a
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Translingual[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Modification of capital A.
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (upper case A)
- The first letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet.
- (superscript) See ª.
Symbol[edit]
a
- (IPA, phonetics) an open front or central unrounded vowel.
- (IPA, superscript ⟨ᵃ⟩) [a]-coloring or a weak, fleeting, epenthetic or echo [a].
- (international standards) transliterates Indic अ (or equivalent).
See also[edit]
- (Latin script): Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Sſs Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
- (Variations of letter A): Áá Àà Ââ Ǎǎ Ăă Ãã Ảả Ȧȧ Ạạ Ää Åå Ḁḁ Āā Ąą ᶏ Ⱥⱥ Ȁȁ Ấấ Ầầ Ẫẫ Ẩẩ Ậậ Ắắ Ằằ Ẵẵ Ẳẳ Ặặ Ǻǻ Ǡǡ Ǟǟ Ȁȁ Ȃȃ Ɑɑ ᴀ Ɐɐ ɒ Aa Ææ Ǽǽ Ǣǣ Ꜳꜳ Ꜵꜵ Ꜷꜷ Ꜹꜹ Ꜻꜻ
- For more variations, see Appendix:Variations of "a".
Further reading[edit]
a on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
open front unrounded vowel on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
Etymology 2[edit]
Abbreviation of atto-, from Danish atten (“eighteen”).
Symbol[edit]
a
- atto-, prefix for 10-18 in the International System of Units.
Etymology 3[edit]
Symbol[edit]
a
- Year as a unit of time, specifically a Julian year or 365.25 days.
Etymology 4[edit]
Abbreviation of are, from French are.
Symbol[edit]
a
Etymology 5[edit]
Abbreviation of English acceleration.
Symbol[edit]
a
Etymology 6[edit]
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “from annuity?”)
Symbol[edit]
a
- (actuarial notation) Annuity; (specifically) annuity-immediate.
- ax:n̅| ― n-year annuity-immediate to a person currently age x
- ax ― life annuity-immediate to a person currently age x
Other representations of A:
Gallery[edit]
- Letter styles
-
Uppercase and lowercase versions of A, in normal and italic type
-
Uppercase and lowercase A in Fraktur
-
Approximate form of Greek uppercase Α (a, “alpha”), the source of both common variants of a A in uncial script
English[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]

From Middle English and Old English lower case letter a and split of Middle English and Old English lower case letter æ.
Old English lower case letter a from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case letter a of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚪ (a, “āc”), derived from Runic letter ᚫ (a, “Ansuz”).
Old English lower case letter æ from 7th century replacement by Latin lower case ligature æ of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᚫ (æ, “æsc”), also derived from Runic letter ᚫ (a, “Ansuz”).
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (letter name)
- The current pronunciation resulted from the Great Vowel Shift. Before the early part of the 17th century, the pronunciation was similar to that in other languages.
- (phoneme) IPA(key): /æ/, /ɑː/, /eɪ/, etc.
Letter[edit]
a (lowercase, uppercase A, plural as or a's)
- The first letter of the English alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Usage notes[edit]
- In English, the letter a usually denotes the near-open front unrounded vowel (IPA(key): /æ/), as in pad, the open back unrounded vowel (IPA(key): /ɑː/) as in father, or, followed by another vowel, the diphthong IPA(key): /eɪ/, as in ace.
- A is the third most common letter in English.
Derived terms[edit]
See also[edit]
- (Latin script letters) letter; Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz
Numeral[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The ordinal number first, derived from this letter of the English alphabet, called a and written in the Latin script.
Noun[edit]
- The name of the Latin script letter A / a.
Alternative forms[edit]
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letter names) letter; a, bee, cee, dee, e, ef, gee, aitch, i, jay, kay, el, em, en, o, pee, cue, ar, ess, tee, u, vee, double-u, ex, wye, zee/zed (Category: en:Latin letter names)
Etymology 2[edit]
From Middle English a, an, from Old English ān (“one; a; lone; sole”). More at one. The "n" was gradually lost before consonants in almost all dialects by the 15th century. Cognate with Alemannic German a (“a, an”), East Franconian a (“a, an”).
Pronunciation[edit]
- (stressed) IPA(key): /ˈeɪ/
- (unstressed) IPA(key): /ə/
Audio (US), stressed (file) Audio (US), unstressed (file) - Rhymes: -eɪ, -ə
- Homophone: her (non-rhotic, unstressed)
Article[edit]
a (indefinite)
- One; any indefinite example of. [from before 1150][2]
- There was a man here looking for you yesterday.
- 1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, New York, N.Y.: Columbia University Press, →ISBN, page vii:
- With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get […]
- 2005, Emily Kingsley (lyricist), Kevin Clash (voice actor), “A Cookie is a Sometime Food”, Sesame Street, season 36, Sesame Workshop:
- Hoots the Owl: Yes a, fruit, is a [sic], any, time, food!
- 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
- Anna, do you have a pen? — Yes. I have a pen in my bag. I have a (stressed) …
Audio (US) (file)
- Anna, do you have a pen? — Yes. I have a pen in my bag. I have a (stressed) …
- One; used before score, dozen, hundred, thousand, million, etc.
- I've seen it happen a hundred times.
- Used in some phrases denoting quantity, such as a few, a good many, a couple, a little (for an uncountable noun), etc.
- They asked me a few questions.
- Used in some adverbial phrases denoting degree or extent, such as a little, a bit, a lot, etc.
- The door was opened a little.
- The same; one and the same. Used in phrases such as of a kind, birds of a feather, etc.
- We are of a mind on matters of morals.
- They're two of a kind.
- Any; every; used before a noun which has become modified to limit its scope.[1]
- A man who dies intestate leaves his children troubles and difficulties.
- Any; used with a negative to indicate not a single one.[3]
- It was so dark that we couldn't see a thing.
- He fell all that way, and hasn't a bump on his head?
- Used before an adjective that modifies a noun (singular or plural) delimited by a numeral.
- a staggering three million dollars
- The holidays are a mere one week away.
- One; someone named; used before a person's name, suggesting that the speaker knows little about the person other than the name.[4]
- We've received an interesting letter from a Mrs. Miggins of London.
- Used before an adjective modifying a person's name.
- 2018, “Rwandan court drops all charges against opposition figure”, in Associated Press:
- "I will continue my campaign to fight for the rights of all Rwandans," a surprised but happy Rwigara told reporters after celebrating.
- Someone or something like; similar to;[3] Used before a proper noun to create an example out of it.
- The center of the village was becoming a Times Square.
- The man is a regular Romeo.
Usage notes[edit]
- In standard English, the article a is used before consonant sounds, while an is used before vowel sounds; for more, see the usage notes about an.
Derived terms[edit]
Translations[edit]
See also[edit]
Etymology 3[edit]
- From Middle English a, o, from Old English a-, an, on.
- Unstressed form of on.
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- To do with separation; In, into. [from before 1150][2]
- Torn a pieces.
- To do with time; Each, per, in, on, by. Often occurs between two nouns, where the first noun occurs at the end of a verbal phrase.[from before 1150][2]
- I brush my teeth twice a day.
- c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:
- A Sundays
- 2019 February 3, “UN Study: China, US, Japan Lead World AI Development”, in Voice of America[2], archived from the original on 7 February 2019:
- Patent requests for machine learning activities grew on average by 28 percent a year between 2013 and 2016, the study found.
Audio (US) (file)
- To do with status; In. [from before 1150][2]
- King James Bible (II Chronicles 2:18)
- To set the people a worke.
- King James Bible (II Chronicles 2:18)
- (archaic) To do with position or direction; In, on, at, by, towards, onto. [from before 1150][2]
- Stand a tiptoe.
- (archaic) To do with process, with a passive verb; In the course of, experiencing. [from before 1150][2]
- 1964, Bob Dylan (lyrics and music), “The Times They Are a-Changin'”:
- The times, they are a-changin'.
- (archaic) To do with an action, an active verb; Engaged in. [16th c.][2]
- c. 1608–1609 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene ii]:
- It was a doing.
- 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Hebrews 11:21:
- Jacob, when he was a dying
- (archaic) To do with an action/movement; To, into. [16th c.][2]
- (obsolete) To do with method; In, with. [from before 1150][2]
- c. 1589–1590, Christopher Marlo[we], edited by Tho[mas] Heywood, The Famous Tragedy of the Rich Ievv of Malta. […], London: […] I[ohn] B[eale] for Nicholas Vavasour, […], published 1633, →OCLC, Act 4, [scene 3]:
- Stands here a purpose.
- (obsolete) To do with role or capacity; In. [from before 1150][2]
Usage notes[edit]
- (position, direction): Can also be attached without a hyphen, as aback, ahorse, afoot. See a-
- (separation): Can also be attached without hyphen, as asunder. See a-
- (status): Can also be attached without hyphen, as afloat, awake. See a-.
- (process): Can also be attached with or without hyphen, as a-changing
See also[edit]
Etymology 4[edit]
From Middle English a, ha contraction of have, or haven.
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
a
- (archaic or slang) Have. [between 1150 and 1350, continued in some use until 1650; used again after 1950]
- I'd a come, if you'd a asked.
- 1884, Robert Holland, M.R.A.C., A Glossary of Words Used in the County of Chester, volume Part I--A to F., London: English Dialect Society, page 1:
- Oi'd a gen im a clout, if oi'd been theer.
- c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
- So would I a done by yonder ſunne
?And thou hadſt not come to my bed.
Usage notes[edit]
- Now often attached to preceding auxiliary verb. See -a.
Derived terms[edit]
Etymology 5[edit]
From Middle English a, a reduced form of he (“he”)/ha (“he”), heo (“she”)/ha (“she”) and ha (“it”) (as well as of hie, hie (“they”)).
