an - synonyms, antonyms, definitions

an

synonyms, antonyms, definitions, examples & translations of an in English

English Online Dictionary. What means an‎? What does an mean?

Translingual

Symbol

(international standards) ISO 639-1 language code for Aragonese.

English

Pronunciation

(stressed)
- IPA^(key): /ˈæn/
- Rhymes: -æn
- IPA^(key): [ˈɛən]
(unstressed)
- IPA^(key): /ən/
Homophone: in (in some accents)

Etymology 1

From Middle English an, from Old English ān (“a, an”, literally “one”). More at one.

Article

an (indefinite)

Form of a (all article senses).
1. Used before a vowel sound.
2. (now quite rare) Used before one and words with initial ⟨u⟩, ⟨eu⟩ when pronounced /ju/.
  - For more quotations using this term, see Citations:an.
3. (nonstandard) Used before /h/ in a stressed or unstressed syllable.
4. (nonstandard, British, West Country) Used before all consonants.

Usage notes

In standard English, the article an is used before vowel sounds, while a is used before consonant sounds. Alternatively, an can be found before an unstressed syllable beginning with /h/, as in "an historic". The /h/ may then become silent or is at least very weakly articulated. This usage is favoured by only 6% of British speakers, and is only slightly more common in writing.
Historically, an could also be found before one and before many words with initial ⟨u⟩, ⟨eu⟩ (now pronounced with initial /juː/, /jʊ/, /jə/), such as eunuch, unique, and utility. This is because those initial letters were pronounced as vowels. In writing, an remained usual before such words until the 19th century -- long after these words acquired initial consonant sounds in standard English. This is still occasionally seen.
In the other direction, a can occur before a vowel in nonstandard (often dialectal) speech and in its written representations. Example: "ain't this a innerestin sitchation" (Moira Young, Blood Red Road).
The various article senses of a are all senses of an.

Derived terms

Translations

Numeral

(nonstandard, British, West Country) one

References

Etymology 2

From Middle English an (“and, if”). Doublet of and.

Conjunction

(archaic) If
(archaic) So long as.
(archaic) As if; as though.
- (original version), lines 61–64:

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 3

Borrowed from Georgian ან (an).

Noun

an (plural ans)

The first letter of the Georgian alphabet, ა (Mkhedruli), Ⴀ (Asomtavruli) or ⴀ (Nuskhuri).

Etymology 4

From the Old English an, on (preposition).

Preposition

In each; to or for each; per.

Usage notes

This is the same as the word a in such contexts, modified because of preceding a vowel sound (after an unpronounced h). The train was speeding along at a mile a minute.

Synonyms

Translations

References

“an”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.

Anagrams

n.a., NA, -na, N/A, N.A., n/a, Na, na

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Preposition

(Western Cape) Alternative form of aan

Ainu

Etymology

Similar to Japanese ある (aru).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Verb

an (Kana spelling アン)

(intransitive, copulative) to exist, be (somewhere); there is

Albanian

Etymology

Possibly a metaphorical use of anë (“vessel”).

Noun

an m (definite ani)

(anatomy) womb, caul
Synonym: mitër
(anatomy) joint
(dialectal) room, vessel
(dialectal, Arbëresh) ship

Related terms

anë

Arin

Noun

haunch

Aromanian

Etymology

From Latin annus. Compare Romanian an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [an]

Noun

an n (plural anj or enj)

year

Related terms

antsãrtsu / antserts

Asturian

Etymology

From a contraction of the preposition en (“in”) + preposition a (“to”).

Contraction

(optional) towards inside

Azerbaijani

Etymology

From Arabic آن (ʔān).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑn/

Noun

an (definite accusative anı, plural anlar)

moment

Declension

Derived terms

hər anda
anlıq

Bambara

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [án]

Pronoun

Bikol Central

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ʔan/ [ʔan̪]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Central Philippine *aŋ. Cognate with Cebuano ang, Hiligaynon ang, Tagalog ang, Waray-Waray an.

Further etymology is debated; some have theorized a relationship to Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *a (“direct marker”), from Proto-Austronesian *a (“direct marker”) with the addition of an unclear nasal suffix. Compare Kapampangan ing.

