Wiktionary

а

See also: А, а-, -а, and Appendix:Variations of "a"
Languages (57)
Translingual
Abaza • Abkhaz • Adyghe • Aghul • Alutor • Archi • Avar • Azerbaijani • Bashkir • Belarusian • Bulgarian • Buryat • Chechen • Chukchi • Chuvash • Crimean Tatar • Dargwa • Dungan • Eastern Mari • Even • Evenki • Hunzib • Ingush • Itelmen • Kabardian • Kalmyk • Kazakh • Ket • Khakas • Kumyk • Kyrgyz • Lezgi • Macedonian • Mongolian • Nivkh • Northern Mansi • Old Church Slavonic • Old East Slavic • Old Novgorodian • Orok • Ossetian • Pannonian Rusyn • Romanian • Russian • Serbo-Croatian • Southern Altai • Tabasaran • Tajik • Tatar • Tundra Nenets • Tuvan • Udmurt • Ukrainian • Uzbek • Western Mari • Yakut
Page categories

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

Translingual

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Letter

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а (upper case А)

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

Letter

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а (upper case А)

  1. A letter of the Old Cyrillic script, called az or azu.
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  •  
    Regular.
  •  
    Italics.
  •  
    Handwritten.

Abaza

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Abkhaz

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Adyghe

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Etymology 1

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

  1. The first letter of the Adyghe alphabet, written in the Cyrillic script.
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Etymology 2

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Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ʔaː]
  • Audio:(file)

Determiner

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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

Aghul

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Letter

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а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Alutor

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Letter

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

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

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Archi

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Letter

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а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Avar

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Azerbaijani

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Letter

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а (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Bashkir

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Pronunciation

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  • (phoneme): IPA(key): /ɑ/, /ä/

Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Belarusian

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

See also

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Etymology 2

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

Conjunction

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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.

Particle

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а • (a)

  1. interrogative particle: introduces a question
    А як жа? ― A jak ža? ― But how?, By what means?

Etymology 3

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Interjection

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а • (a)

  1. ah!, oh!, oh well

Bulgarian

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Etymology 1

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Pronunciation

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Etymology 2

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Pronunciation

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Particle

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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

Interjection

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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!

Etymology 3

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From Proto-Slavic *a (“and, but”).

Pronunciation

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

Conjunction

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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.
Synonyms
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Further reading

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

Buryat

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Chechen

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Etymology 1

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Etymology 2

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Compare Ingush а (a).

Conjunction

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а • (a)

  1. and

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Chukchi

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Letter

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

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

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Chuvash

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Crimean Tatar

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Letter

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

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

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Dargwa

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Dungan

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Eastern Mari

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Borrowed from Russian а (a).

Conjunction

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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?

Etymology 2

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Borrowed from Russian а (a).

Particle

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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?

Etymology 3

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Borrowed from Russian а (a).

Interjection

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а • (a)

  1. oh
    а, умылышым
    a, umylyšym
    oh, I got it, oh, I see

Etymology 4

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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References

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

Even

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Letter

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а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Evenki

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Hunzib

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Ingush

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Etymology 1

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

See also

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Etymology 2

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Compare Chechen а (a).

Conjunction

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а • (a)

  1. and

Itelmen

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Letter

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

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

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Kabardian

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Kalmyk

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Kazakh

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

Etymology 1

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Pronunciation

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

See also

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Etymology 2

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Pronunciation

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Interjection

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а • (a)

  1. ah (expression of surprise)

Ket

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Etymology

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From Proto-Yeniseian *ʔaχV.

Numeral

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а (ā)

  1. six

Khakas

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Kumyk

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Kyrgyz

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Pronunciation

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

Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

Usage notes

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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/.

Noun

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а • (a) (Arabic spelling ا)

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

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Lezgi

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Macedonian

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Etymology 1

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Pronunciation

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

See also

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Etymology 2

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Inherited from Proto-Slavic *a.

Pronunciation

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Conjunction

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а • (a)

  1. and, whereas

Interjection

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а • (a)

  1. oh
  2. huh?

Particle

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а • (a)

  1. what about
    А јас? ― A jas? ― What about me?

Mongolian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Russian а (a).

Pronunciation

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

Noun

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а • (a)

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

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Nivkh

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Etymology 1

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Letter

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а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Etymology 2

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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а (a)

  1. armspan

Northern Mansi

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Letter

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а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Old Church Slavonic

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Etymology 1

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Letter

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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.

