an
English
Pronunciation
- (stressed)
- (unstressed)
- Homophone: in (in some accents)
Etymology 1
From Old English ān.
Article
an
- Form, used before a vowel sound, of a
- (UK, nonstandard) Form of a used in many British regional accents before words beginning with h
Usage notes
Main appendix: English articles#Indefinite articles
- The article an is used before vowel sounds, and a before consonant sounds.
- The various article senses of a, all are senses of an.
Translations
indefinite article
|
|
Etymology 2
From Middle English an
Conjunction
an
- (archaic) If, so long as.
- An it please you, my lord.
- (archaic) as if; as though.
- Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancyent Marinere (Original Version of 1797) 61-64:
- At length did cross an Albatross, Thorough the Fog it came; And an it were a Christian Soul, We hail'd it in God's Name.
Translations
Etymology 3
From Georgian.
Noun
an (plural ans)
Etymology 4
From the Old English preposition an/on.
Preposition
an
- In each; to or for each; per.
- I was only going twenty miles an hour.
Usage notes
- This is the same as the word a in such contexts, modified because of preceding an unpronounced h. The train was speeding along at a mile a minute.
Synonyms
Translations
in each; to or for each; per
References
- an in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
Statistics
Anagrams
Aromanian
↑Jump back a sectionCrimean Tatar
Noun
an
Declension
declension of an
| nominative | an |
|---|---|
| genitive | anniñ |
| dative | ange |
| accusative | anni |
| locative | ande |
| ablative | anden |
References
- Useinov & Mireev Dictionary, Simferopol, Dolya, 2002 [1]
Elfdalian
↑Jump back a sectionFrench
↑Jump back a sectionGerman
Etymology
From Old High German ana.
Pronunciation
Preposition
an (with an accusative or dative case object)
- (with a location in the dative case) on; upon; at; in; against
- Das Bild hängt an der Wand. — “The picture hangs on the wall.”
- (with a time in the dative case) on; in
- (with a dative case object) by; near; close to; next to
- (with a dative case object) by means of; by
- (with an accusative case object) on; onto
- Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand. — “I hang the picture on the wall.”
- (with an accusative case object) at; against
- Schauen Sie an die Tafel. — “Look at the blackboard.”
- (with an accusative case object) to; for
Usage notes
- The preposition an is used with an object in the accusative case if it indicates movement from one place to another, whereas it is used with the dative case if it indicates a location.
- When followed by the masculine article in the dative case (i.e. dem (“the”)), the two words contract to am (“on the”) and for the neuter article in the accusative case (i.e. das (“the”)), the two words contract to ans (“on the”).
Adverb
an
Haitian Creole
Etymology 1
French un.
Article
an
Usage notes
Use this word when:
- It modifies a singular noun, and
- It is preceded by a word that ends with either:
See also
Etymology 2
From French an (“year”)
Noun
an
Synonyms
Irish
Etymology
From Old Irish in.
Pronunciation
- IPA: [ənˠ]; between consonants [ə]
Article
an
- the
- an t-uisce — the water
- an bhean — the woman
- an pháiste — of the child
- ag an gcailín/ag an chailín — at the girl
Declension
| Case | Masculine singular | Feminine singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative/accusative | anT | anL | naH |
| Genitive | anL | naH | naN |
| Dative | (ag) anDM | (ag) anDF | naH |
| DF: triggers eclipsis or lenition depending on dialect; no lenition of d, t; changes s to ts (pronounced like t) DM: triggers eclipsis or lenition depending on dialect; no lenition of d, t, s H: triggers h-prothesis L: triggers lenition except of d, t; changes s to ts (pronounced like t) N: triggers eclipsis T: triggers t-prothesis of a vowel |
|||
Particle
an (interrogative) (triggers eclipsis; takes the dependent form of irregular verbs if available; not used in the past tense except of some irregular verbs)
- Used to form direct and indirect questions
- An bhfuil tú ag éisteacht? — Are you listening?
