a

Pronunciation

(letter name)

• (UK) (US) IPA ^(key): /eɪ/
• (AU) IPA ^(key): /æɪ/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Determiner

Determiner a

Before vowel sounds an

1. (indefinite) (singular) (count) A is used when you don't expect your listener to identify which thing you mean.
   • Synonyms: one, any and each

   Compare "A book I saw on the shelf" and "The book I gave you yesterday".

Note

• If the following word starts with a vowel sound, then we use an instead.
• It is called the indefinite article.
• It is not used in the plural: a book → books but not a books.

Noun

Letter A or a

The letter A

1. A is the first letter of the alphabet.

   The letter "a" comes before "b".

2. (school) In some schools, an A is a very high grade.

   Ron got an A on his earth science test.

Letters of the Alphabet

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