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ə/
- (it): (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ə/, /ɑ/
- Rhymes: -ə, -ɑ
Pronoun[edit]
a
- (obsolete outside England and Scotland dialects) He, or sometimes she, it. [1150–1900][2] (clarification of this definition is needed)
- 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
- a’ brushes his hat o’ mornings.
Etymology 6[edit]
From Middle English of, with apocope of the final f and vowel reduction.
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- (archaic or slang) Of.
- The name of John a Gaunt.
- c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]:
- What time a day is it?
- 1598, Benjamin Jonson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Euery Man in His Humour. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Ben Jonson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
- It’s six a clock.
- 1931, A. P. Carter, "When I'm Gone"[3]:
- Two bottles 'a whiskey for the way
- 2006, Noire [pseudonym], Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World/Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 152:
- Isis rode my mug like she was on a ten-inch dick, and as soon as she nutted I tossed her ass off a me and flipped her on her back, then fucked the shit outta her cause it was payback time.
Usage notes[edit]
- Often attached without a hyphen to preceding word.
Etymology 7[edit]
From Northern Middle English aw, alteration of all.
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɔ/
- Rhymes: -ɔ
Adverb[edit]
a (not comparable)
Adjective[edit]
a (not comparable)
Etymology 8[edit]
Symbols
Symbol[edit]
a
- Distance from leading edge to aerodynamic center.
- specific absorption coefficient
- specific rotation
- allele (recessive)
Etymology 9[edit]
Adverb[edit]
a
- (crosswords) across
- Do you have the answer for 23a?
- (chiefly US) Alternative spelling of a.m. (“ante meridiem”) or am
Etymology 10[edit]
Particle[edit]
a
- Alternative form of -a (“empty syllable added to songs, poetry, verse and other speech”)
- 2001, Louis F. Newcomb, Car Salesman: A Legacy, iUniverse (→ISBN), page 91:
- “I show a you right a here I can fuck a you.” “Is she crazy?” I asked Wyman.
- 2001, Louis F. Newcomb, Car Salesman: A Legacy, iUniverse (→ISBN), page 91:
Etymology 11[edit]
Noun[edit]
a
- The name of the Cyrillic script letter А / а.
Etymology 12[edit]
Interjection[edit]
a
- ah; er (sound of hesitation)
- 1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
- "We will resume yesterday's discourse, young ladies," said he, "and you shall each read a page by turns; so that Miss a—Miss Short may have an opportunity of hearing you"; and the poor girls began to spell a long dismal sermon delivered at Bethesda Chapel, Liverpool, on behalf of the mission for the Chickasaw Indians.
Etymology 13[edit]
Abbreviations.
- (stenoscript) a word-initial letter ⟨a⟩.
- (stenoscript) the long vowel /eɪ/ at the end of a word, or before a final consonant that is not /dʒ, v, z/. (Note: the final consonant is not written; [ɛə˞] counts as /eɪr/.)
- (stenoscript) the word a.m.
- (stenoscript) the prefix ad-.
Quotations[edit]
Additional quotations for any terms on this page may be found at Citations:a.
References[edit]
- Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief; William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “a”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford; New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 1.
- Philip Babcock Gove (editor), Webster's Third International Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged (G. & C. Merriam Co., 1976 [1909], →ISBN)
- “a” in Christine A. Lindberg, editor, The Oxford College Dictionary, 2nd edition, New York, N.Y.: Spark Publishing, 2002, →ISBN, page 1.
- “a, adj.”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, 2023.
Further reading[edit]
- “a”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.
- “a”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
Abau[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
a
Afar[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Determiner[edit]
á
Derived terms[edit]
See also[edit]
See Template:aa-demonstrative determiners.
References[edit]
- E. M. Parker; R. J. Hayward (1985), “a”, in An Afar-English-French dictionary (with Grammatical Notes in English), University of London, →ISBN
- Mohamed Hassan Kamil (2015) L’afar: description grammaticale d’une langue couchitique (Djibouti, Erythrée et Ethiopie)[4], Paris: Université Sorbonne Paris Cité (doctoral thesis)
Albanian[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
- According to Orel, the particle and conjunction are etymologically identical. From Proto-Albanian *a and cognate to Ancient Greek ἦ (ê, “indeed”).[1]
- From Proto-Albanian *(h)au, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eu- (“that”). Cognate to Ancient Greek αὖ (aû, “on the other hand, again”). A proclitic disjunctive particle, used with one or more parts of the sentence.
Pronunciation[edit]
Conjunction[edit]
a
Etymology 2[edit]
From Proto-Albanian *(h)an, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en (“there”). Cognate with Latin an (“yes, perhaps”). Interrogative particle, usually used proclitically in simple sentences.
Pronunciation[edit]
Particle[edit]
a
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Standard Albanian Latin-script alphabet.
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) shkronjë; A a, B b, C c, Ç ç, D d, Dh dh, E e, Ë ë, F f, G g, Gj gj, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, Ll ll, M m, N n, Nj nj, O o, P p, Q q, R r, Rr rr, S s, Sh sh, T t, Th th, U u, V v, X x, Xh xh, Y y, Z z, Zh zh
References[edit]
- ^ Orel, Vladimir E. (1998), “a part. ('whether'), conj. ('or')”, in Albanian Etymological Dictionary, Leiden; Boston; Köln: Brill, →ISBN, page 1
Ama[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
a
Anguthimri[edit]
Verb[edit]
a
- (transitive, Mpakwithi) to pull
References[edit]
- Terry Crowley, The Mpakwithi dialect of Anguthimri (1981), page 184
Aragonese[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Article[edit]
a f sg
- the
- a luenga aragonesa ― the Aragonese language
Asturian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
Derived terms[edit]
Noun[edit]
a f
- a (the name of the letter A, a)
Azerbaijani[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Azerbaijani alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin script letters) hərf; Aa, Bb, Cc, Çç, Dd, Ee, Əə, Ff, Gg, Ğğ, Hh, Xx, Iı, İi, Jj, Kk, Qq, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Öö, Pp, Rr, Ss, Şş, Tt, Uu, Üü, Vv, Yy, Zz
Bambara[edit]
Article[edit]
a
- the (definite article).
Interjection[edit]
a
Pronoun[edit]
a
Synonyms[edit]
- (they): u
Basque[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Basque alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
Noun[edit]
a (indeclinable)
- The name of the Latin-script letter A.
See also[edit]
Bavarian[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Cognate with German ein and eine.
Pronunciation[edit]
Article[edit]
a
See also[edit]
m | n | f | pl | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
stressed | unstressed | stressed | unstressed | stressed | unstressed | stressed | unstressed | ||
definite | nominative | der, da | — | das, es, des | 's | de | d' | de | d' |
accusative | en, den | 'n | |||||||
dative | em, dem | 'm | em, dem | 'm | der, da | — | |||
genitive1 | des | des | der, da | der, da | |||||
indefinite | nominative | a | — | a | — | a | — | ||
accusative | an | 'n | |||||||
dative | am | 'm | am | 'm | a, ana | 'na |
- oa (“one”, determiner)
Etymology 2[edit]
Unstressed form of ea
Pronunciation[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- he
See also[edit]
nominative | accusative | dative | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
stressed | unstressed | stressed | unstressed | stressed | unstressed | ||
1st person singular | i | — | mi | — | mia (mir) | ma | |
2nd person singular (informal) |
du | — | di | — | dia (dir) | da | |
2nd person singular (formal) |
Sie | — | Eahna | — | Eahna | — | |
3rd person singular | m | er | a | eahm | 'n | eahm | 'n |
n | es, des | 's | des | 's | |||
f | se, de | 's | se | 's | ihr | — | |
1st person plural | mia (mir) | ma | uns | — | uns | — | |
2nd person plural | eß, ihr | — | enk, eich | — | enk, eich | — | |
3rd person plural | se | 's | eahna | — | eahna | — |
Etymology 3[edit]
Adverb[edit]
a
Belizean Creole[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
References[edit]
- Crosbie, Paul, ed. (2007), Kriol-Inglish Dikshineri: English-Kriol Dictionary. Belize City: Belize Kriol Project, p. 19.
Big Nambas[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
References[edit]
- Big Nambas Grammar Pacific Linguistics - G.J. Fox
Cameroon Pidgin[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- Alternative spelling of I (“1st person singular subject personal pronoun”)
Catalan[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Catalan alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Derived terms[edit]
See also[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- in, at; indicating a particular time or place
- Sóc a Barcelona.
- I am in Barcelona.
- to; indicating movement towards a particular place
- Vaig a Barcelona.
- I'm going to Barcelona.
- to; indicating a target or indirect object
- Escric una carta a la meva àvia.
- I'm writing my grandmother a letter.
- per
- by
- dia a dia.
- day by day.
Usage notes[edit]
When the preposition a is followed by a masculine definite article, el or els, it is contracted with it to the forms al and als respectively. If el would be elided to the form l’ because it is before a word beginning with a vowel, the elision to a l’ takes precedence over contracting to al.
The same occurs with the salat article es, to form as except where es would be elided to s’.
Derived terms[edit]
Chayuco Mixtec[edit]
Etymology[edit]
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Conjunction[edit]
a
References[edit]
- Pensinger, Brenda J. (1974) Diccionario mixteco-español, español-mixteco (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 18)[5] (in Spanish), México, D.F.: El Instituto Lingüístico de Verano en coordinación con la Secretaría de Educación Pública a través de la Dirección General de Educación Extraescolar en el Medio Indígena, pages 3, 110
Chibcha[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
a
References[edit]
- Gómez Aldana D. F., Análisis morfológico del Vocabulario 158 de la Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia. Grupo de Investigación Muysccubun. 2013.