- Níl a fhios agam an bhfuil sé anseo. — I don't know if/whether he is here.
Related terms
- ar (used in the past tense of regular and some irregular verbs)
Particle
an
- used to introduce copular questions, both direct and indirect, in the present/future tense
- An maith leat bainne?
- Do you like milk?
- Níl a fhios agam an é Conchúr a chonaic mé.
- I don't know if it's Connor whom I saw.
- An maith leat bainne?
Related terms
Irish copular forms
Simple copular forms
|
Compound copular forms
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: Forms marked v are used before a vowel sound. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jèrriais
Etymology
From Latin annus.
Noun
an m (plural ans)
Synonyms
Derived terms
Derived terms
|
|
Latin
Etymology
The etymology of an is very obscure.
Conjunction
an (interrogative)
- (introduces questions expecting negative answer or further question) can it be that
- An refert, ubi et in qua arrigas?
- Does it make any difference to me who made you horny, or when?
- An refert, ubi et in qua arrigas?
- whether
- or, either
- Vide utrum vis an...
- Consider whether you want to or...
- Vide utrum vis an...
Usage notes
- Used with utrum (“whether”) in the construction utrum...an (“whether...or”):
- Nescio quid intersit, utrum nunc veniam, an ad decem annos.
- I know not what matter it is, whether I come now or after ten years.
- Nescio quid intersit, utrum nunc veniam, an ad decem annos.
Derived terms
Mandarin
Romanization
an
- Nonstandard spelling of ān.
- Nonstandard spelling of án.
- Nonstandard spelling of ǎn.
- Nonstandard spelling of àn.
Usage notes
- English transcriptions of Mandarin speech often fail to distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without the appropriate indication of tone.
Middle Dutch
↑Jump back a sectionMiddle French
↑Jump back a sectionOccitan
Etymology
Old Provençal an < Latin annus.
Noun
an m (plural ans)
Usage notes
- Also used with the verb aver (“to have”) to indicate age
Old English
Etymology
From Proto-Germanic *ainaz, from Proto-Indo-European *óynos. Germanic cognates include Old Frisian ān, Old Saxon ēn, Dutch een, Old High German ein (German ein), Old Norse einn (Swedish en), Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃 (ains). The Indo-European root is also the source of Latin unus, Ancient Greek οἶος (oios), Old Irish oen.
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ɑːn/
Cardinal number
ān
- (cardinal) one
Usage notes
As in modern English, usage doubles as both a numeral and a pronoun.
Article
ān
- a, an (indefinite article)
Adjective
ān
Derived terms
Descendants
Old Irish
Pronoun
an (triggers eclipsis, takes a leniting relative clause)
- Alternative form of a.
- circa 875, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, Ml. 112b13
- Is demniu liunn a n-ad·chiam hua sulib ol·daas an ro·chluinemmar hua chluasaib.
- What we see with the eyes is more certain for us than what we hear with the ears.
- Is demniu liunn a n-ad·chiam hua sulib ol·daas an ro·chluinemmar hua chluasaib.
- circa 875, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, Ml. 112b13
Old Provençal
Etymology
From Latin annus (“year”).
Noun
an m (oblique plural ans, nominative singular ans, nominative plural an)
Romanian
Etymology
From Latin annus (“year”).
Pronunciation
- IPA: [an]
Noun
Declension
declension of an
| singular | plural | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| gender m | indefinite articulation | definite articulation | indefinite articulation | definite articulation |
| nominative/accusative | un an | anul | niște ani | anii |
| genitive/dative | unui an | anului | unor ani | anilor |
Derived terms
Scottish Gaelic
Pronunciation
- IPA: /an/, /ən/
Etymology 1
From Old Irish a.
Pronoun
an
Usage notes
- This form of possessive pronoun is not used before nouns beginning with b, f, m or p, where am is used instead.
Etymology 2
From Old Irish i.
Preposition
an
Usage notes
- This form is not used before nouns beginning with b, f, m or p, where ann am is used instead.