Particle

an (Basahan spelling ᜀᜈ᜔)

direct marker for all general nouns other than personal proper nouns

Usage notes

This particle is analyzed as the definite article (i.e., the) when used alone, and the indefinite article (i.e., a or an) when used with the numeral "saro".
Specific nouns are marked with "si" or "su".
Direct personal proper nouns (primarily names) are marked with "si".

Etymology 2

Pronoun

'an (Basahan spelling ᜀᜈ᜔)

Clipping of iyan.

Bourguignon

Etymology 1

From Latin annus.

Noun

an m (plural ans)

year

Derived terms

Etymology 2

From Latin in.

Preposition

Synonyms

Etymology 3

From Latin inde.

Pronoun

used to indicate an indefinite quantity, of it, of them
J'an veus deus
I want two of them

J'an seus seur
I am sure of it

Breton

Alternative forms

Article

Chuukese

Determiner

third person singular possessive; his, hers, its (used with general-class objects)

Related terms

Noun

path, road

Cimbrian

Alternative forms

a (Luserna)

Etymology

From Middle High German ein, from Old High German ein, from Proto-Germanic *ainaz. Cognate with German ein, Dutch een, English one, Icelandic einn.

Article

(Sette Comuni) a, an
an gamègalndar mann ― a married man
(Luserna) oblique masculine of a
I hån an pruadar un a sbestar. ― I have a brother and a sister.

Declension

Derived terms

vònname
vònnara

Conjunction

(Sette Comuni) that (introduces a subordinate clause)

References

“an” in Martalar, Umberto Martello, Bellotto, Alfonso (1974) Dizionario della lingua Cimbra dei Sette Communi vicentini, 1st edition, Roana, Italy: Instituto di Cultura Cimbra A. Dal Pozzo
Patuzzi, Umberto, ed., (2013) Luserna / Lusérn: Le nostre parole / Ünsarne börtar / Unsere Wörter [Our Words], Luserna, Italy: Comitato unitario delle isole linguistiche storiche germaniche in Italia / Einheitskomitee der historischen deutschen Sprachinseln in Italien

Cornish

Etymology

From Proto-Celtic *sindos.

Article

the (definite article)

Crimean Tatar

Etymology

Ultimately from Arabic آن (ʔān).

Noun

moment

Declension

References

Mirjejev, V. A., Usejinov, S. M. (2002) Ukrajinsʹko-krymsʹkotatarsʹkyj slovnyk [Ukrainian – Crimean Tatar Dictionary]‎^[12], Simferopol: Dolya, →ISBN

Czech

Etymology

Inherited from Old Czech an. By surface analysis, univerbation of a +‎ on.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈan]

Pronoun

(relative, archaic) which, who, as
Synonyms: který, jenž, jak, když

Bělá se tam, bělá žena, ana malé dítě nese. ― A white form can be seen there, a white woman who is carrying a child.

Vidíš-li poutníka, an dlouhou lučinou spěchá ku cíli, než červánky pohynou? ― Do you see a traveller hastening ere the twilight passes away across the long meadows towards a destination?

Declension

Conjunction

(archaic) when, while
An tak mluvili, ruce se jim chvěly. ― As they were speaking, their hands quivered.
(archaic) because
Ulehčilo se mi, an jsem byla uspokojena, že sama trpím. ― I was relieved, for it satisfied me that I myself do suffer.

Danish

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Middle Low German an and German an, from Proto-Germanic *ana (“on, at”), cognate with English on and doublet of Danish å, Danish på.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈan]

Adverb

on (only used in lexicalized expressions)

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈæˀn]

Verb

imperative of ane

Egyptian

Romanization

Manuel de Codage transliteration of ꜥn.

Elfdalian

Etymology

From Old Norse hann. Cognate with Swedish han.

Pronoun

an m

Emilian

Etymology

From Latin annus.

Noun

an m

year

Fordata

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *kaən, from Proto-Austronesian *kaən.

Verb

to eat

References

Drabbe, Peter (1932). Woordenboek der Fordaatsche Taal. Bandoeng: A.C. Nix & Co., p. 9.

Franco-Provençal

Etymology

Inherited from Latin annus.

Noun

an m (plural ans) (ORB, broad)

year

Derived terms

anâ

References

an in DicoFranPro: Dictionnaire Français/Francoprovençal – on dicofranpro.llm.umontreal.ca
an in Lo trèsor Arpitan – on arpitan.eu

French

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin annus, from Proto-Italic *atnos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂et-no-, probably from *h₂et- (“to go”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑ̃/
Homophone: en

Noun

an m (plural ans)

year

Derived terms

Related terms

année

Anagrams

n’a

Friulian

Etymology

From Latin annus.