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Etymology 2

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From Proto-Slavic *a.

Conjunction

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а • (a)

  1. and
  2. but

Old East Slavic

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Etymology

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

Pronunciation

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  • Hyphenation: а

Conjunction

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а (a)

  1. but, and

Synonyms

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Descendants

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

References

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  • 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

Old Novgorodian

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Etymology 1

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Letter

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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 je 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 je 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 je 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 je 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 je 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 ¦ je 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 je : 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 je 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 je 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 je 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
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Etymology 2

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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.

Pronunciation

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  • Hyphenation: а

Conjunction

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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 děje a prodai klevetĭnika togo a u sego smĭrŭda vŭz[jęti] jep: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.

References

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  1. ^ Zaliznyak, Andrey (2004) Древненовгородский диалект [Old Novgorod dialect]‎[1] (in Russian), 2nd edition, Moscow: LRC Publishing House, →ISBN, page 710

Further reading

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  • “а”, in “Корпус берестяных грамот [Birchbark Letters Corpus]”, in Национальный корпус русского языка [Russian National Corpus], https://ruscorpora.ru, 2003–2025

Orok

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Letter

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а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Ossetian

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Pronunciation

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Pannonian Rusyn

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ˈa]
  • Rhymes: -a
  • Hyphenation: а

Etymology 1

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Letter

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а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Etymology 2

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Inherited from Old Slovak a, from Proto-Slavic *a. Cognates include Carpathian Rusyn а (a) and Slovak a.

Conjunction

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а (a)

  1. and, so, then
    Synonym: та (ta)
    дзеци шедза гладни, а плачу ― dzeci šedza hladni, a plaču ― children are sitting hungry, and so they cry
  2. and, but, whereas (expresses contrast or opposition)
    а нє то ― a nje to ― let alone, much less (literally, “and not that”)
    ти франтуєш, а я нє знам цо зоз собу ― ti frantuješ, a ja nje znam co zoz sobu ― you're joking, whereas I don't know what to do with myself

Etymology 3

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Onomatopoeic.

Interjection

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а (a)

  1. ah!, oh!
    а, укажем я тебе! ― a, ukažem ja tebe! ― oh, I'll show you!
  2. (usually as а-а (a-a)) aah
    а-а, алє бул нагнївани! ― a-a, alje bul nahnjivani! ― aah, how angry he was!
  3. well
    Synonym: га (ha)

References

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Romanian

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Letter

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а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Russian

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Etymology 1

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Pronunciation

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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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.
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References

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Etymology 2

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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”).

Pronunciation

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Conjunction

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

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Etymology 3

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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!”)

Alternative forms

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Pronunciation

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Interjection

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а! • (a!)

  1. oh! (expressing surprise or realization)

Particle

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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?

Etymology 4

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Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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а • (a) (indeclinable)

  1. (criminal slang) he, she or it (used to point to a particular person)
References
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  • Pirožkov, Viktor (2001) Kriminalʹnaja Psixologija [Criminal Psychology], Moscow: Os-89

Serbo-Croatian

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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Letter

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

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

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Etymology 2

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

Conjunction

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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

Etymology 3

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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.

Interjection

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а (Latin spelling a)

  1. oh, ah
    а да? ― oh really?

References

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  • “а”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2025
  • “а”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2025
  • 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

Southern Altai

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Tabasaran

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Tajik

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Tatar

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Tundra Nenets

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Tuvan

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Udmurt

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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See the Translingual section.

Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Etymology 2

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Borrowed from Russian а (a).

Conjunction

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а • (a)

  1. but, and
    А тон кытын вал?
    A ton kytyn val?
    And where have you been?
Synonyms
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References

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  • L. E. Kirillova, L. L. Karpova, editors (2008), “а”, in Удмурт-ӟуч кыллюкам [Udmurt-Russian dictionary], Izhevsk: Удмуртский институт истории, языка и литературы УрО РАН, →ISBN, page 23

Ukrainian

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Pronunciation

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Etymology 1

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See Translingual section.

Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Etymology 2

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Conjunction

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а • (a)

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

Etymology 3

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Particle

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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?

Etymology 4

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Interjection

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а • (a)!

  1. ah!, oh!, oh well

Uzbek

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Letter

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а (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Western Mari

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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Yakut

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Letter

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а • (a) (lower case, upper case А)

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

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