character

A

character

The first letter of the English alphabet.

"The word "apple" starts with an a."

article

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

Per, each — used in expressions of rate or frequency.

"He goes to the gym three times a week."

How to Use A

Learner’s notes

In 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

As plural, A's plural, As plural, A's plural, as plural, a's plural, as plural, a's plural, a's plural, aes plural

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Test yourself on “A” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Can you complete this real example?

The word "apple" starts with an _____.

Descended from the Old English letter A, itself adapted from Latin, ultimately going back to the Phoenician letter aleph.

an one

every the

the one an he sole per entire every

fa ba SA JA OA TA IA aa ha na la pa

an one every the he sole per entire