Noun

an m (plural agns)

year

Fula

Etymology 1

Determiner

an (singular)

(possessive) Alternative form of am (my).

Usage notes

Used in Pular.

Etymology 2

Pronoun

second person singular emphatic pronoun you

Usage notes

Used in Pular.

Dialectal variants

aan (Pulaar)

References

Oumar Bah, Dictionnaire Pular-Français, Avec un index français-pular, Webonary.org, SIL International, 2014.
Ritsuko Miyamoto (1993) “A Study of Fula Dialects : Examining the Continuous/Stative Constructions”, in Senri Ethnological Studies‎^[13], volume 35, →DOI, pages 215-230

Fuyug

Noun

an (plural aning)

References

Robert L. Bradshaw, Fuyug grammar sketch (2007)

German

Etymology

From Middle High German an(e), from Old High German ana, from Proto-West Germanic *ana, from Proto-Germanic *ana.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/, [ʔan]
- Rhymes: -an
A lengthened form /aːn/ is possible in non-prepositional uses, e.g. in the prefix an- or the adverb daran. This was formerly widespread, but is now chiefly restricted to Austria and Switzerland (where it is optional). Compare similarly the distinction between in and ein-.

Preposition

an [with dative]

(local) on; upon; at; in; against
Das Bild hängt an der Wand. ― The picture hangs on the wall.
by; near; close to; next to
(temporal, with days or times of day) on; in; at
(temporal) a; per; only used with the word Tag (“day”), otherwise use in
zweimal am Tag ― twice a day

Preposition

an [with accusative]

on; onto
Ich hänge das Bild an die Wand. ― I hang the picture on the wall.
at; against
Schauen Sie an die Tafel. ― Look at the blackboard.
to; for
Ein Brief an Anna. ― A letter for Anna.

Preposition

an [with dative or accusative]

(any relation to an object or attribute regardless of time and space) of, on, in, for, about
an einem Roman schreiben ― to write on a novel

Mangel an Lebensmitteln ― lack of food

Alle Menschen sind frei und gleich an Würde und Rechten geboren ― All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

Er ist schuld an dem Unglück ― He is responsible for the misfortune

Das mag ich nicht an ihm ― I don't like that about him

Usage notes

Usually used to refer to something being on a vertical surface, as opposed to auf, which usually points to a horizontal surface.
When followed by the masculine/neuter definite article in the dative case (i.e. dem (“the”)), the two words generally contract to am (“on the”) if not emphasized.
When followed by the neuter definite article in the accusative case (i.e. das (“the”)), the two words generally contract to ans (“on the”) if not emphasized.

Adverb

onward; on
von heute an ― from today on

Adjective

an (indeclinable, predicative only)

(predicative only) on
Synonyms: angeschaltet, ein, eingeschaltet

Antonyms: aus, ausgeschaltet

Declension

Indeclinable, predicative-only.

Derived terms

an- (prefix)
(an + dem) am
(an + das) ans
anhin
wohlan, wolan

Anagrams

Girawa

Noun

water

Gothic

Romanization

Romanization of 𐌰𐌽

Haitian Creole

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ã/

Etymology 1

From French un.

Article

the (definite article)

Usage notes

Use this word when:

It modifies a singular noun, and
It is preceded by a word that ends with either:
- A nasal vowel, or
- A nasal consonant and an oral (non-nasal) vowel, in that order.

Etymology 2

From French an (“year”).

Noun

year

Synonyms

lane

Ido

Etymology

Borrowed from English on, German an. Decision no. 759, Progreso V.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Preposition

at, on (indicates contiguity, juxtaposition)
Me pendis pikturi an la parieto. ― I hung paintings on the wall.

Derived terms

dorso an dorso (“back to back”)
an-

References

Progreso IV (in Ido), 1911–1912, page 409, 523, 591, 622
Progreso V (in Ido), 1912–1913, page 659

Irish

Etymology 1

From Old Irish in, from Proto-Celtic *sindos.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ənˠ/, (between consonants) /ə/, (before a/á, o/ó, u/ú) /ə.n̪ˠ-/, (before e/é, i/í) /ə.n̠ʲ-/

Article

the
an t-uisce ― the water

an bhean ― the woman

an pháiste ― of the child

ag an gcailín/chailín ― at the girl

Declension

Etymology 2

From Old Irish in.