Choctaw[edit]
Conjunction[edit]
a
Chuukese[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
Adjective[edit]
a
- he is
- she is
- it is
Related terms[edit]
Present and past tense | Negative tense | Future | Negative future | Distant future | Negative determinate | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | First person | ua | use | upwe | usap | upwap | ute |
Second person | ka, ke | kose, kese | kopwe, kepwe | kosap, kesap | kopwap, kepwap | kote, kete | |
Third person | a | ese | epwe | esap | epwap | ete | |
Plural | First person | aua (exclusive) sia (inclusive) |
ause (exclusive) sise (inclusive) |
aupwe (exclusive) sipwe (inclusive) |
ausap (exclusive) sisap (inclusive) |
aupwap (exclusive) sipwap (inclusive) |
aute (exclusive) site (inclusive) |
Second person | oua | ouse | oupwe | ousap | oupwap | oute | |
Third person | ra, re | rese | repwe | resap | repwap | rete |
Cimbrian[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- an (Sette Comuni)
Etymology[edit]
From Middle High German ein, from Old High German ein, from Proto-West Germanic *ain.
Article[edit]
a (oblique masculine an)
References[edit]
- Patuzzi, Umberto, ed., (2013) Luserna / Lusérn: Le nostre parole / Ünsarne börtar / Unsere Wörter [Our Words], Luserna, Italy: Comitato unitario delle isole linguistiche storiche germaniche in Italia / Einheitskomitee der historischen deutschen Sprachinseln in Italien
Coatepec Nahuatl[edit]
Noun[edit]
a
Cora[edit]
Particle[edit]
a
- outside
- out of view (from the speaker)
- entering a shallow domain; entering a domain in a shallow or restricted manner
- atyásuuna káasu hece
- The water is pouring into the (shallow) pan.
Antonyms[edit]
- u (“inside; within view”)
References[edit]
- Eugene Casad; Ronald Langacker (1985), “'Inside' and 'outside' in Cora grammar”, in International Journal of American Linguistics
Cornish[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Particle[edit]
a (triggers soft mutation)
- Inserted before the verb when a subject or direct object precedes the verb
Etymology 2[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a (triggers soft mutation)
- of (expressing separation, origin, composition/substance or a quality)
- of (between a preceding large number and a following plural noun to express quantity)
- from (indicating provenance)
Inflection[edit]
Singular | Plural | |
---|---|---|
First person | ahanaf | ahanan |
Second person | ahanas | ahanowgh |
Third person | anodho (m) anedhy (f) |
anodhans, anedha |
Corsican[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From the earlier la.
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /ˈa/
- Homophones: à, hà
Article[edit]
a f (masculine u, masculine plural i, feminine plural e)
- the (feminine)
Usage notes[edit]
- Before a vowel, a turns into l'
Pronoun[edit]
a f
Usage notes[edit]
- Before a vowel, a turns into l'
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- “a” in INFCOR: Banca di dati di a lingua corsa
Czech[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Inherited from Old Czech a, from Proto-Slavic *a, from Proto-Balto-Slavic *ō.
Pronunciation[edit]
Conjunction[edit]
a
Further reading[edit]
- a in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
- a in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
Dakota[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (uppercase A)
- This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text
{{rfdef}}
.
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) A a (Á á), B b, Č č, Čh čh, Čʼ čʼ, D d, E e (É é), G g, Ǧ ǧ, H h, Ȟ ȟ, I i (Í í), K k, Kh kh, Kȟ kȟ, Kʼ kʼ, M m, N n, ŋ, O o (Ó ó), P p, Ph ph, Pȟ pȟ, Pʼ pʼ, S s, Š š, T t, Th th, Tȟ tȟ, Tʼ tʼ, U u (Ú ú), W w, Y y, Z z, Ž ž, ʼ
Dalmatian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
Danish[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Danish alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
a n (singular definite a'et, plural indefinite a'er)
Inflection[edit]
Etymology 3[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- à (unofficial but common)
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
Etymology 4[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
a
- imperative of ae
Dutch[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Dutch alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin script letters) letter; Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz
Etymology 2[edit]
From Middle Dutch â, from Old Dutch ā, from Proto-Germanic *ahwō.
Alternative forms[edit]
Noun[edit]
a f (plural a's, diminutive aatje)
Related terms[edit]
Further reading[edit]
Aa (waternaam) on the Dutch Wikipedia.Wikipedia nl
Etymology 3[edit]
From Middle Dutch jou, from Old Dutch *jū, a northern (Frisian?) variant of *iu, from Proto-Germanic *iwwiz, a West Germanic variant of *izwiz. Doublet of u.
Pronoun[edit]
a
Synonyms[edit]
Egyptian[edit]
Romanization[edit]
a
Emilian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a (personal, nominative case)
Alternative forms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Number | Person | Gender | Disjunctive (tonic) |
Nominative (subject) |
Accusative (direct complement) |
Dative (indirect complement) |
Reflexive (-self) |
Comitative (with) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | First | — | mè | a | me | mêg | ||
Second | — | tè | et | te | têg | |||
Third | Masculine | ló | al | ge | se | sêg | ||
Feminine | lê | la | ||||||
Plural | First | Masculine | nuēter | a | se | nōsk | ||
Feminine | nuētri | |||||||
Second | Masculine | vuēter | a | ve | vōsk | |||
Feminine | vuētri | |||||||
Third | Masculine | lôr | i | ge | se | sêg | ||
Feminine | el | li |
Esperanto[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Esperanto alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
Noun[edit]
a (accusative singular a-on, plural a-oj, accusative plural a-ojn)
- The name of the Latin script letter A/a.
See also[edit]
Estonian[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Estonian alphabet, called aa and written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) täht; A a, B b (C c), D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p (Q q), R r, S s, Š š, Z z, Ž ž, T t, U u, V v (W w), Õ õ, Ä ä, Ö ö, Ü ü (X x, Y y)
Noun[edit]
a (genitive a or a', partitive a-d or a'd)
Declension[edit]
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
nominative | a- | a-d |
accusative | a- | a-d |
genitive | a- | a-de |
partitive | a-d | a-id a-sid |
illative | a-sse | a-desse a-isse |
inessive | a-s | a-des a-is |
elative | a-st | a-dest a-ist |
allative | a-le | a-dele a-ile |
adessive | a-l | a-del a-il |
ablative | a-lt | a-delt a-ilt |
translative | a-ks | a-deks a-iks |
terminative | a-ni | a-deni |
essive | a-na | a-dena |
abessive | a-ta | a-deta |
comitative | a-ga | a-dega |
(music):
singular | plural | |
---|---|---|
nominative | a' | a'd |
accusative | a' | a'd |
genitive | a' | a'de |
partitive | a'd | a'id a'sid |
illative | a'sse | a'desse a'isse |
inessive | a's | a'des a'is |
elative | a'st | a'dest a'ist |
allative | a'le | a'dele a'ile |
adessive | a'l | a'del a'il |
ablative | a'lt | a'delt a'ilt |
translative | a'ks | a'deks a'iks |
terminative | a'ni | a'deni |
essive | a'na | a'dena |
abessive | a'ta | a'deta |
comitative | a'ga | a'dega |
Etymology 2[edit]
Clipping of aga. Probably influenced by Russian а.
Conjunction[edit]
a
- (colloquial, in fast speech) but
Etymology 3[edit]
Noun[edit]
a
- Abbreviation of aasta.
- Abbreviation of aar.
References[edit]
Fala[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Old Galician-Portuguese á, from Latin illa (“that”).
Article[edit]
a f sg (plural as, masculine u or o, masculine plural us or os)
- Feminine singular definite article; the
- 2000, Domingo Frades Gaspar, Vamus a falal: Notas pâ coñocel y platical en nosa fala, Editora regional da Extremadura, Chapter 1: Lengua Española:
- A grandeda da lengua española é indiscotibli, i sei estudio, utilización defensa debin sel algo consostancial a nos, […]
- The greatness of the Spanish language is unquestionable, and its study, use and defense must be something consubstantial to us, […]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- Third person singular feminine accusative pronoun; her
See also[edit]
nominative | dative | accusative | disjunctive | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
first person | singular | ei | me, -mi | mi | ||
plural | common | nos | musL nusLV nos, -nusM |
nos | ||
masculine | noshotrusM | noshotrusM | ||||
feminine | noshotrasM | noshotrasM | ||||
second person | singular | tú | te, -ti | ti | ||
plural | common | vos | vusLV vos, -vusM |
vos | ||
masculine | voshotrusM | voshotrusM | ||||
feminine | voshotrasM | voshotrasM | ||||
third person | singular | masculine | el | le, -li | uLV, oM | el |
feminine | ela | a | ela | |||
plural | masculine | elis | usLV, osM | elis | ||
feminine | elas | as | elas | |||
reflexive | — | se, -si | sí |
Etymology 2[edit]
From Old Galician-Portuguese a, from Latin ad (“to”).
Preposition[edit]
a
- to
- 2000, Domingo Frades Gaspar, Vamus a falal: Notas pâ coñocel y platical en nosa fala, Editora regional da Extremadura, Chapter 1: Lengua Española:
- A grandeda da lengua española é indiscotibli, i sei estudio, utilización defensa debin sel algo consostancial a nos, […]
- The greatness of the Spanish language is unquestionable, and its study, use and defense must be something consubstantial to us, […]
References[edit]
- Valeš, Miroslav (2021) Diccionariu de A Fala: lagarteiru, mañegu, valverdeñu (web)[6], 2nd edition, Minde, Portugal: CIDLeS, published 2022, →ISBN
Faroese[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (upper case A)
- The first letter of the Faroese alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin script letters) bókstavur; Aa, Áá, Bb, Dd, Ðð, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Íí, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Óó, Pp, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Úú, Vv, Yy, Ýý, Ææ, Øø
Finnish[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
The Finnish orthography using the Latin script was based on Swedish, German and Latin, and was first used in the mid-16th century. No earlier script is known. See the Wikipedia article on Finnish for more information, and a for information on the development of the glyph itself.
