а

а U+0430, а CYRILLIC SMALL LETTER A ← Я [U+042F] Cyrillic б → [U+0431]

а (upper case А)

1. A letter of the Cyrillic script, called a.

а (upper case А)

1. A letter of the Old Cyrillic script, called az or azu.

• 
  Regular.
• 
  Italics.
• 
  Handwritten.

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Abaza alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Гв гв, Гъ гъ, Гъв гъв, Гъь гъь, Гь гь, Гӏ гӏ, Гӏв гӏв, Д д, Дж дж, Джв джв, Джь джь, Дз дз, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, Жв жв, Жь жь, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Кв кв, Къ къ, Къв къв, Къь къь, Кь кь, Кӏ кӏ, Кӏв кӏв, Кӏь кӏь, Л л, Ль ль, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тл тл, Тш тш, Тӏ тӏ, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Хв хв, Хъ хъ, Хъв хъв, Хь хь, Хӏ хӏ, Хӏв хӏв, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чв чв, Чӏ чӏ, Чӏв чӏв, Ш ш, Шв шв, Шӏ шӏ, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Abkhaz alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Гь гь, Гә гә, Ӷ ӷ, Ӷь ӷь, Ӷә ӷә, Д д, Дә дә, Е е, Ж ж, Жь жь, Жә жә, З з, Ӡ ӡ, Ӡә ӡә, И и, К к, Кь кь, Кә кә, Қ қ, Қь қь, Қә қә, Ҟ ҟ, Ҟь ҟь, Ҟә ҟә, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Ԥ ԥ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тә тә, Ҭ ҭ, Ҭә ҭә, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Хь хь, Хә хә, Ҳ ҳ, Ҳә ҳә, Ц ц, Цә цә, Ҵ ҵ, Ҵә ҵә, Ч ч, Ҷ ҷ, Ҽ ҽ, Ҿ ҿ, Ш ш, Шь шь, Шә шә, Ы ы, Ҩ ҩ, Џ џ, Џь џь, Ь ь, Ә ә

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Adyghe alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Гу гу, Гъ гъ, Гъу гъу, Д д, Дж дж, Дз дз, Дзу дзу, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, Жъ жъ, Жъу жъу, Жь жь, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Ку ку, Къ къ, Къу къу, Кӏ кӏ, Кӏу кӏу, Л л, Лъ лъ, Лӏ лӏ, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Пӏ пӏ, Пӏу пӏу, Р р, С с, Т т, Тӏ тӏ, Тӏу тӏу, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Хъ хъ, Хъу хъу, Хь хь, Ц ц, Цу цу, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чӏ чӏ, Чъ чъ, Ш ш, Шъ шъ, Шъу шъу, Шӏ шӏ, Шӏу шӏу, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я, ӏ ӏ, ӏу ӏу

• ӏа (ʼa)

• IPA^(key): [ʔaː]

• Audio:

  (file)

а • (a)

1. that, Calling article (o)

   а бэнанэ ― a bɛnanɛ ― that banana

   а пшъашъэ ― a pŝaŝɛ ― that girl

   а кӏалэм еӏуэ ― a kʼalɛm jeʼwɛ ― that boy is saying

а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Aghul alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Гъ гъ, Гь гь, Гӏ гӏ, Д д, Дж дж, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Кк кк, Къ къ, Кь кь, Кӏ кӏ, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Пп пп, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тт тт, Тӏ тӏ, У у, Уь уь, Ф ф, Х х, Хъ хъ, Хь хь, Хӏ хӏ, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чч чч, Чӏ чӏ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, ӏ ӏ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а (transliteration needed) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Alutor alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Вʼ вʼ, Г г, Гʼ гʼ, Ғ ғ, Д д, Е е, Ә ә, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Ӄ ӄ, Л л, М м, Н н, Ӈ ӈ, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Archi alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Аа аа, Аӏ аӏ, Ааӏ ааӏ, Ы ы, Б б, В в, Г г, Гв гв, Гь гь, Гъ гъ, Гъв гъв, Гъӏ гъӏ, Гъӏв гъӏв, Гӏ гӏ, Д д, Е е, Ее ее, Еӏ еӏ, Ж ж, Жв жв, З з, Зв зв, И и, Ии ии, Иӏ иӏ, Й й, К к, Кк кк, Кв кв, Ккв ккв, Кӏ кӏ, Кӏв кӏв, Къ къ, Къв къв, Ккъ ккъ, Къӏ къӏ, Ккъӏ ккъӏ, Къӏв къӏв, Ккъӏв ккъӏв, Кь кь, Кьв кьв, Л л, Лъ лъ, Ллъ ллъ, Лъв лъв, Ллъв ллъв, Лӏ лӏ, Лӏв лӏв, М м, Н н, О о, Оо оо, Оӏ оӏ, Ооӏ ооӏ, П п, Пп пп, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Сс сс, Св св, Т т, Тт тт, Тӏ тӏ, Тв тв, У у, Уу уу, Уӏ уӏ, Х х, Хх хх, Хв хв, Ххв ххв, Хӏ хӏ, Хьӏ хьӏ, Ххьӏ ххьӏ, Хьӏв хьӏв, Ххьӏв ххьӏв, Хъ хъ, Хъв хъв, Хъӏ хъӏ, Хъӏв хъӏв, Ц ц, Цв цв, Цӏ цӏ, Ццӏ ццӏ, Ч ч, Чв чв, Чӏ чӏ, Чӏв чӏв, Ш ш, Щ щ, Шв шв, Щв щв, Э э, Ээ ээ, Эӏ эӏ