Pronunciation

(preverbal particle): IPA^(key): (before a consonant) /ə/, (before a/á, o/ó, u/ú) /ə.nˠ-/, (before e/é, i/í) /ə.n̠ʲ-/
(copular particle): IPA^(key): /ənˠ/, (before é, ea, í, iad) /ə.n̠ʲ-/

Particle

an (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 with the past tense of regular and some irregular verbs)

Particle

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.

Related terms

Etymology 3

Verb

an (present analytic anann, future analytic anfaidh, verbal noun anacht, past participle anta)

(transitive, intransitive) Alternative form of fan (“stay, wait, remain”)

Conjugation

Etymology 4

Particle

Alternative form of a (used before numbers when counting)

Mutation

Jamaican Creole

Etymology 1

Derived from English hand.

Noun

an (plural an dem, quantified an)

hand

Etymology 2

Derived from English and.

Conjunction

Japanese

Romanization

Rōmaji transcription of あん

Juǀ'hoan

Pronunciation

The nasal vowel IPA^(key): /ã/

Letter

an (upper case An)

A letter of the Juǀ'hoan alphabet, written in the Latin script.

Ladin

Etymology

From Latin annus.

Noun

an m (plural ani)

year

Latin

Etymology

From Proto-Italic *an, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂en. Cognate with Lithuanian angu (“or”), Gothic 𐌰𐌽 (an, “so? now?”). May also be related to Ancient Greek ἄν (án, particle), Sanskrit अना (anā́), Avestan 𐬀𐬥𐬁 (anā), Lithuanian anàs, Albanian a, Proto-Slavic *onъ.

Pronunciation

(Classical Latin) IPA^(key): /an/, [än]
(modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /an/, [än]

Conjunction

or, or whether (A conjunction that introduces the second part of a disjunctive interrogation, or a phrase implying doubt.)
1. in disjunctive interrogations
  1. direct
    1. (introduced by utrum (“whether”))
    2. (introduced by -ne (interrogative enclitic))
    3. (introduced by nonne (“[is it] not”))
    4. (introduced by num (interrogative particle))
    5. (without an introductory particle)
  2. indirect
    1. (introduced by utrum (“whether”))
    2. (introduced by -ne, interrogative enclitic)
    3. (introduced by an)
    4. (without an introductory particle)
  3. or rather, or on the contrary (where the opinion of the speaker or the probability inclines to the second interrogative clause, and this is made emphatic, as a corrective of the former)
    1. hence, in the comic poets, as an potius
  4. or, or rather, or indeed, or perhaps (where, as is frequent, the first part of the interrogation is not expressed, but is to be supplied from the context, an begins the interrogation, but it does not begin an absolute – i.e., non-disjunctive – interrogation)
  5. (in the phrase an nōn) or not
    1. in direct questions
    2. in indirect questions
  6. (in the phrase an ne) pleonastic usage for an
    1. in direct questions
    2. in indirect questions
2. (in disjunctive clauses that express doubt) or
  1. ?
  2. denoting uncertainty by itself, without a verb of doubting
  3. (chiefly in and after the Augustean period) standing for sīve
  4. where the first disjunctive clause is to be supplied from the general idea or where an stands for utrum or necne
  5. Since in such distributive sentences expressive of doubt, the opinion of the speaker or the probability usually inclines to the second, i.e. to the clause beginning with an, the expressions haud sciō an, nesciō an, and dubitō an incline to an affirmative signification, “I almost know”, “I am inclined to think”, “I almost think”, “I might say”, “I might assert that”, etc., for “perhaps”, “probably”.
  6. Sometimes the distributive clause beginning with an designates directly the opposite, the more improbable, the negative; in which case nesciō an, haud sciō an, etc., like the English I know not whether, signify “I think that not”, “I believe that not”, etc.

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.

Derived terms

References

ăn in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
an in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
Carl Meißner, Henry William Auden (1894) Latin Phrase-Book‎^[14], London: Macmillan and Co.