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Finnish alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) kirjain; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s (Š š), T t, U u, V v (W w), X x, Y y, Z z (Ž ž), Å å, Ä ä, Ö ö
Etymology 2[edit]
Noun[edit]
a
Usage notes[edit]
Capitalized for the great octave or any octave below that, or in names of major keys; not capitalized for the small octave or any octave above that, or in names of minor keys.
Declension[edit]
Declension of a (type maa)
|
Franco-Provençal[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
French[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the French alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Noun[edit]
a m or f (plural as)
Derived terms[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
Quebec eye-dialect spelling of elle.
Pronunciation[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a f
- (Quebec, colloquial) alternative form of elle (“she”)
- C’te fille-là, a’a l’air cute.
- That girl, she looks cute.
Etymology 3[edit]
From Old French a, at from Vulgar Latin *at, from Latin habet.
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
a
- third-person singular present indicative of avoir
- Elle a un chat.
- She has a cat.
See also[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- “a”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Fula[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Fula alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Usage notes[edit]
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) karfeeje; ', A a, B b, Mb mb, Ɓ ɓ, C c, D d, Nd nd, Ɗ ɗ, E e, F f, G g, Ng ng, Ɠ ɠ, H h, I i, J j, Nj nj, K k, L l, M m, N n, Ŋ ŋ, Ñ ñ, Ɲ ɲ, O o, P p, R r, S s, T t, U u, W w, Y y, Ƴ ƴ
Etymology 2[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- you (second person singular subject pronoun; short form)
Usage notes[edit]
- Common to all varieties of Fula (Fulfulde / Pulaar / Pular).
- Used in all conjugations except the affirmative non-accomplished, where the long form is used instead.
See also[edit]
- aɗa (second person singular subject pronoun; long form), hiɗa (variant used in the Pular dialect of Futa Jalon)
- aan (emphatic form) (Maasina)
- an (emphatic form) (Pular)
- maaɗa (second person singular possessive pronoun (Adamawa))
- -maa (second person singular dependent pronoun (Adamawa))
Galician[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- to, toward; indicating direction of motion
- introducing an indirect object
- used to indicate the time of an action
- (with de) to, until; used to indicate the end of a range
- de cinco a oito ― from five to eight
- by, on, by means of; expresses a mode of action
- a pé ― on foot
- for; indicates price or cost
Usage notes[edit]
The preposition a regularly forms contractions when it precedes the definite article o, a, os, and as. For example, a o ("to the") contracts to ao or ó, and a a ("to the") contracts to á.
Derived terms[edit]
- | Singular | Plural |
---|---|---|
Masculine | ao (ó) | aos (ós) |
Feminine | á | ás |
Etymology 2[edit]
From Old Galician-Portuguese a, from Latin illa, feminine of ille (“that”).
Pronunciation[edit]
Article[edit]
a f (masculine singular o, feminine plural as, masculine plural os)
- (definite) the
Usage notes[edit]
The definite article o (in all its forms) regularly forms contractions when it follows the prepositions a (“to”), con (“with”), de (“of, from”), and en (“in”). For example, con a (“with the”) contracts to coa, and en a (“in the”) contracts to na.
Also, the definite article presents a second form that could be represented as <-lo/-la/-los/-las>, or either lack any specific representation. Its origin is in the assimilation of the last consonant of words ended in -s or -r, due to sandhi, with the /l/ present in the article in pre-Galician-Portuguese period. So Vou comer o caldo or Vou come-lo caldo are representations of /ˈβowˈkomelo̝ˈkaldo̝/ ("I'm going to have my soup"). This phenomenon, rare in Portuguese, is already documented in 13th century Medieval Galician texts, as the Cantigas de Santa Maria.[1]
Derived terms[edit]
Etymology 3[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
a m (plural as)
- a (name of the letter A, a)
Etymology 4[edit]
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Pronoun[edit]
a
- accusative of ela
Usage notes[edit]
Due to sandhi, the accusative form o (in all its forms) regularly changes to -lo after verbal forms ended in ⟨r⟩ or ⟨s⟩, and to -no after verbal forms ended in a semivowel:
- Eu apagueina 'I quenched it' < apaguei‿a
- Ti apagáchela 'You quenched it' < apagaches‿a
- El apagouna 'He quenched it' < apagou‿a
- Nós apagámola 'We quenched it' < apagamos‿a
- Temos de apagala 'We must quench it' < apagar‿a
References[edit]
- ^ Vaz Leão, Ângela (2000), “Questões de linguagem nas Cantigas de Santa Maria, de Afonso X”, in Scripta[1], volume 4, issue 7, , retrieved 16 November 2017, pages 11-24
German[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the German alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Noun[edit]
a n (strong, genitive a or as, plural a or as)
- Alternative form of A
Etymology 2[edit]
Noun[edit]
a
- Abbreviation of a-Moll.
- Abbreviation of Ar.
Gilbertese[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Proto-Oceanic *pat, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *əpat, from Proto-Austronesian *Səpat.
Pronunciation[edit]
Numeral[edit]
a
Gothic[edit]
Romanization[edit]
a
- Romanization of 𐌰
Grass Koiari[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- you (singular)
References[edit]
- 2010, Terry Crowley & Claire Bowern, An Introduction to Historical Linguistics, fourth edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 142.
Gun[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
à
- you (second-person singular subject pronoun)
See also[edit]
Gungbe personal pronouns | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number | Person | Emphatic Pronoun | Subject Pronoun | Object Pronoun | Possessive Determiner | |
Singular | First | nyɛ́, yẹ́n | ùn, n | mi | cé, ṣié | |
Second | jɛ̀, jẹ̀, yẹ̀, hiẹ̀ | à | wè | tòwè | ||
Third | éɔ̀, úɔ̀, éwọ̀ | é | è | étɔ̀n, étọ̀n | ||
Plural | First | mílɛ́, mílẹ́ | mí | mítɔ̀n, mítọ̀n | ||
Second | mìlɛ́, mìlẹ́ | mì | mìtɔ̀n, mìtọ̀n | |||
Third | yélɛ́, yélẹ́ | yé | yétɔ̀n, yétọ̀n |
Haitian Creole[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Article[edit]
a
Usage notes[edit]
This term only follows words that end with an oral (non-nasal) consonant and an oral vowel in that order, and can only modify singular nouns.
See also[edit]
Hawaiian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Conjunction[edit]
a
Preposition[edit]
a
Usage notes[edit]
- Used for acquired possessions, while o is used for possessions that are inherited, out of personal control, and for things that can be got into (houses, clothes, cars).
Hungarian[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
See az.
Pronunciation[edit]
Article[edit]
a (definite)
- the
- a hölgy ― the lady
- (before some time phrases) this
- a héten ― (during) this week
- a télen ― (in) this winter
Usage notes[edit]
Used before words starting with a consonant.
Related terms[edit]
- az (for words starting with a vowel sound)
Pronoun[edit]
a (demonstrative)
- (in reduplicated constructions formed with postpositions) that
- A mellett a ház mellett vártam rá. ― I waited for him/her next to that house.
Determiner[edit]
a (demonstrative)
- (rare, only in consonant-initial fixed phrases, with zero article) Alternative form of az (“that”).
- Foglalja össze, miről szóltak az a heti beszédek és leckék.[1] ― Summarize what that week’s sermons and lessons were about.
- November 12-én, az a havi frissítőkedden jelenhet meg. ― It may be released on November 12th, on the Patch Tuesday of that month.
- Kérjük szíves tájékoztatásukat a tekintetben, hogy… (= abban a tekintetben, see az) ― We kindly request your information in that [= the] aspect…
- amondó vagyok, hogy… ― I am of the opinion that…, what/all I can / want to say is that… (literally, “I am that-sayer/-saying…”)
Etymology 2[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (letter or phoneme itself): IPA(key): [ˈɒː][2]
- (identifier or musical note): IPA(key): [ˈaː] (in the names of minor scales; see also A)
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Hungarian alphabet, written in the Latin script.
- (music) designation of the sixth note from C and the corresponding tone
Derived terms[edit]
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) betű; A a, Á á, B b, C c, Cs cs, D d, Dz dz, Dzs dzs, E e, É é, F f, G g, Gy gy, H h, I i, Í í, J j, K k, L l, Ly ly, M m, N n, Ny ny, O o, Ó ó, Ö ö, Ő ő, P p, Q q, R r, S s, Sz sz, T t, Ty ty, U u, Ú ú, Ü ü, Ű ű, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z, Zs zs
References[edit]
- ^ a heti at e-nyelv.hu
- ^ Siptár, Péter and Miklós Törkenczy. The Phonology of Hungarian. The Phonology of the World’s Languages. Oxford University Press, 2007. →ISBN, p. 280
Further reading[edit]
- a in Ittzés, Nóra (ed.). A magyar nyelv nagyszótára (’A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published A–ez as of 2021)
- Entries in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (’The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: ISBN 9630535793
Icelandic[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (upper case A)
- The first letter of the Icelandic alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Noun[edit]
a ?
- The name of the Latin-script letter A.
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) bókstafur; A a, Á á, B b, D d, Ð ð, E e, É é, F f, G g, H h, I i, Í í, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, Ó ó, P p, R r, S s, T t, U u, Ú ú, V v, X x, Y y, Ý ý, Þ þ, Æ æ, Ö ö
Ido[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Ido alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) litero; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L, l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z
Noun[edit]
a (plural a-i)
- The name of the Latin script letter A/a.
