequency.
"He goes to the gym three times a week."
How to use A
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBoth the first letter of the alphabet and the small word we put in front of a noun when we mean "one of these, not a specific one."
Memory tip
Use "a" before a consonant sound and "an" before a vowel sound — it's about sound, not spelling ("an hour", "a university").
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a bit
a lot
once a day
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Word forms
- Plural
- As, A's, aes
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The word "apple" starts with an _____.
Etymology
Descended from the Old English letter A, itself adapted from Latin, ultimately going back to the Phoenician letter aleph.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “A” mean?
The word “A” means the first letter of the English alphabet. In plain terms, both the first letter of the alphabet and the small word we put in front of a noun when we mean "one of these, not a specific one.".
How do you pronounce “A”?
“A” is pronounced ay (/eɪ̯/ in IPA).
How do you use “A” in a sentence?
Here is “A” used in a sentence: “The word "apple" starts with an a.”
What is another word for “A”?
Words with a similar meaning to “A” include an and one.
What is the opposite of “A”?
The opposite of “A” — its antonyms — are every and the.
What part of speech is “A”?
Depending on how it is used, “A” can be a character, an article and a preposition.
Where does the word “A” come from?
The word “A” comes from Latin. Descended from the Old English letter A, itself adapted from Latin, ultimately going back to the Phoenician letter aleph.
Is “A” a common word?
“A” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
When should you use "a" instead of "an"?
Choose by sound, not spelling: use "a" before a consonant sound ("a house", "a university", "a one-way street") and "an" before a vowel sound ("an apple", "an hour", "an MBA"). "University" begins with a "y" sound and "hour" with a vowel sound, which is why the article switches.
What is the difference between "a" and "the"?
"A" introduces one unspecified example of something: "I saw a fox." "The" refers to a particular one that both speaker and listener can identify: "the fox came back." A noun is often introduced with "a" first and then referred to with "the" afterwards.
Can you use "a" before an uncountable noun?
Not normally: "a" means one of something countable, so "an information" and "a furniture" are incorrect. Use no article or a quantity phrase instead: "some information", "a piece of furniture."
Is it "a historic event" or "an historic event"?
"A historic" is the standard modern choice because the "h" in "historic" is pronounced. "An historic" survives in some older and British usage but is now widely regarded as dated.
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