Loniu

Noun

fresh water

References

Malcolm Ross, Andrew Pawley, Meredith Osmond, The Lexicon of Proto-Oceanic →ISBN, 2007)
Blust's Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (as ʔan)

Low German

Etymology

From Middle Low German an, from Old Saxon an, ana, from Proto-Germanic *an, *ana.

Pronunciation

Rhymes: -an
IPA^(key): /an/, /aːn/, /ɒːn/, /ɔːn/

Preposition

on
to, at

Inflection

Neither the spelling nor grammar of these forms applies to all, or even necessarily the majority, of dialects.

Adverb

Luxembourgish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/, [ɑn]
Rhymes: -ɑn

Etymology 1

From Old High German indi.

Conjunction

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *in.

Preposition

Mandarin

Romanization

Nonstandard spelling of ān.
Nonstandard spelling of án.
Nonstandard spelling of ǎn.
Nonstandard spelling of àn.

Usage notes

Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

Middle Dutch

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Preposition

Alternative form of āne

Middle English

Alternative forms

a, ane, o, on (see usage notes)

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /a(n)/ (see usage notes)

Etymology 1

An unstressed form of oon (“one”), from the occasional use of Old English ān (“one”) as an article.

Article

a, an (indefinite article):
1. Any example or instance of a thing.
2. A certain or particular thing.
3. Any, every; several or all instances of a thing.
Used in conjunction with numerals (especially hundred, thousend)

Usage notes

In later non-Northern Middle English, a is usually found before consonants other than /h/, while an is usually found preceding vowels and /h/. However, an often occurs before any consonant in earlier Middle English.
In early Middle English, the indefinite article is often omitted; occasional omission persists into later Middle English.
Inflected forms of the indefinite article are sometimes found in early Middle English; see the inflection table below.

Declension

Descendants

English: an, a
Scots: a
Yola: a, e

References

“a, indef. art.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.

Etymology 2

Preposition

Alternative form of in

Etymology 3

Conjunction

Alternative form of and

Etymology 4

Numeral

Alternative form of oon

Etymology 5

Verb

Alternative form of haven

Middle French

Etymology

From Old French an, from Latin annus.

Noun

an m (plural ans)

year

Descendants

French: an

Middle Welsh

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ən/

Determiner

Alternative form of yn

Mirandese

Etymology

From Latin in.

Preposition

Mòcheno

Article

oblique masculine of a

Derived terms

References

“an” in Cimbrian, Ladin, Mòcheno: Getting to know 3 peoples. 2015. Servizio minoranze linguistiche locali della Provincia autonoma di Trento, Trento, Italy.

Norman

Etymology

From Old French an, from Latin annus.

Pronunciation

Noun

an m (plural ans)

(Guernsey, Jersey) year

Synonyms

année

Derived terms

Jour dé l'An (“New Year's Day”)
Nouvel An (“New Year”)
tchu d'l'an (“last day of the year”)

Northern Kurdish

Etymology

Confer Persian (yâ).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑːn/

Conjunction

an (Arabic spelling ئان)

or
Synonym: (after a word ending in a vowel) yan

References

Chyet, Michael L. (2020) “an”, in Ferhenga Birûskî: Kurmanji–English Dictionary (Language Series; 2), volume 2, London: Transnational Press, page 8

Norwegian Bokmål

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑːn/
Rhymes: -ɑːn
Hyphenation: an

Verb

imperative of ane

Anagrams

Na, na

Occitan

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Old Occitan an, from Latin annus.

Noun

an m (plural ans)

year

Usage notes

Also used with the verb aver (“to have”) to indicate age

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

third-person plural present indicative of aver

Old Czech

Etymology

Univerbation of a +‎ on.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (13^th CE) /ˈan/
IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /ˈan/

Conjunction

connects clauses; and that/he
connects contrastive clauses; but that/he
introduces a temporal clause of recency; as he just (was)

Declension

Derived terms

Old English

Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *ain, from Proto-Germanic *ainaz.