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Avar alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Гъ гъ, Гь гь, Гӏ гӏ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Къ къ, Кь кь, Кӏ кӏ, Л л, Лъ лъ, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, Тӏ тӏ, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Хъ хъ, Хь хь, Хӏ хӏ, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чӏ чӏ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Azerbaijani alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Ғ ғ, Д д, Е е, Ә ә, Ж ж, З з, И и, Ы ы, Ј ј, К к, Ҝ ҝ, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Һ һ, Ч ч, Ҹ ҹ, Ш ш

• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /ɑ/, /ä/

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Bashkir alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) хәреф; А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Ғ ғ, Д д, Ҙ ҙ, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Ҡ ҡ, Л л, М м, Н н, Ң ң, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Ҫ ҫ, Т т, У у, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Һ һ, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ә ә, Ю ю, Я я

• IPA^(key): [a]

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Belarusian alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, І і, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ў ў, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a (“and, but”)

а • (a)

1. but, and, and yet (deviates from the preceding idea in some manner; introduces a new or different meaning, as opposed to но (no), which usually indicates contrarity)

   Не ён, а яна́. ― Nje jon, a janá. ― Not he, but she.

а • (a)

1. interrogative particle: introduces a question

   А як жа? ― A jak ža? ― But how?, By what means?

а • (a)

1. ah!, oh!, oh well

• IPA^(key): [a]

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Bulgarian alphabet, called а (a), and written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ж ж, З з, И и (Ѝ ѝ), Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ь ь, Ю ю, Я я

• IPA^(key): [a]

а • (a)

1. used in orders for emphasis: let’s, just

   А върви де!

   A vǎrvi de!

   Come on, go ahead!

   А да идем на кино.

   A da idem na kino.

   Let’s go to the pictures.

   А удари ме, ако смееш.

   A udari me, ako smeeš.

   Just you hit me, if you dare.

   Кажи де, а кажи!

   Kaži de, a kaži!

   Speak up, do!

2. just, about to, on the point of, almost

   разперила криле, а-а да хвръкне

   razperila krile, a-a da hvrǎkne

   with wings spread out, about to fly off

а • (a)

1. used to express surprise or wonder: ah, oh, ha, why

   А, ето къде си бил!

   A, eto kǎde si bil!

   Ah, there you are!

   А, значи ти хареса.

   A, znači ti haresa.

   Oh, so you liked it.

   А! Не те видях.

   A! Ne te vidjah.

   Oh! I didn't see you there.

   А, Джейн, ти ли си!

   A, Džejn, ti li si!

   Why Jane, it's you!

2. used to express pleasure, relief: ah

   А, пролетните цветя.

   A, proletnite cvetja.

   Ah, the flowers of spring.

   А, спомням си старите времена.

   A, spomnjam si starite vremena.

   Ah, I remember the good old days.

3. used when you are not certain about something and you would like confirmation: eh, well, right, or translated with a tag question

   Хареса ти, а?

   Haresa ti, a?

   So, you liked it, eh/did you?

   Утре заминаваш, а?

   Utre zaminavaš, a?

   You're leaving tomorrow, right?

4. (colloquial) used to indicate that one did not hear what was said: eh, huh

   ‘Не съм гладен.’ ‘А?’ ‘Казах, че не съм гладен.’

   ‘Ne sǎm gladen.’ ‘A?’ ‘Kazah, če ne sǎm gladen.’

   ‘I'm not hungry.’ ‘Eh?’ ‘I said I'm not hungry.’

   А? Какво каза?

   A? Kakvo kaza?

   Huh? What did you say?

5. used to express understanding, recognition, or realization: oh

   А, значи така работело.

   A, znači taka rabotelo.

   Oh, so that's how it works.

   А, сега ми дойде наум!

   A, sega mi dojde naum!

   Oh, I’ve just thought of it.

   А, да, сетих се!

   A, da, setih se!

   Oh, yes, I remember.

6. used to express displeasure, objection

   Изпуснал влака … ама работа, а!

   Izpusnal vlaka … ama rabota, a!

   So he missed the train … what a damned nuisance!

   А, той ще ми каже!

   A, toj šte mi kaže!

   He's not the one to tell me!

   Ще ми се плезиш, а!

   Šte mi se pleziš, a!

   Don't stick out your tongue at me!

7. used to express criticism or disapproval: now

   А-а, така не може!

   A-a, taka ne može!

   Now, this sort of thing can’t go on/won’t do!

   А, Били, така не се говори на майка си!

   A, Bili, taka ne se govori na majka si!

   Now, Billy, that's no way to talk to your mother!

From Proto-Slavic *a (“and, but”).