See also[edit]
- (Latin script letter names) litero; a, be, ce, che, de, e, fe, ge, he, i, je, ke, le, me, ne, o, pe, que, re, se, she, te, u, ve, we, xe, ye, ze (Category: io:Latin letter names)
Preposition[edit]
a
Related terms[edit]
Igbo[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (upper case A, lower case a)
- The first letter of the Igbo alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Etymology 1[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- e (neutral tongue position)
Pronunciation[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- (indefinite) somebody, one, they, people (an unspecified individual).
- A gwara ya ka ọ bịa.
- He/she was told to come.
- A gwara ya ka ọ bịa.
Usage notes[edit]
- Often gets translated into English with the passive voice.
See also[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Determiner[edit]
a
- this.
Related terms[edit]
Indo-Portuguese[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Portuguese a.
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- to
- 1883, Hugo Schuchardt, Kreolische Studien, volume 3 (overall work in German):
- […] , que da-cá su quião que ta pertencê a êll.
- […] , to give him his share which belongs to him.
Indonesian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Indonesian alphabet, called id and written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin script letters) Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz
Ingrian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Conjunction[edit]
a
- and, but
- 1936, N. A. Iljin and V. I. Junus, Bukvari iƶoroin șkouluja vart, Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 17:
- A siä Jaakko, kuhu määt?
- And you Jaakko, where are you going?
- 1936, L. G. Terehova, V. G. Erdeli, translated by Mihailov and P. I. Maksimov, Geografia: oppikirja iƶoroin alkușkoulun kolmatta klaassaa vart (ensimäine osa), Leningrad: Riikin Ucebno-Pedagogiceskoi Izdateljstva, page 7:
- keskipäivääl hää [päivyt] on kaikkiin ylemmääl, a siis alkaa laskiissa.
- on midday it [the Sun] is highest, and then it starts to descend.
References[edit]
- Ruben E. Nirvi (1971) Inkeroismurteiden Sanakirja, Helsinki: Suomalais-Ugrilainen Seura, page 1
Interlingua[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
Derived terms[edit]
Inupiaq[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Interjection[edit]
a
Irish[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Old Irish a, from Proto-Celtic *esyo (the final vowel triggering lenition), feminine Proto-Celtic *esyās (the final -s triggering h-prothesis), plural Proto-Celtic *eisom (the final nasal triggering eclipsis), all from the genitive forms of Proto-Indo-European *éy. Cognate with Welsh ei.
Determiner[edit]
a (triggers lenition)
- his, its
- a athair agus a mháthair ― his father and mother
- Chaill an t-éan a chleití.
- The bird lost its feathers.
Determiner[edit]
a (triggers h-prothesis)
- her, its
- a hathair agus a máthair ― her father and mother
- Bhris an mheaig a heiteog.
- The magpie broke its wing.
Determiner[edit]
a (triggers eclipsis)
- their
- a n-athair agus a máthair ― their father and mother
- a dtithe ― their houses
- a n-ainmneacha ― their names
- (Connacht) our
- (Connacht) your (plural)
See also[edit]
Number | Person (and gender) | Conjunctive (emphatic) |
Disjunctive (emphatic) |
Possessive determiner |
---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | First | mé (mise) |
mo L m' before vowel sounds | |
Second | tú (tusa)1 |
thú (thusa) |
do L d' before vowel sounds | |
Third masculine | sé (seisean) |
é (eisean) |
a L | |
Third feminine | sí (sise) |
í (ise) |
a H | |
Third neuter | — | ea | — | |
Plural | First | muid, sinn (muidne, muide), (sinne) |
ár E | |
Second | sibh (sibhse)1 |
bhur E | ||
Third | siad (siadsan) |
iad (iadsan) |
a E |
Determiner[edit]
a (triggers lenition)
- how (used with an abstract noun)
- A ghéire a labhair sí!
- How sharply she spoke!
- A fheabhas atá sé!
- How good it is!
Etymology 2[edit]
A reduced form of older do (itself a reanalysis of do used in past tenses, and also present in early modern verbs like do-bheirim (“I give”), do-chím (“I see”)), or from the preverb a- in early modern verbs like a-tú (“I am”), a-deirim (“I say”) in relative clauses.
Particle[edit]
a (triggers lenition except of d’ and of past autonomous forms)
- introduces a direct relative clause, takes the independent form of an irregular verb
- an fear a chuireann síol ― the man who sows seed
- an síol a chuireann an fear ― the seed that the man sows
- an síol a cuireadh ― the seed that was sown
- nuair a bhí mé óg ― when I was young
- an cat a d'ól an bainne ― the cat that drank the milk
References[edit]
- Gerald O’Nolan (1920) Studies in Modern Irish[7], volume 1, pages 89, 93–94
Etymology 3[edit]
From Old Irish a (“that, which the relative particle used after prepositions”), reanalyzed as an independent indirect relative particle from forms like ar a (“on which, on whom”), dá (“to which, to whom”), or early modern le a (“with which, with whom”), agá (“at which, at whom”) when prepositional pronouns started to be repeated in such clauses (eg. don té agá mbíon cloidheamh (…) aige, daoine agá mbíonn grádh aco do Dhia). Compare the forms used in Munster instead: go (from agá (“at which”)) and na (from i n-a (“in which”), go n-a (“with which”), ria n-a (“before which”) and later lena (“with which”), tréna (“through which”)).
Particle[edit]
a (triggers eclipsis, takes the dependent form of an irregular verb; not used in the past tense except with some irregular verbs)
- introduces an indirect relative clause
- an bord a raibh leabhar air ― the table on which there was a book
- an fear a bhfuil a mhac ag imeacht ― the man whose son is going away
Related terms[edit]
- ar (used with the past tense of regular and some irregular verbs)
Pronoun[edit]
a (triggers eclipsis, takes the dependent form of an irregular verb; not used in the past tense except with some irregular verbs)
- all that, whatever
- Sin a bhfuil ann.
- That's all that is there.
- An bhfuair tú a raibh uait?
- Did you get all that you wanted?
- Íocfaidh mé as a gceannóidh tú.
- I will pay for whatever you buy.
Related terms[edit]
- ar (used with the past tense of regular and some irregular verbs)
References[edit]
- Nicholas Williams (1994), “Na Canúintí a Theacht chun Solais”, in K. McCone, D. McManus, C. Ó Háinle, N. Williams, L. Breatnach, editors, Stair na Gaeilge: in ómós do P[h]ádraig Ó Fiannachta (in Irish), Maynooth: Roinn na Sean-Ghaeilge, Coláiste Phádraig, →ISBN, page 464: “Tháinig nós chun cinn sa 17ú haois freisin an réamhfhocal a dhúbláil: don té agá mbíonn cloidheamh..aige; daoine agá mbíonn grádh aco do Dhia (Ó Cuív, 1952b, 177), an tí ag a bhfuil a bheag do chuntabhairt aige (Williams, 1986, 155).”
- Gerald O’Nolan (1934) The New Era Grammar of Modern Irish, The Educational Company of Ireland Ltd., page 56
Etymology 4[edit]
Particle[edit]
a (triggers lenition)
- introduces a vocative
- A Dhia!
- O God!
- A dhuine uasail!
- Sir!
- Tar isteach, a Sheáin.
- Come in, Seán.
- A amadáin!
- You fool!
Etymology 5[edit]
Particle[edit]
a (triggers h-prothesis)
- introduces a numeral
- a haon, a dó, a trí... ― one, two, three...
- Séamas a Dó ― James the Second
- bus a seacht ― bus seven
Etymology 6[edit]
Originally a reduced form of do.
Preposition[edit]
a (plus dative, triggers lenition)
- to (used with verbal nouns)
- síol a chur ― to sow seed
- uisce a ól ― to drink water
- an rud atá sé a scríobh ― what he is writing
- D’éirigh sé a chaint.
- He rose to speak.
- Téigh a chodladh.
- Go to sleep.
Mutation[edit]
Irish mutation | |||
---|---|---|---|
Radical | Eclipsis | with h-prothesis | with t-prothesis |
a | n-a | ha | not applicable |
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. |
Further reading[edit]
- Ó Dónaill, Niall (1977), “a”, in Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla, Dublin: An Gúm, →ISBN
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “1 a (vocative particle)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “2 a (‘his, her, their’)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “3 a (particle used before numerals)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
- G. Toner, M. Ní Mhaonaigh, S. Arbuthnot, D. Wodtko, M.-L. Theuerkauf, editors (2019), “4 a (‘that which’)”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Istriot[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- at
- 1877, Antonio Ive, Canti popolari istriani: raccolti a Rovigno, volume 5, Ermanno Loescher, page 99:
- A poûpa, a prùa a xì doûto bandere,
- At the stern, at the bow everything is flags,
- A poûpa, a prùa a xì doûto bandere,
- 1877, Antonio Ive, Canti popolari istriani: raccolti a Rovigno, volume 5, Ermanno Loescher, page 99:
Particle[edit]
a
- emphasises a verb; mandatory with impersonal verbs
- 1877, Antonio Ive, Canti popolari istriani: raccolti a Rovigno, volume 5, Ermanno Loescher, page 99:
- A poûpa, a prùa a xì doûto bandere,
- At the stern, at the bow everything is flags,
- A poûpa, a prùa a xì doûto bandere,
- 1877, Antonio Ive, Canti popolari istriani: raccolti a Rovigno, volume 5, Ermanno Loescher, page 99:
Italian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Latin ā (the name of the letter A).
Letter[edit]
a f or m (invariable, lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Italian alphabet, called a and written in the Latin script.