Germanic cognates include Old Frisian ān, Old Saxon ēn, Old High German ein, Old Norse einn, Gothic 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐍃 (ains). The Indo-European root is also the source of Latin ūnus, Ancient Greek οἶος (oîos), Old Irish oen.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɔːn/

Numeral

ān

one
- "Gospel of Saint John", chapter 10, verse 30
- c. 973, Æthelwold's translation of the Rule of Saint Benedict, quoting Galatians 3:28
- c. 990, Wessex Gospels, Mark 14:37
- early 12th century, the Peterborough Chronicle, year 1100

Declension

Article

ān

a certain
(uncommon) a, an (indefinite article)

Adjective

ān

only
- 11th century, Durham Proverbs, no. 22
- c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English
- c. 990, Wessex Gospels, John 5:18
- c. 1000, "The Battle of Maldon", lines 94-95
- "The Fortunes of Men", lines 8-9
alone
- c. 992, Ælfric, "St. Benedict, Abbot"
- c. 995, Ælfric, Extracts on Grammar in English
- c. 992, Ælfric, "The Nativity of St. Paul the Apostle"

Usage notes

In the above senses ("only" and "alone"), this word was often used in the weak declension, often indeclinably as āna.

Declension

Adverb

ān

only
- 995. Anglo-Saxon Gospels, Translation, Gospel of Saint Matthew, chapter 8, verse 8.

Noun

ān n

one (digit or figure)

Declension

Derived terms

āngenġa
ānhaga
āntīd

Descendants

Middle English: oon, on, one, oen, oune, hon, none, an, anne, onne, an, ane, auen, aune (Northern), auen, aune (north Midland), enne, onen, onenen (Kent), en, an, ane (Early Middle English), won, von, wone (Late Middle English), on, one, an (Northern), an, ane (Early Middle English)
- English: one, an, a, yan (dialectal)
- Geordie English: yen
- Scots: ane, wan, yin, ae
- Yola: oan, own, ane

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑn/

Preposition

Alternative form of on

References

Joseph Bosworth and T. Northcote Toller (1898) “an”, in An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary‎^[15], 2nd edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Old French

Etymology

From Latin annus.

Noun

an oblique singular, m (oblique plural anz, nominative singular anz, nominative plural an)

year

Related terms

anee

Descendants

Old Frisian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈaːn/

Numeral

ān

Alternative form of ēn

References

Bremmer, Rolf H. (2009) An Introduction to Old Frisian: History, Grammar, Reader, Glossary, Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, →ISBN

Old Irish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [an]

Pronoun

an (triggers eclipsis, takes a leniting relative clause)

Alternative form of a
- c. 800–825, Diarmait, Milan Glosses on the Psalms, published in Thesaurus Palaeohibernicus (reprinted 1987, Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies), edited and with translations by Whitley Stokes and John Strachan, vol. I, pp. 7–483, Ml. 112^b13

Verb

·an

third-person singular preterite conjunct of anaid

Verb

second-person singular imperative of anaid

Mutation

Old Norse

Etymology

Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *þan, possibly through *þannai, whence cognate with Old English þonne (“than”). For similar loss of þ- compare at from earlier Proto-Norse ᚦᚨᛏ (þat), ᚦᛡᛏ (þᴀt).

Conjunction

than

Descendants

⇒ Old Norse: en
- Icelandic: en
- Norwegian Nynorsk: enn
- Norwegian Bokmål: enn
- Old Swedish: æn
  - Swedish: än
- Danish: end

Old Occitan

Etymology

From Latin annus (“year”).

Noun

an m (oblique plural ans, nominative singular ans, nominative plural an)

year

Descendants

Occitan: an

Old Polish

Etymology

Univerbation of a +‎ on. First attested in 1388.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (10^th–15^th CE) /an/
IPA^(key): (15^th CE) /an/

Conjunction

(attested in Greater Poland) connects clauses; and that
(attested in Greater Poland) connects contrastive clauses; but that
(attested in Masovia) introduces a temporal clause of recency; as it just (was)

References

B. Sieradzka-Baziur, Ewa Deptuchowa, Joanna Duska, Mariusz Frodyma, Beata Hejmo, Dorota Janeczko, Katarzyna Jasińska, Krystyna Kajtoch, Joanna Kozioł, Marian Kucała, Dorota Mika, Gabriela Niemiec, Urszula Poprawska, Elżbieta Supranowicz, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, Piotr Szpor, Bartłomiej Borek, editors (2011–2015), “an”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN

Old Saxon

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *an.