• IPA^(key): (stressed) [a], (unstressed) [ɐ], [ə]

а • (a)

1. used to describe how two facts are different: whereas, while

   Мислехме си, че е арогантна, а всъщност просто беше много срамежлива.

   Mislehme si, če e arogantna, a vsǎštnost prosto beše mnogo sramežliva.

   We thought she was arrogant, whereas in fact she was just very shy.

   Той има кафяви очи, а децата му имат зелени очи.

   Toj ima kafjavi oči, a decata mu imat zeleni oči.

   He has brown eyes whereas his children have green eyes.

   Едни се раждат, а други умират.

   Edni se raždat, a drugi umirat.

   Some are born while others die.

2. used to introduce an idea that is different or opposite to the idea that is desired, expected or that you have stated previously: but, yet, rather

   Не музиката не харесвам, а самата банда.

   Ne muzikata ne haresvam, a samata banda.

   It's not the music I don't like but rather the band themselves.

   Тя получи повишението не заради късмет, а с усърдна работа.

   Tja poluči povišenieto ne zaradi kǎsmet, a s usǎrdna rabota.

   She got the promotion not by luck but by hard work.

   Стените не бяха бели, а по-скоро мръсно сиви.

   Stenite ne bjaha beli, a po-skoro mrǎsno sivi.

   The walls were not white, but rather a sort of dirty grey.

   Той има добра работа, а като че ли никога няма пари.

   Toj ima dobra rabota, a kato če li nikoga njama pari.

   He has a good job, and yet he never seems to have any money.

   Мислех си, че те познавам, а колко съм грешал.

   Misleh si, če te poznavam, a kolko sǎm grešal.

   I thought I knew you, yet how wrong I was.

   Видях го вчера, а не днес.

   Vidjah go včera, a ne dnes.

   I saw him yesterday, not today.

3. used to start a new sentence or clause that continues or adds to a previous sentence or clause: and

   Минаха години и всичко се промени. А той все още не се завръщаше.

   Minaha godini i vsičko se promeni. A toj vse ošte ne se zavrǎštaše.

   Years passed and everything changed. And he still hadn't come back.

• но (no), ала (ala), ама (ama)

• а... а... (a... a...)

• Бояджиев, Тодор (1999) “3. Части на речта / 3.8. Съюз”, in Съвременен Български Език (in Bulgarian), София: Издателска къща "Петър Берон", →ISBN, page 357

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Buryat alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Һ һ, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Chechen alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Аь аь, Б б, В в, Г г, Гӏ гӏ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Кх кх, Къ къ, Кӏ кӏ, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, Оь оь, П п, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тӏ тӏ, У у, Уь уь, Ф ф, Х х, Хь хь, Хӏ хӏ, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чӏ чӏ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Юь юь, Я я, Яь яь, ӏ ӏ

Compare Ingush а (a).

а • (a)

1. and

• и (i)

а (transliteration needed) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Chukchi alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Ӄ ӄ, Л л, Ԓ ԓ, М м, Н н, Ӈ ӈ, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я, ʼ

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Chuvash alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Ӑ ӑ, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ӗ ӗ, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Ҫ ҫ, Т т, У у, Ӳ ӳ, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а (transliteration needed) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Crimean Tatar alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Гъ гъ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Къ къ, Л л, М м, Н н, Нъ нъ, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Дж дж, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Dargwa alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Гъ гъ, Гь гь, Гӏ гӏ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Къ къ, Кь кь, Кӏ кӏ, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тӏ тӏ, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Хъ хъ, Хь хь, Хӏ хӏ, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чӏ чӏ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Dungan alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ә ә, Ж ж, Җ җ, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ң ң, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ў ў, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

• IPA^(key): /ɑ/
• Rhymes: -ɑ
• Hyphenation: а

Borrowed from Russian а (a).

а • (a)

1. and, but (used to connect two phrases when there is a contrast between them)

   тиде тылат, а тиде мылам

   tide tylat, a tide mylam

   this is for you, but that is for me

2. but, but instead (used in clauses preceded by negated clauses)

   тышке огыл, а тушко

   tyške ogyl, a tuško

   not here, but there

3. and, but (introduces supplementary questions)

   а вараже?

   a varaže?

   and then?

Borrowed from Russian а (a).

а • (a)

1. so, huh (particle placed at the end of questions)

   тый таче тышеч кает уке, а?

   tyj tače tyšeč kajet uke, a?

   so are you leaving today or not, huh?

Borrowed from Russian а (a).