Synonyms
Derived terms
- The following prepositional pronouns:
| Combining
pronoun |
Prepositional
pronoun |
Prepositional
pronoun (emphatic) |
| mi | annam | annamsa |
| tu | annad | annadsa |
| e | ann | annsan |
| i | innte | inntese |
| sinn | annainn | annainne |
| sibh | annaibh | annaibhse |
| iad | annta | anntasan |
Etymology 3
From Old Irish in.
Article
an
Usage notes
This is the most common singular form. The most common plural form is na. For other forms and their specific uses, see pages listed in "See also" below.
See also
Swedish
Adverb
an
- used as a verb particle, similar to German preposition an (“at, in, on, to”)
Related terms
- gå an
- komma an
- lägga an
- ta sig an
Preposition
an
- (accounting) to
Torres Strait Creole
↑Jump back a sectionTurkish
Etymology
From Arabic آن (ʾān).
Noun
an (definite accusative anı, plural anlar)
Declension
declension of an
possessive forms of an
| nominative | singular | plural |
|---|---|---|
| benim (my) | anım | anlarım |
| senin (your) | anın | anların |
| onun (his/her/its) | anı | anları |
| bizim (our) | anımız | anlarımız |
| sizin (your) | anınız | anlarınız |
| onların (their) | anları | anları |
| accusative | singular | plural |
| benim (my) | anımı | anlarımı |
| senin (your) | anını | anlarını |
| onun (his/her/its) | anını | anlarını |
| bizim (our) | anımızı | anlarımızı |
| sizin (your) | anınızı | anlarınızı |
| onların (their) | anlarını | anlarını |
| dative | singular | plural |
| benim (my) | anıma | anlarıma |
| senin (your) | anına | anlarına |
| onun (his/her/its) | anına | anlarına |
| bizim (our) | anımıza | anlarımıza |
| sizin (your) | anınıza | anlarınıza |
| onların (their) | anlarına | anlarına |
| locative | singular | plural |
| benim (my) | anımda | anlarımda |
| senin (your) | anında | anlarında |
| onun (his/her/its) | anında | anlarında |
| bizim (our) | anımızda | anlarımızda |
| sizin (your) | anınızda | anlarınızda |
| onların (their) | anlarında | anlarında |
| ablative | singular | plural |
| benim (my) | anımdan | anlarımdan |
| senin (your) | anından | anlarından |
| onun (his/her/its) | anından | anlarından |
| bizim (our) | anımızdan | anlarımızdan |
| sizin (your) | anınızdan | anlarınızdan |
| onların (their) | anlarından | anlarından |
| genitive | singular | plural |
| benim (my) | anımın | anlarımın |
| senin (your) | anının | anlarının |
| onun (his/her/its) | anının | anlarının |
| bizim (our) | anımızın | anlarımızın |
| sizin (your) | anınızın | anlarınızın |
| onların (their) | anlarının | anlarının |
Vietnamese
↑Jump back a sectionRead in another language
This page is available in 59 languages
- Afrikaans
- Asturianu
- Brezhoneg
- Česky
- Dansk
- Deutsch
- Eesti
- Ελληνικά
- Español
- Euskara
- Français
- Gaeilge
- Galego
- 한국어
- Hrvatski
- Ido
- Íslenska
- Italiano
- Қазақша
- Kiswahili
- Kurdî
- Кыргызча
- ລາວ
- Latina
- Latviešu
- Lëtzebuergesch
- Lietuvių
- Limburgs
- Magyar
- Malagasy
- മലയാളം
- မြန်မာဘာသာ
- Na Vosa Vakaviti
- Nederlands
- 日本語
- Norsk bokmål
- Occitan
- Oʻzbekcha
- Tok Pisin
- Polski
- Português
- Română
- Русский
- Gagana Samoa
- Shqip
- Sicilianu
- Simple English
- Suomi
- Svenska
- Tagalog
- தமிழ்
- తెలుగు
- ไทย
- Türkçe
- Tiếng Việt
- Volapük
- Walon
- Wolof
- 中文