Noun[edit]
a f (invariable)
- The name of the Latin-script letter A.; a
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letter names) lettera; a, bi, ci, di, e, effe, gi, acca, i, i lunga, kappa, elle, emme, enne, o, pi, cu, erre, esse, ti, u, vu, doppia vu, ics, ipsilon, zeta
Etymology 2[edit]
From Latin ad. In a few phrases, a stems from Latin ā, ab.
Preposition[edit]
a
- Indicates the indirect object. to
- Porta questo cesto alla nonna.
- Bring this basket to grandma.
- Ai gatti piacciono i pesci.
- Cats like fish.
- (literally, “Fish are pleasable to cats.”)
- E lo chiedi a me?
- You're asking that to me?
- Indicates the place, used in some contexts, in others in is used. in, to
- Andiamo a casa?
- Can we go home?
- (literally, “Can we go to home?”)
- Ora sto a Palermo, a Roma ci torno domani.
- I'm in Palermo now, I'll go back to Rome tomorrow.
- Denotes the manner. with
- Forms adverbs meaning “in a manner related or resembling ~”.
- a cappella, a bestia, a braccio, a pennello, etc. ― (please add an English translation of this usage example)
- Forms goodbye formulas from the time the persons will meet again. see you...
- A domani! ― See you tomorrow!
- A dopo! ― See you later!
- Al prossimo Natale! ― See you next Christmas!
- Introduces the ingredients of a dish, perfume, etc. with
- pasta all'uovo ― pasta with eggs
- cornetto al cioccolato ― chocolate croissant
- shampoo al limone ― lemon shampoo
- patatine alla pizza ― pizza-flavoured crisps
- (central-southern Italy) Denotes the direct object, but only if it's not preceded by articles
- Chiama a Paolo.
- Call Paolo.
- E non ci avevi visto a noi?
- And you didn't see us?
- Ascolti a me, signó!
- Listen to me, ma'am!
- (followed by the definite article) Forms an interjection that gives an instruction or calls attention to something.
- Al ladro! ― Thief!
- Al fuoco! ― Fire!
- Al lupo! ― Wolf!
- All'attacco! ― Attack!
- All'arrembaggio! ― Assault! (yelled by pirates)
- (regional) Forms continuous tense when preceded by stare and followed by verb infinitives. -ing. The standard language for this scope uses gerunds.
- che stai a dì? ― what are you saying?
- stavo a dormì ― I was sleeping
- Repeated indicates the amount by which something grows. by
- a due a due ― two by two; in pairs
- a poco a poco ― little by little
- Indicates the agent of a verb in some contexts. by. Sometimes interchangable with da.
- L'ho sentito dire a Livia.
- I heard Livia say it.
- (literally, “I heard it said by Livia.”)
- c. 1909, Luigi Pirandello, chapter 2.3, in I vecchi e i giovani:
- Mi duole, creda, sinceramente, veder fare a un uomo come lei, per cui ho tanta stima, una figura... non bella, via! non bella.
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
Usage notes[edit]
- When followed by a word that begins with a vowel sound, the form ad is used instead.
- When followed by the definite article, a combines with the article to produce the following combined forms:
a + article Combined form a + il al a + lo allo a + l' all' a + i ai a + gli agli a + la alla a + le alle
Descendants[edit]
- → Norwegian Bokmål: a (learned)
Etymology 3[edit]
Verb[edit]
a
- Misspelling of ha.
References[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- a in Luciano Canepari, Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)
Japanese[edit]
Romanization[edit]
a
Jersey Dutch[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a
K'iche'[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Adjective[edit]
a
- masculine youth indicator
Adverb[edit]
a
- (interrogatory) indicator of a question
Pronoun[edit]
a
- your
References[edit]
- Allen J. Christenson, Kʼiche-English dictionary, page 7
Kabuverdianu[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (uppercase A)
- The first letter of the Kabuverdianu alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Kabyle[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Determiner[edit]
a
- this
- a rgaz a
- this man
Kalasha[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a (Arabic آ)
- I (1st-person personal pronoun)
See also[edit]
Kapampangan[edit]
Ligature[edit]
a
- Connects adjectives to nouns.
- Romantiku a bengi.
- A romantic night.
- Pinakapalsintan a tau.
- The person I love the most.
- Mayap a abak.
- Good morning.
- Mayap a bengi.
- Good night.
- Dakal a salamat.
- Thank you very much.
See also[edit]
Kashubian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
The Kashubian orthography is based on the Latin alphabet. No earlier script is known. See the Kashubian alphabet article on Wikipedia for more, and a for development of the glyph itself.
Letter[edit]
a (lowercase, uppercase A)
- The first letter of the Kashubian alphabet, called a and written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) A a, Ą ą, Ã ã, B b, C c, D d, E e, É é, Ë ë, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, Ł ł, M m, N n, O o, Ò ò, Ó ó, Ô ô, P p, R r, S s, T t, U u, Ù ù, W w, Y y, Z z, Ż ż
Etymology 2[edit]
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a.
Conjunction[edit]
a
- and (used to continue a previous statement or to add to it)
Noun[edit]
a n
Etymology 3[edit]
Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a.
Interjection[edit]
a
- Interjection that expresses various emotions; ah!
Further reading[edit]
- Stefan Ramułt (1893), “a”, in Słownik języka pomorskiego czyli kaszubskiego, page 1
- Eùgeniusz Gòłąbk (2011), “a”, in Słownik Polsko-Kaszubski / Słowôrz Pòlskò-Kaszëbsczi, volume 1, page 9
- “A, a”, in Internetowi Słowôrz Kaszëbsczégò Jãzëka [Internet Dictionary of the Kashubian Language], Fundacja Kaszuby, 2022
- “a!”, in Internetowi Słowôrz Kaszëbsczégò Jãzëka [Internet Dictionary of the Kashubian Language], Fundacja Kaszuby, 2022
Kayan[edit]
Letter[edit]
a
- a the first letter of Kayan alphabet.
Pronoun[edit]
a
Koitabu[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- you (singular)
References[edit]
- Terry Crowley, Claire Bowern, An Introduction to Historical Linguistics
Krisa[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
a m
- pig
- Nana a doma.
- I shot your pig.
References[edit]
- Donohue, Mark and San Roque, Lila. I'saka: a sketch grammar of a language of north-central New Guinea. (Pacific Linguistics, 554.) (2004).
Ladin[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
Derived terms[edit]
Lashi[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Adverb[edit]
a
References[edit]
- Hkaw Luk (2017) A grammatical sketch of Lacid[8], Chiang Mai: Payap University (master thesis)
Latgalian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Ultimately from Proto-Balto-Slavic *ō. The source is not clear:
- Probably borrowed from a Slavic language (compare Russian а (a) and Belarusian а (a)).
- Alternatively, irregularly shortened from *ā, inherited from *ō.
Compare Lithuanian o.
Pronunciation[edit]
Conjunction[edit]
a f
References[edit]
- A. Andronov; L. Leikuma (2008) Latgalīšu-Latvīšu-Krīvu sarunu vuordineica, Lvava, →ISBN
Latin[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Ancient Greek Α (A, “alpha”), likely through Etruscan.
Pronunciation[edit]
(letter name):
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- (sometimes with littera) the first letter of the Latin alphabet.
- littera a ― the letter a
Etymology 2[edit]
From Etruscan.
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
ā f (indeclinable)
- The name of the letter A.
Coordinate terms[edit]
- (Latin-script letter names) littera; ā, bē, cē, dē, ē, ef, gē, hā / *acca, ī, kā, el, em, en, ō, pē, kū, er, es, tē, ū, ix / īx / ex, ȳ / ī graeca / ȳpsīlon, zēta
Etymology 3[edit]
Alternative form of ab by apocope (not used before a vowel or h).
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
ā (+ ablative)
- (indicating ablation): from, away from, out of
- c. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Gallico 1.1:
- Gallōs ab Aquītānīs Garumna flūmen, ā Belgīs Matrona et Sēquana dīvidit.
- The river Garonne separates the Gauls from the Aquitani; the Marne and the Seine (separate them) from the Belgae.
- Gallōs ab Aquītānīs Garumna flūmen, ā Belgīs Matrona et Sēquana dīvidit.
- (indicating ablation): down from
- (indicating agency): (source of action or event) by, by means of
- 45 BCE, Cicero, De finibus bonorum et malorum 1.2:
- Quamquam philosophiae quidem vituperātōribus satis respōnsum est eō librō, quō ā nōbīs philosophia dēfēnsa et collaudāta est, cum esset accūsāta et vituperāta ab Hortēnsiō.
- Although indeed to the vituperators of philosophy an adequate response is in that book, in which philosophy has been defended and highly praised by us [me], when it had been accused and vituperated by Hortensius.
- Quamquam philosophiae quidem vituperātōribus satis respōnsum est eō librō, quō ā nōbīs philosophia dēfēnsa et collaudāta est, cum esset accūsāta et vituperāta ab Hortēnsiō.
- (indicating instrumentality): (source of action or event) by, by means of, with
- (indicating association): to, with
- 163 BCE, Publius Terentius Afer, Heauton Timorumenos 1.77:
- Homō sum, hūmānī nihil ā mē aliēnum putō.
- I am a man; I consider nothing that is human alien to me.
- Homō sum, hūmānī nihil ā mē aliēnum putō.
- (indicating location): at, on, in
- (time) after, since
Usage notes[edit]
Used in conjunction with passive verbs to mark the agent.
- Liber ā discipulō aperītur.
- The book is opened by the student.
Derived terms[edit]
Descendants[edit]
Etymology 4[edit]
Expressive.
Pronunciation[edit]
Interjection[edit]
ā
Latvian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Proposed in 1908 as part of the new Latvian spelling by the scientific commission headed by K. Mīlenbahs, which was accepted and began to be taught in schools in 1909. Prior to that, Latvian had been written in German Fraktur, and sporadically in Cyrillic.