а • (a)

1. oh

   а, умылышым

   a, umylyšym

   oh, I got it, oh, I see

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Eastern Mari alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ҥ ҥ, О о, Ӧ ӧ, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ӱ ӱ, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

• J. Bradley et al. (2023) “а”, in The Mari Web Project: Mari-English Dictionary, University of Vienna

а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Even alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ӈ ӈ, О о, Ө ө, Ӫ ӫ, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Evenki alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ӈ ӈ, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Hunzib alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а (А̄ а̄, Аᵸ аᵸ), А̇ а̇ (А̇̄ а̇̄, А̇ᵸ а̇ᵸ), Б б, В в, Г г, ГЪ гъ, ГЬ гь, Гӏ гӏ, Д д, Е е (Е̄ е̄, Еᵸ еᵸ), Ә ә (Ә̄ ә̄, Әᵸ әᵸ), Ж ж, З з, И и (Ӣ ӣ, Иᵸ иᵸ), Й й, К к, КЪ къ, КЬ кь, Кӏ кӏ, Л л, ЛЪ лъ, Лӏ лӏ, М м, Н н, О о (О̄ о̄, Оᵸ оᵸ), П п, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тӏ тӏ, У у (Ӯ ӯ, Уᵸ уᵸ), Х х, ХЪ хъ, ХЬ хь, Хӏ хӏ, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чӏ чӏ, Ш ш, Ъ ъ, Ы ы (Ы̄ ы̄), Э э (Э̄ э̄, Эᵸ эᵸ)

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Ingush alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Аь аь, Б б, В в, Г г, Гӏ гӏ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Кх кх, Къ къ, Кӏ кӏ, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тӏ тӏ, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Хь хь, Хӏ хӏ, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чӏ чӏ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я, Яь яь, ӏ ӏ

Compare Chechen а (a).

а • (a)

1. and

а (transliteration needed) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Itelmen alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Ӑ ӑ, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Кʼ кʼ, Ӄ ӄ, Ӄʼ ӄʼ, Л л, Љ љ, Ԓ ԓ, М м, Н н, Њ њ, Ӈ ӈ, О о, О̆ о̆, П п, Пʼ пʼ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тʼ тʼ, У у, Ў ў, Ф ф, Х х, Ӽ ӽ, Ц ц, Ч ч, Чʼ чʼ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Ә ә, Э э, Ю ю, Я я (ʼ, ˚)

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Kabardian alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Э э, Б б, В в, Г г, Гу гу, Гъ гъ, Гъу гъу, Д д, Дж дж, Дз дз, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, Жь жь, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Ку ку, Кӏ кӏ, Кӏу кӏу, Къ къ, Къу къу, Кхъ кхъ, Кхъу кхъу, Л л, Лъ лъ, Лӏ лӏ, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тӏ тӏ, У у, Ф ф, Фӏ фӏ, Х х, Ху ху, Хь хь, Хъ хъ, Хъу хъу, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Щӏ щӏ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Ю ю, Я я, ӏ ӏ, ӏу ӏу

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Kalmyk alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Ә ә, Б б, В в, Г г, Һ һ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, Җ җ, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ң ң, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

Alternative scripts
Arabic	ا
Cyrillic	А, а
Latin	A, a
Yañalif	A, a

• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /ɑ/

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Kazakh alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Ә ә, Б б, В в, Г г, Ғ ғ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Қ қ, Л л, М м, Н н, Ң ң, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ұ ұ, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Һ һ, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, І і, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /ɑ/

а • (a)

1. ah (expression of surprise)

From Proto-Yeniseian *ʔaχV.

а (ā)

1. six

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Khakas alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Ғ ғ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, І і, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ң ң, О о, Ӧ ӧ, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ӱ ӱ, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ӌ ӌ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Kumyk alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Гъ гъ, Гь гь, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Къ къ, Л л, М м, Н н, Нг нг, О о, Оь оь, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Уь уь, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /ɑ/
• (dialectal, some loanwords): IPA^(key): /a/

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Kyrgyz alphabet, called а (a), and written in the Cyrillic script.

The pronunciation of the phoneme as /a/ only occurs in Persian loanwords with a front vowel later in the word in some dialects. In most dialects, this is indistinct from /ɑ/.

а • (a) (Arabic spelling ا)

1. The name of the Cyrillic script letter А / а.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ң ң, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я
• (Cyrillic-script letter names) буква; а (a), бе (be), ве (ve), ге (ge), де (de), е (ye), ё (yo), же (je), зе (ze), и (i), ий (iy), ка (ka), эл (el), эм (em), эн (en), ың (ıŋ), о (o), ө (ö), пе (pe), эр (er), эс (es), те (te), у (u), ү (ü), эф (ef), ха (ha), це (tse), че (ce), ша (şa), ща (şca), ажыратуу белгиси (ajıratuu belgisi), ы (ı), ичкертүү белгиси (ickertüü belgisi), э (e), ю (yu), я (ya) ^{(Category: ky:Cyrillic letter names)}

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Lezgi alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Гъ гъ, Гь гь, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Къ къ, Кь кь, Кӏ кӏ, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тӏ тӏ, У у, Уь уь, Ф ф, Х х, Хъ хъ, Хь хь, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чӏ чӏ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /a/
• (letter name): IPA^(key): [a]

• Audio:

  (file)

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Macedonian alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Ѓ ѓ, Е е, Ж ж, З з, Ѕ ѕ, И и, Ј ј, К к, Л л, Љ љ, М м, Н н, Њ њ, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, Ќ ќ, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Џ џ, Ш ш

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a.

• IPA^(key): [a]

а • (a)

1. and, whereas

а • (a)

1. oh
2. huh?

