an

Part of Speech

Article

Pronunciation

/æn/ (US), /ɑːn/ (UK)

Definitions

• A vowel sound used before words starting with a vowel sound.
• Used to indicate a singular noun that is indefinite or not previously mentioned.

Usage Examples

• "She is an artist."
• "He is an honest man."

Etymology

Derived from the Old English indefinite article "ān", meaning "one" or "single".

Synonyms

• a
• one
• each

Antonyms

• the
• some

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• In some accents, it is pronounced as "uhn" instead of "an".
• In some dialects, the "a" sound may shift depending on regional accents.

Historical Usage

The word "an" has been in use since Old English as the indefinite article derived from the word for "one". It was primarily used before words starting with vowel sounds.

Cultural Nuances

In English, the choice between "a" and "an" is influenced by the pronunciation of the following word, not its spelling. This reflects a broader trend of language evolving based on spoken usage.

More Information

"An" is used in various ways across different languages, often to denote something singular and indefinite. It is one of the most common and essential elements in English grammar, especially in the construction of simple sentences.

It has also influenced many languages, particularly those in the Indo-European family, where articles serve to mark definiteness, specificity, or countability.