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]

a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Latvian alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latvian letters) latviešu burti; Aa, Āā, Bb, Cc, Čč, Dd, Ee, Ēē, Ff, Gg, Ģģ, Hh, Ii, Īī, Jj, Kk, Ķķ, Ll, Ļļ, Mm, Nn, Ņņ, Oo, Pp, Rr, Ss, Šš, Tt, Uu, Ūū, Vv, Zz, Žž
Noun[edit]
a m (invariable)
- The name of the Latin script letter A/a.
See also[edit]
- (Latvian letter names) latviešu burtu vārdi; a, garais ā, bē, cē, čē, dē, e, garais ē, ef, gā, ģē, hā, i, garais ī, jē, kā, ķē, el, eļ, em, en, eņ, o, pē, er, es, eš, tē, u, garais ū, vē, zē, žē
Further reading[edit]
a on the Latvian Wikipedia.Wikipedia lv
Laz[edit]
Determiner[edit]
a
- Latin spelling of ა (a)
Letter[edit]
a
- The first letter of the Laz alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) burts; A a, B b, C c, Ç ç, Ç̌ ç̌, D d, E e, F f, G g, Ğ ğ, H h, İ i, J j, K k, Ǩ ǩ, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, P̌ p̌, Q q, R r, S s, Ş ş, T t, Ť ť, U u, V v, X x, Y y, Z z, Ž ž, Ʒ ʒ, Ǯ ǯ
Numeral[edit]
a
- Latin spelling of ა (a)
Ligurian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Ligurian Definite Articles | ||
---|---|---|
singular | plural | |
masculine | o | i |
feminine | a | e |
Article[edit]
a f sg (plural e)
Etymology 2[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- in
- at
- to
- Vàddo a câza. ― I'm going home. (literally, “I go to home.”)
- indicates the direct object, mainly to avoid confusion when it, the subject, or both are displaced, or for emphasis
- A mæ seu ghe fa mâ 'n bràsso. ― My sister's arm hurts. (literally, “To my sister an arm hurts.”)
Livonian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (upper case A)
- The first letter of the Livonian alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Louisiana Creole[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From French avoir (“to have”).
Verb[edit]
a
- to have
Lower Sorbian[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (upper case A)
- The first letter of the Lower Sorbian alphabet, called a and written in the Latin script.
- The name of the Latin-script letter a.
Conjunction[edit]
a
See also[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- Muka, Arnošt (1921, 1928), “a”, in Słownik dolnoserbskeje rěcy a jeje narěcow (in German), St. Petersburg, Prague: ОРЯС РАН, ČAVU; Reprinted Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag, 2008
- Starosta, Manfred (1999), “a”, in Dolnoserbsko-nimski słownik / Niedersorbisch-deutsches Wörterbuch (in German), Bautzen: Domowina-Verlag
Lushootseed[edit]
Letter[edit]
a
- The second letter of the Lushootseed alphabet, pronounced as an open back unrounded vowel.
Malay[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Malay alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin script letters) Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz
Interjection[edit]
a (Jawi spelling ا)
- Used to show excitement or to show agreement.
- A, macam itulah sepatutnya kaujawab!
- Yes, that's how you should answer!
- Used to show that you have forgotten or are attempting to remember something.
- Dia ni, a, salah seorang Perdana Menteri Britain dulu.
- This guy is, uh, one of Britain's Prime Ministers in the past.
Further reading[edit]
- “a” in Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu | Malay Literary Reference Centre, Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, 2017.
Maltese[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Maltese alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) ittra; A a, B b, Ċ ċ, D d, E e, F f, Ġ ġ, G g, Għ għ, H h, Ħ ħ, I i, Ie ie, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Ż ż, Z z
Mandarin[edit]
Romanization[edit]
- Hanyu Pinyin reading of 呵
- Hanyu Pinyin reading of 啊
- Hanyu Pinyin reading of 阿
a
- Nonstandard spelling of ā.
- Nonstandard spelling of á.
- Nonstandard spelling of ǎ.
- Nonstandard spelling of à.
Usage notes[edit]
- Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.
Mandinka[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- he, him (personal pronoun)
- A m busa ― He/she struck me.
- Y a busa ― They struck him/her.
- she, her (personal pronoun)
- it (personal pronoun)
See also[edit]
Maori[edit]
Particle[edit]
a
Usage notes[edit]
- When used in the sense of of, suggests that the possessor has control of the relationship (alienable possession).
Mezquital Otomi[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Interjection[edit]
a
- expresses satisfaction, pity, fright, or admiration
Etymology 2[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
- ʼa (obsolete)
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
a
- (transitive) wake, awaken
Etymology 3[edit]
From Proto-Otomi *ʔɔ, from Proto-Otomian *ʔɔ.
Alternative forms[edit]
- ʼá (obsolete)
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
a
Derived terms[edit]
References[edit]
- Andrews, Enriqueta (1950) Vocabulario otomí de Tasquillo, Hidalgo[9] (in Spanish), México, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, page 1
- Hernández Cruz, Luis; Victoria Torquemada, Moisés (2010) Diccionario del hñähñu (otomí) del Valle del Mezquital, estado de Hidalgo (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 45)[10] (in Spanish), second edition, Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 3
Middle Dutch[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Old Dutch ā, from Proto-Germanic *ahwō.
Noun[edit]
â f
Inflection[edit]
This noun needs an inflection-table template.
Descendants[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- “a (II)”, in Vroegmiddelnederlands Woordenboek, 2000
Middle English[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- Alternative form of an (mainly preconsonantal)
Etymology 2[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- (Late Middle English) Alternative form of I (“I”)
Etymology 3[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- Alternative form of heo (“she”)
Etymology 4[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- Alternative form of he (“he”)
Etymology 5[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- Alternative form of he (“they”)
Etymology 6[edit]
Numeral[edit]
a
- (Northern, Early Middle English) Alternative form of oo (“one”)
Middle French[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
From Old French a, from Latin ad.
Alternative forms[edit]
- à (after 1550)
Preposition[edit]
a
Etymology 2[edit]
From Old French, from Latin habet.
Verb[edit]
a
Middle Welsh[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Particle[edit]
a (triggers lenition)
- O (vocative particle)
Etymology 2[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a (triggers lenition)
Particle[edit]
a (triggers lenition)
- inserted before the verb when the subject of direct object precedes it
Etymology 3[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Particle[edit]
a (triggers lenition)
- used to introduce a direct question
- whether, used to introduce an indirect question
Etymology 4[edit]
Reduction of o (“from”).
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- used between a focused adjective and the noun it modifies
- Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet:
- bychan a dial oed yn lloski ni, neu yn dienydyaw am y mab
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- it will be small vengeance if we are burnt or put to death because of the child
- Pwyll Pendeuic Dyuet:
Etymology 5[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Conjunction[edit]
a (triggers aspiration)
Etymology 6[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a (triggers aspiration)
Etymology 7[edit]
From Proto-Celtic *ageti, third-person singular present indicative of *ago-, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ-.
Alternative forms[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Verb[edit]
a
Mutation[edit]
Middle Welsh mutation | |||
---|---|---|---|
Radical | Soft | Nasal | H-prothesis |
a | unchanged | unchanged | ha |
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs. |
Min Nan[edit]
For pronunciation and definitions of a – see 阿. (This character, a, is the Pe̍h-ōe-jī form of 阿.) |
Mòcheno[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Middle High German ein, from Old High German ein, from Proto-West Germanic *ain, from Proto-Germanic *ainaz (“one, a”).
Article[edit]
a (oblique masculine an)
References[edit]
- “a” in Cimbrian, Ladin, Mòcheno: Getting to know 3 peoples. 2015. Servizio minoranze linguistiche locali della Provincia autonoma di Trento, Trento, Italy.
Mopan Maya[edit]
Article[edit]
a
References[edit]
- Hofling, Charles Andrew (2011). Mopan Maya–Spanish–English Dictionary, University of Utah Press.
Mountain Koiari[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- you (singular)
References[edit]
- Terry Crowley, Claire Bowern, An Introduction to Historical Linguistics
Murui Huitoto[edit]
Adverb[edit]
a
References[edit]
- Shirley Burtch (1983) Diccionario Huitoto Murui (Tomo I) (Linguistica Peruana No. 20)[11] (in Spanish), Yarinacocha, Peru: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, page 19
Nauruan[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Pronoun[edit]
a
- I (first person singular pronoun)
- 2000, Lisa M Johnson, Firstness of Secondness in Nauruan Morphology (overall work in English):
- a pudun
- 1sing fall+Vn
I fell
- 1sing fall+Vn
- […]
- a nuwawen
- 1pers.sing. go+Vn
I did go. (I left.)
- 1pers.sing. go+Vn
- […]
- a kaiotien aem
- [1pers.sing.] [hear+Vn] [your words]
I hear what you said.
- [1pers.sing.] [hear+Vn] [your words]
- […]
- a nan imoren
- 1pers.sing. FUT health+Vn
I shall be cured (get better).
- 1pers.sing. FUT health+Vn
[edit]
Letter[edit]
a (lower case, upper case A)
- The first letter of the Navajo alphabet, written in the Latin script.