а • (a)

1. what about

   А јас? ― A jas? ― What about me?

Borrowed from Russian а (a).

• IPA^(key): /ˈa/
• Syllabification: а (1 syllable)

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Mongolian alphabet, called а (a), and written in the Cyrillic script.

а • (a)

1. The name of the Cyrillic script letter А / а.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) үсэг; А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я
• (Cyrillic script letter names) үсэг; а (a), бэ (be), вэ (ve), гэ (ge), дэ (de), е (je), ё (jo), жэ (že), зэ (ze), и (i), хагас и (xagas i), ка (ka), эл (el), эм (em), эн (en), о (o), ө (ö), пэ (pe), эр (er), эс (es), тэ (te), у (u), ү (ü), эф (ef), ха (xa), цэ (ce), чэ (če), ша (ša), ща (šča), хатуугийн тэмдэг (xatuugiin temdeg), урт ы (urt y), зөөлний тэмдэг (zöölnii temdeg), э (e), ю (jü), я (ja) ^{(Category: mn:Cyrillic letter names)}

а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Nivkh alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Ӷ ӷ, Ғ ғ, Ӻ ӻ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Кʼ кʼ, Қ қ, Қʼ қʼ, Л л, М м, Н н, Ң ң, О о, П п, Пʼ пʼ, Р р, Р̆ р̆, С с, Т т, Тʼ тʼ, У у, Ў ў, Ф ф, Х х, Ҳ ҳ, Ӿ ӿ, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

• IPA^(key): /a/

а (a)

1. armspan

а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Northern Mansi alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, А̄ а̄, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Е̄ е̄, Ё ё, Ё̄ ё̄, Ж ж, З з, И и, Ӣ ӣ, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ӈ ӈ, О о, О̄ о̄, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ӯ ӯ, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ы̄ ы̄, Ь ь, Э э, Э̄ э̄, Ю ю, Ю̄ ю̄, Я я, Я̄ я̄

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. A letter of the Old Church Slavonic alphabet, called азъ (azŭ), and written in the Old Cyrillic script.

• (Old Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е (Є є), Ж ж, Ѕ ѕ (Ꙃ ꙃ), З з (Ꙁ ꙁ), И и, І і (Ї ї), Ꙉ ꙉ, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, Оу оу (Ꙋ ꙋ), Ф ф, Х х, Ѡ ѡ (Ѿ ѿ), Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ꙑ ꙑ, Ь ь, Ѣ ѣ, Ꙗ ꙗ, Ѥ ѥ, Ю ю, Ѫ ѫ, Ѭ ѭ, Ѧ ѧ (Ꙙ ꙙ), Ѩ ѩ (Ꙝ ꙝ), Ѯ ѯ, Ѱ ѱ, Ѳ ѳ, Ѵ ѵ, Ҁ ҁ

From Proto-Slavic *a.

а • (a)

1. and
2. but

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a. Cognates include Old Church Slavonic а (a) and Old Polish a.

• Hyphenation: а

а (a)

1. but, and

• же (že)

• Old Ruthenian: а (a)
  • Belarusian: а (a)
  • Carpathian Rusyn: а (a)
  • Ukrainian: а (a)
• Russian: а (a) (see there for further descendants)

• Sreznevsky, Izmail I. (1893) “а”, in Матеріалы для Словаря древне-русскаго языка по письменнымъ памятникамъ [Materials for the Dictionary of the Old East Slavic Language Based on Written Monuments]‎^[2] (in Russian), volume 1 (А – К), Saint Petersburg: Department of Russian Language and Literature of the Imperial Academy of Sciences, column 1

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. A letter of the Old Novgorodian alphabet, written in the Old Cyrillic script.
   • c. 1025‒1050, Берестяная грамота № 591 [Birchbark letter no. 591]‎^[3], Novgorod:

     а б в г д е ж ꙃ ꙁ [м] л н о п р с т оу ф х ц ч ш ъ ѣ ѫ ѭ у ѧ

     a b v g d e ž dz z [m] l n o p r s t u f x ć ć š ŭ jě ǫ jǫ u ję

   • c. 1160‒1180, Берестяная грамота № Свинц. 2 [Birchbark letter no. Lead 2]‎^[4], Novgorod:

     а б в г д е ж ѕ ꙁ и і к

     a b v g d e ž dz z i i k

   • c. 1180‒1200, Берестяная грамота № 460 [Birchbark letter no. 460]‎^[5], Novgorod:

     а б в г д е ж ꙅ ꙁ и ї к л м н о п р с т уо ѳ х ѡ ц ч ш щ ъ ѣ ѫ ю у ѧ

     a b v g d e ž dz z i i k l m n o p r s t u θ x o ć ć š ść ŭ jě ǫ ju u ję

   • c. 1200‒1220, Берестяная грамота № 778 [Birchbark letter no. 778]‎^[6], Novgorod:

     а б в г д е ж ꙃ ꙁ и ї к л м н о п р с т оу ф х ѿ ц ч ш ъ ѣ ѫ ѫ ю ѧ

     a b v g d e ž dz z i i k l m n o p r s t u f x otŭ ć ć š ŭ jě ǫ ǫ ju ję

   • c. 1220‒1240, Берестяная грамота № 783 [Birchbark letter no. 783]‎^[7], Novgorod:

     а б в г д е ж ѕ ꙁ

     a b v g d e ž dz z

   • c. 1240‒1260, Onfim, Берестяная грамота № 199 [Birchbark letter no. 199]‎^[8], Novgorod:

     а б в г д ¦ е ж ꙅ ꙁ и и к л м н о п р с т у ѳ х ѿ ц ч ш щ ъ ꙑ [ь] ѣ ꙋ ю ѫ ѧ …

     a b v g d ¦ e ž dz z i i k l m n o p r s t u θ x otŭ ć ć š ść ŭ y [ĭ] jě u ju ǫ ję …

   • c. 1240‒1260, Onfim, Берестяная грамота № 201 [Birchbark letter no. 201]‎^[9], Novgorod:

     а б : в г : д е : ж ꙅ : ꙁ и : і к : л м : н о : п р : с т : у ѳ х ѿ : ц ч : ш щ : ъ ꙑ : ь ѣ : ꙋ ю : ѫ ѧ : …

     a b : v g : d e : ž dz : z i : i k : l m : n o : p r : s t : u θ x otŭ : ć ć : š ść : ŭ y : ĭ jě : u ju : ǫ ję : …

   • c. 1240‒1260, Onfim, Берестяная грамота № 205 [Birchbark letter no. 205]‎^[10], Novgorod:

     а б в г д е ж ꙅ ꙁ и і к л м н о п р с т у ѳ х отъ ц ч ш щ ъ ꙑ ь ѣ ꙋ ю ѫ ѧ

     a b v g d e ž dz z i i k l m n o p r s t u θ x otŭ ć ć š ść ŭ y ĭ jě u ju ǫ ję

   • c. 1340‒1360, Берестяная грамота № Ст. Р. 25 [Birchbark letter no. St. R. 25]‎^[11], Staraya Russa:

     а б в г … н о - - - т у ѳ х [ѿ] … [ъ] - [ь] ѣ ѫ - …

     a b v g … n o - - - t u θ x [otŭ] … [ŭ] - [ĭ] jě ǫ - …

   • c. 1360‒1380, Берестяная грамота № 576 [Birchbark letter no. 576]‎^[12], Novgorod:

     + а б в г д е ж ꙅ ꙁ и і к л м н о п р с т у ф х

     + a b v g d e ž dz z i i k l m n o p r s t u f x

   • c. 1380‒1400, Берестяная грамота № Ст. Р. 24 [Birchbark letter no. St. R. 24]‎^[13], Staraya Russa:

     а б в г д е ж [ꙅ] ꙁ и і к л м н о п р с т у ф х [ѿ] ѡ ц ч ш щ ъ ꙑ ь ѣ ѧ

     a b v g d e ž [dz] z i i k l m n o p r s t u f x [otŭ] o ć ć š ść ŭ y ĭ jě ję

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a. First attested in c. 1025‒1050. Cognate with Old East Slavic а (a), Old Church Slavonic а (a), Old Polish a, Old Czech a.

• Hyphenation: а

а • (a)^[1]

1. but, and

   Synonym: и (i)

   • c. 1025‒1050, Schaeken, Jos (2019) Voices on Birchbark (SSGL; 43)‎^[14], Leiden, Boston: Brill, transl., Берестяная грамота № 247 [Birchbark letter no. 247]‎^[15], Novgorod:

     … а ꙁамъке кѣле а двьри кѣлѣ а господарь въ не тѧжѣ не дѣе а продаи клеветьника того а оу сего смьръда въꙁ[ѧти] еп҃оу …

     … a zamŭke kěle a dvĭri kělě a gospodarĭ vŭ ne tęžě ne děe a prodai klevetĭnika togo a u sego smĭrŭda vŭz[jęti] ep:u …

     But the lock is intact, the door is intact, and the master for that reason is not pursuing damages. So fine that false accuser, and the bishop is to take from this peasant […]

   • c. 1430‒1450, Берестяная грамота № 962 [Birchbark letter no. 962]‎^[16], Novgorod:

     … нонѣ ӧсподо какъ ѻ мнѣ сѧ печалутесѧ : а ѧꙁъ вамъ свои ѻсподе чоломъ бью · …

     How, gentlemen, will you take care of me now? And I bow to you, my masters.