- a = /a˨/
- ą = /ã˨/
- á = /a˥/
- ą́ = /ã˥/
- aa = /aː˨˨/
- ąą = /ãː˨˨/
- áa = /aː˥˨/
- ą́ą = /ãː˥˨/
- aá = /aː˨˥/
- ąą́ = /ãː˨˥/
- áá = /aː˥˥/
- ą́ą́ = /ãː˥˥/
See also[edit]
- (Latin-script letters) A a (Á á, Ą ą, Ą́ ą́), B b, Ch ch, Chʼ chʼ, D d, Dl dl, Dz dz, E e (É é, Ę ę, Ę́ ę́), G g, Gh gh, H h, Hw hw, X x, I i (Í í, Į į, Į́ į́), J j, K k, Kʼ kʼ, Kw kw, ʼ, L l, Ł ł, M m, N n (Ń ń), O o (Ó ó, Ǫ ǫ, Ǫ́ ǫ́), S s, Sh sh, T t, Tʼ tʼ, Tł tł, Tłʼ tłʼ, Ts ts, Tsʼ tsʼ, W w, Y y, Z z, Zh zh
Neapolitan[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
Etymology 1[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
Etymology 2[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- in (locative: staying in a place of relative width)
- to (locative: moving towards a place of relative width)
- to (dative)
Nias[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən, from Proto-Austronesian *kaən.
Verb[edit]
a (imperfective manga)
- (transitive) to eat
References[edit]
- Sundermann, Heinrich. 1905. Niassisch-deutsches Wörterbuch. Moers: Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, p. 15.
Norman[edit]
Verb[edit]
a
Norwegian Bokmål[edit]

Etymology 1[edit]
From Latin a, from Ancient Greek Α (A, “alpha”), likely through the Etruscan language, from Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ), from Proto-Canaanite , from Proto-Sinaitic
, from Egyptian 𓃾, representing the head of an ox.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (letter name): IPA(key): /ɑː/
- (phoneme): IPA(key): /ɑː/, /a/
Audio (file) Audio (file) - Hyphenation: a
- Homophones: A, à, A-, a-, ah
Letter[edit]
a (uppercase A)
- The first letter of the Norwegian Bokmål alphabet, written in the Latin script.
See also[edit]
- (Latin script letters) Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Jj, Kk, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Qq, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu, Vv, Ww, Xx, Yy, Zz, Ææ, Øø, Åå
Noun[edit]
a m (definite singular a-en, indefinite plural a-er, definite plural a-ene)
- the letter a, the first letter of the Norwegian alphabet
- fra A til B ― from A to B
- fra A til Å ― from A to Z
- har man sagt a, må man si b ― if you have said A, you should say B
- 1999, Lars Roar Langslet, I kamp for norsk kultur, page 234:
- bruken av a i bestemt form i hunkjønnsord
- the use of a in the definite form of feminine words
- indicates the first or best entry of a list, order or rank
- Synonyms: A-, a-
- oppgang A ― apartment entrance A
- blodgruppe A ― blood group A
- førerkort i klasse A ― (motorcycle) driver's license in class A
- øl i klasse A ― beer in class A (with 0,0-0,7 volume percent alcohol)
- A post ― A post / priority mail
- A-aksje ― class A-share
- hepatitt A ― hepatitis A
- 1919, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Samlede digter-verker I [Collected poetic works 1], page 454:
- [bokstavene begynte] at gaa sammen, to og to: a stod og hvilte under et træ, som hedte b
- [the letters began] to go together, two by two: a stood and rested under a tree called b
- 1920, Jonas Lie, Samlede Digterverker V, page 389:
- begynde paa Ø istedet for A
- start with Ø instead of A
- 1886, Arne Garborg, Mogning og manndom I, page 172:
- jeg traf sammen med et par generalbanditter, gamle gutter, storartede ranglefanter, 1ste klasse 1 A med stjerne, deilige herremænd
- I met a couple of general bandits, old boys, great revelers, 1st class 1 A with a star, lovely gentlemen
- 1939, Knut Hamsun, Artikler, page 99:
- historie er hvad A mener til forskel fra B, og hvad C igen mener til forskel baade fra A og B om den samme sag
- story is what A thinks differently from B and what C again thinks differently from both A and B about the same case
- the highest grade in a school or university using the A-F scale
- få A til eksamen
- receive an A on an exam
- 2019, Helene Uri, Stillheten etterpå, page 14:
- jeg har gode karakterer. Bare A-er og B-er
- I have good grades. Only A's and B's
- (music) designation of the sixth note from C and the corresponding tone
- 1944, Børre Qvamme, Musikk, page 10:
- synge en riktig A uten hjelp av et instrument eller stemmegaffel
- sing a correct A without the aid of an instrument or tuning fork
- 1973, Finn Havrevold, Avreisen, page 127:
- han slår énstrøken a på klaveret
- he strikes one stroke A on the piano
- 1997, Tove Nilsen, G for Georg, page 42:
- så gal at man virkelig tror at svaler er g-nøkler og bass-nøkler og a’er og c’er som svever rundt hverandre og lager konsert i himmelen
- so crazy that you really think swallows are g-keys and bass-keys and a's and c's floating around each other and making a concert in the sky
- (physics) symbol for ampere
- (physics) symbol for nucleon number
- (horology) symbol for avance
- symbol for anno
- short form of atom-
- Synonym: a-
- a-bombe
- atom bomb (a-bomb)
Derived terms[edit]
- a-form (“a-form”), a-infinitiv (“a-infinitive”), a-kjendis (“A-list celebrity”)
Etymology 2[edit]
Abbreviation of atto- (“atto-”).
Symbol[edit]
a
- atto-, prefix for 10-18 in the International System of Units.
Etymology 3[edit]
Abbreviation of ar (“are”).
Symbol[edit]
a
Etymology 4[edit]
Preposition[edit]
a
- Alternative spelling of à
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology 5[edit]
From Latin ā (“from, away from, out of”), alternative form of ab (“from, away from, out of, down from”).
Preposition[edit]
a
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology 6[edit]
From Italian a (“in, at, to”).
Preposition[edit]
a
Etymology 7[edit]
From Old Norse hana (“her”), accusative form of hón (“she”), from Proto-Norse [script needed] (*hān-), from a prefixed form of Proto-Germanic *ainaz (“one; some”), from Proto-Indo-European *óynos (“one; single”).
Pronoun[edit]
a
- (dialectal, used enclitically after a conjunction or subjunction) she
- 1948, Helge Krog, Skuespill I, page 43:
- jagu slår a ja. Og det så det kjens. Forleden dag ga hun meg en knallende ørefik
- she can certainly punch. And so you feel it. The other day she gave me a popping slap to the ear
- 1989, Bergljot Hobæk Haff, Den guddommelige tragedie:
- hu kunne ikke henge på seg så mye som et enrada perlebånd, uten at a måtte skotte opp i skyene for å høre hva den aller høyeste mente
- she could not put on as much as a single string of pearls, without having to shoot up into the clouds to hear what the very highest one meant
- (dialectal, about grammatically feminine animals or objects) it, she
- 1899, Sfinx, Vi og Voreses, page 45:
- hos Hansens laa dem te klokka var ni, og 10 var a mange ganger ogsaa
- at Hansen's they laid until nine o'clock, and 10 she was many times too
- 1954, Agnar Mykle, Lasso rundt fru Luna, page 476:
- hvor ligger a [duskeluen] henne?
- where is the hat?
- hvor er a katta di?
- where is your cat?
- Synonym: hun
- (dialectal, used enclitically) her; object form of hun (=she)
- hva gjorde du med a?
- what did you do to her?
- 1847–1868, Halfdan Kjerulf, Av hans efterladte papirer, page 245:
- jeg [skrev] klaverstykker … en lille scherzo med nordisk motiv … «gjenta» og «Jørgen Matros», som gjør kur til ’a og «Ola Spelman» som hun foretrækker
- I [wrote] piano pieces… a small scherzo with a Nordic motif… «gjenta» and «Jørgen Matros», which makes cure for her and «Ola Spelman» which she prefers
- 1875, Alexander Erbe, Fra skjærgaarden, page 23:
- [klokkeren] skulle da koste paa a amen
- [the clockmaker] would then cost her amen
- 1921, Sigrid Undset, Samlede romaner og fortællinger fra nutiden I, page 6:
- jeg kan da gjerne skjære litt mat til a
- I could happily cut some food for her
- 1931, Aksel Sandemose, En sjømann går i land, page 19:
- han stakk henne med kniven, riktig kylt’n midt i magan på a
- he stabbed her with the knife, really threw in the middle of her stomach
- 2010, Helene Guåker, Kjør!:
- flere enn deg i hvert fall, di lørje, svarte jeg og så a midt i aua
- more than you at least, you skank, I answered and looked her in the eye
- hva gjorde du med a?
- (dialectal, about grammatically feminine animals or objects) it, her
- hvis katta stikker av, må du fange a!
- if the cat runs away, you need to catch her!
- 1895, Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Over Ævne II, page 136:
- naar kjærka ikke kan holde arbejderne i ave [age], aa faen skal vi saa me’a
- when the church can not keep the workers in duty, what the hell do we do with her then
- Synonym: henne
- hvis katta stikker av, må du fange a!
- (dialectal, used proclitically with a woman's name or female relation) she, her
- 1921, Sigrid Undset, Samlede romaner og fortællinger fra nutiden V, page 96:
- ta a Guldborg
- consider Guldborg
- 1921, Sigrid Undset, Samlede romaner og fortællinger fra nutiden V, page 64:
- har du glemt a mamma
- did you forget about mom
- 2015, Rudolf Nilsen, Samlede dikt, page 88:
- a Paula kom plystrende hjem
- Paula came home whistling
- 2015 March 12, Gerd Nyland, “Fire år uten radio”, in Oppland Arbeiderblad[12], archived from the original on 2023-01-28:
- a tante Karen, mor hennes Reidun, hadde ordne med sengeplasser i stua, Booken på en divan og a Rita på flatseng på golvet
- aunt Karen, her mother Reidun, had arranged beds in the living room, Booken on a daybed and Rita on a flat bed on the floor