• “а”, in Берестяные грамоты – Национальный корпус русского языка [Birchbark Letters – Russian National Corpus], https://ruscorpora.ru/, 2003–2024

а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Orok alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, А̄ а̄, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Е̄ е̄, Ӡ ӡ, И и, Ӣ ӣ, Ј ј, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ԩ ԩ, Ӈ ӈ, О о, О̄ о̄, Ө ө, Ө̄ ө̄, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ӯ ӯ, Х х, Ч ч, Э э, Э̄ э̄

• (phoneme): IPA^(key): /ä/

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Ossetian alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Ӕ ӕ, Б б, В в, Г г, Гъ гъ, Д д, Дж дж, Дз дз, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Къ къ, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Пъ пъ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тъ тъ, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Хъ хъ, Ц ц, Цъ цъ, Ч ч, Чъ чъ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Moldovan alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ж ж, Ӂ ӂ, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

• (stressed) IPA^(key): [a]

  Audio:

  (file)

• (unstressed) IPA^(key): [ə]

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Russian alphabet, called а (a), and written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) бу́ква; А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) n inan (indeclinable)

1. The name of the Cyrillic script letter А / а.
2. The name of the Latin-script letter A/a.

• (Cyrillic script letter names) буква; а (a), бэ (bɛ), вэ (vɛ), гэ (gɛ), дэ (dɛ), е (je), ё (jo), же (že), зэ (zɛ), и (i), и краткое (i kratkoje)/ий (ij), ка (ka), эл (el)/эль (elʹ), эм (em), эн (en), о (o), пэ (pɛ), эр (er), эс (es), тэ (tɛ), у (u), эф (ef), ха (xa), цэ (cɛ), че (če), ша (ša), ща (šča), твёрдый знак (tvjórdyj znak), ы (y)/еры (jery), мягкий знак (mjaxkij znak), э (e)/э оборотное (e oborotnoje), ю (ju), я (ja) ^{(Category: ru:Cyrillic letter names)}

• Dal, Vladimir (1880–1882) “а”, in Толковый Словарь живаго великорускаго языка [Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language] (in Russian), 2nd edition, Publication of the bookseller-typographer Wolf, M. O.

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a (“and, but”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *ō, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ōd (presumed to be the ablative of *éy, h₁e). Cognate with Lithuanian õ (“and, but”).

Possible link with Lithuanian ar̃ (“question particle”). Compare Russian а (a, “and, but”), и (i, “and”) and да (da, “and, but”) with Lithuanian ar̃ (“if, whether”), ir̃ (“and”) and dár (“still, yet”).

• (stressed) IPA^(key): [a]

  Audio:

  (file)

• (unstressed) IPA^(key): [ə]
• (unstressed, pre-tonal) IPA^(key): [ɐ]

а • (a)

1. but, and (deviates from the preceding idea in some manner; introduces a new or different meaning, as opposed to но (no), which usually indicates contrarity)

   Сего́дня тепло́, а вчера́ бы́ло хо́лодно. ― Sevódnja tepló, a včerá býlo xólodno. ― It is warm today, but yesterday it was cold.

   Э́то не я́блоко, а гру́ша. ― Éto ne jábloko, a grúša. ― This is not an apple, but a pear.

   А что? ― A što? ― How come?

   а то ― a to ― or else

• → Eastern Mari: а (a)
• → Ingrian: a
• → Kildin Sami: а (a)
• → Votic: a

• а ве́дь (a védʹ)
• а и́менно (a ímenno)
• а то́ (a tó)

• Dal, Vladimir (1880–1882) “а”, in Толковый Словарь живаго великорускаго языка [Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language] (in Russian), 2nd edition, Publication of the bookseller-typographer Wolf, M. O.

Compare Lithuanian à, õ, oà (“expression of pain, surprise”), as well as Gothic 𐍉 (ō, “ah!”), Latin ā, āh (“expression of pain, anger”), Ancient Greek ἆ (â, “ah!”)

• аа (aa), а́-а (á-a)

• IPA^(key): [a]

• Audio:

  (file)

а! • (a!)

1. oh! (expressing surprise or realization)

а • (a)

1. colloquial particle used to seek confirmation: eh

   Synonym: (vernacular, humorous) ась (asʹ)

   Ты слы́шишь меня́, а? ― Ty slýšišʹ menjá, a? ― Do you hear me, eh?

   Ты придёшь сего́дня, а? ― Ty pridjóšʹ sevódnja, a? ― So are you coming today, then?

   • 1831, Александр Пушкин [Alexander Pushkin], “Замок воеводы Мнишка в Самборе”, in Борис Годунов; English translation from Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky, transl., Boris Godunov, New York: Vintage Books, 2023:

     Он говори́т с одно́й мое́й Мари́ной,
     Мари́ною одно́ю за́нят он…
     А де́ло-то на сва́дьбу страх похо́же.
     Ну — ду́мал ты, призна́йся, Вишневе́цкий,
     Что дочь моя́ цари́цей бу́дет? а?

     On govorít s odnój mojéj Marínoj,
     Marínoju odnóju zánjat on…
     A délo-to na svádʹbu strax poxóže.
     Nu — dúmal ty, priznájsja, Višnevéckij,
     Što dočʹ mojá carícej búdet? a?

     He only wants to talk with my Marina,
     Marina is the only one who interests him…
     The matter looks terribly like a wedding. Well—
     Confess, Vishnevetsky, did you ever think
     That my daughter would become a tsaritsa? eh?

• IPA^(key): [a]

• Audio:

  (file)

а • (a) (indeclinable)

1. (criminal slang) he, she or it (used to point to a particular person)

• Pirožkov, Viktor (2001) Kriminalʹnaja Psixologija [Criminal Psychology], Moscow: Os-89

• IPA^(key): /a/

а (lower case, upper case А, Latin spelling a)

1. The first letter of the Serbo-Croatian alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Ђ ђ, Е е, Ж ж, З з, И и, Ј ј, К к, Л л, Љ љ, М м, Н н, Њ њ, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, Ћ ћ, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Џ џ, Ш ш

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a (“and, but”), from Proto-Balto-Slavic *ō.

а (Latin spelling a)

1. but, and (compare а̏ли)

   учио сам ц(иј)ело посл(иј)еподне, а ништа нисам научио ― I studied for the whole afternoon, but I didn't learn anything

   а како бисте ви то направили? ― and how would you do that?

2. while (on the contrary), whereas

   столови су црвени, а столице су зелене ― the tables are red, whereas the chairs are green

3. (with да не) without (usually after negative verbs)

   не могу се укључити у расправу, а да не направим неред ― I cannot enter a discussion without making a mess

   одлази, а да није рекао ни збогом ― he's leaving without even saying goodbye

4. (а и̏па̄к) and yet

   прави пријатељ зна све о теби, а ипак те воли ― the real friend knows everything about you, and yet he loves you

5. (а ка̏моли) not to mention, let alone

   у мору лоших в(иј)ести тешко је остати објективан, а камоли оптимистичан ― in the sea of bad news it's hard to stay objective, let alone optimistic

6. (а + и + да) even if

   а и да јесам то направио, не би то учинило неку разлику ― even if I did it, it wouldn't have made much of a difference

7. (а + и) and so, and also, and too

   свиђају ми се плавуше, а и ја се покојој свидим ― I like blondes, and some of them even like me

   били су жалосни, а и ја сам ― they were sad, and so am I

Attested since the 15th century. Probably of onomatopoeic origin. Compare Slovene a, Russian а (a), Lithuanian õ, Latin ō and Ancient Greek ὦ (ô). These could all derive from Proto-Indo-European interjection ō (“oh, ah”), but each form in individual languages could easily be an independent, expressive formation.

а (Latin spelling a)

1. oh, ah

   а да? ― oh really?

• “а”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2024
• “а”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2024
• Skok, Petar (1971) “а”, in Etimologijski rječnik hrvatskoga ili srpskoga jezika [Etymological Dictionary of the Croatian or Serbian Language] (in Serbo-Croatian), volumes 1 (A – J), Zagreb: JAZU, page 1

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Southern Altai alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Ј ј, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ҥ ҥ, О о, Ӧ ӧ, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ӱ ӱ, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Tabasaran alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Аь аь, Б б, В в, Г г, Гъ гъ, Гь гь, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Къ къ, Кь кь, Кӏ кӏ, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Пӏ пӏ, Р р, С с, Т т, Тӏ тӏ, У у, Уь уь, Ф ф, Х х, Хъ хъ, Хь хь, Ц ц, Цӏ цӏ, Ч ч, Чӏ чӏ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я, ӏ ӏ, ʼ

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Tajik alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Ғ ғ, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Ӣ ӣ, Й й, К к, Қ қ, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ӯ ӯ, Ф ф, Х х, Ҳ ҳ, Ч ч, Ҷ ҷ, Ш ш, Ъ ъ, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Tatar alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Ә ә, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, Җ җ, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ң ң, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Һ һ, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Tundra Nenets alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ӈ ӈ, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я, ʼ, ˮ

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Tuvan alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ң ң, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Udmurt alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, Ӝ ӝ, З з, Ӟ ӟ, И и, Ӥ ӥ, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, Ӧ ӧ, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ӵ ӵ, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

• IPA^(key): [a]

• Audio:

  (file)

See Translingual section.

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Ukrainian alphabet, called а (a), and written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Ґ ґ, Д д, Е е, Є є, Ж ж, З з, И и, І і, Ї ї, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ь ь, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a)

1. and, and yet, but

   Не він, а вона. ― Ne vin, a vona. ― Not he, but she.

а • (a)

1. interrogative particle: introduces a question

   А то для чого? ― A to dlja čoho? ― And why so?

   А як же? ― A jak že? ― But how?, By what means?

а • (a)!

1. ah!, oh!, oh well

а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Uzbek alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Ъ ъ, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я, Ў ў, Қ қ, Ғ ғ, Ҳ ҳ

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Western Mari alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Ӓ ӓ, Б б, В в, Г г, Д д, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, О о, Ӧ ӧ, П п, Р р, С с, Т т, У у, Ӱ ӱ, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ӹ ӹ, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я

а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

1. The first letter of the Yakut alphabet, called а (a), and written in the Cyrillic script.

• (Cyrillic-script letters) А а, Б б, В в, Г г, Ҕ ҕ, Д д, Дь дь, Е е, Ё ё, Ж ж, З з, И и, Й й, К к, Л л, М м, Н н, Ҥ ҥ, Нь нь, О о, Ө ө, П п, Р р, С с, Һ һ, Т т, У у, Ү ү, Ф ф, Х х, Ц ц, Ч ч, Ш ш, Щ щ, Ъ ъ, Ы ы, Ь ь, Э э, Ю ю, Я я