Preposition

on, in

Proto-Norse

Romanization

Romanization of ᚨᚾ

Romanian

Etymology

From Latin annus (“year”), from Proto-Italic *atnos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂et-no-, probably from *h₂et- (“to go”). Compare Megleno-Romanian an and Aromanian an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/
Rhymes: -an

Noun

an m (plural ani or (obsolete) ai)

year

Declension

Derived terms

anual
anotimp
cei șapte ani de acasă

References

an in DEX online—Dicționare ale limbii române (Dictionaries of the Romanian language)

Romansch

Alternative forms

(Rumantsch Grischun, Sursilvan, Surmiran) onn
(Sutsilvan, Vallader) on

Etymology

From Latin annus.

Noun

an m (plural ans)

(Puter) year

Sardinian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Preposition

(Nuorese) Alternative form of a, used before words starting with d-

References

Wagner, Max Leopold (1960–1964) “a²”, in Dizionario etimologico sardo, Heidelberg

Saterland Frisian

Etymology

From Old Frisian an, from Proto-West Germanic *an, from Proto-Germanic *an. Cognates include West Frisian oan and German an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/
Hyphenation: an
Rhymes: -an

Preposition

an (neuter or distal adverb deeran, proximal adverb hieran, interrogative adverb wieran)

on
Mien Jasse honget an dän Hoake. ― My jacket is hanging on the hook.
at
Iek sitte an dän Disk. ― I'm sitting at the table.
next to
Iek sitte an mien Suster. ― I'm sitting next to my sister.
towards, to
Dät Boot is an Lound kemen. ― The boat came ashore (literally, “The boat has come to land.”)
of, from
Mien Bääsje is an Kanker stúurven. ― My grandmother died of cancer.
about, circa
Iek häbe an do fjautig Ljudene blouked. ― I have seen about forty people.

Adjective

on, switched on, burning
Dät Fjúur is an. ― The fire is burning.

Ju Laampe is an. ― The lamp is switched on.

References

Marron C. Fort (2015) “an”, in Saterfriesisches Wörterbuch mit einer phonologischen und grammatischen Übersicht, Buske, →ISBN

Scots

Etymology 1

From Old English and, ond, end (“and”), from Proto-Germanic *andi, *anþi, *undi, *unþi (“and, furthermore”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂énti (“facing opposite, near, in front of, before”).

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

(stressed) IPA^(key): [ɑn]
(unstressed) IPA^(key): [ən]

Conjunction

Derived terms

an a'

Etymology 2

From Middle English oon, from Old English ān (“one”), from Proto-Germanic *ainaz, from Proto-Indo-European *óynos. Cognate to English an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ən]

Article

(before a vowel) a, an

Usage notes

In colloquial usage mostly replaced by a. However, still widely used in literature, probably due to English influence.

Synonyms

References

“an, indef. art.”, in The Dictionary of the Scots Language, Edinburgh: Scottish Language Dictionaries, 2004–present, →OCLC.

Scottish Gaelic

Etymology 1

From Old Irish in. Cognates include Irish an and Manx yn.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (before a, o, u or a broad consonant) /ən̪ˠ/, (before broad g or k) /əŋ/, (before e, i or a slender consonant) /əɲ/, (colloquial before a consonant) /ə/
Hyphenation: an

Article

Declension

Etymology 2

From Old Irish a. Cognates include Irish a.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ən/

Determiner

their

Etymology 3

From Old Irish i. Cognates include Irish i and Manx ayns.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (before a, o, u or a broad consonant) /ən̪ˠ/, (before broad g or k) /əŋ/, (before e, i or a slender consonant) /əɲ/

Preposition

an (+ dative, no mutation)

Usage notes

This form is not used before nouns beginning with b, f, m or p, where am and ann am are used instead.

Inflection

Synonyms

ann an

Derived terms

Etymology 4

From Old Irish in. Cognates include Irish an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): (before a, o, u or a broad consonant) /ən̪ˠ/, (before broad g or k) /əŋ/, (before e, i or a slender consonant) /əɲ/, (colloquial before a consonant) /ə/

Particle

Used together with a dependent form of a verb to form the interrogative.

Usage notes

Before verbs beginning with b, f, m or p, the form am is used. Before bheil (“am, is, are”), the form a is also used.

Verb

Present interrogative form of is (the copula).

Usage notes

Before words beginning with b, f, m or p, the form am is used.

Inflection

References

Edward Dwelly (1911) “an”, in Faclair Gàidhlig gu Beurla le Dealbhan [The Illustrated Gaelic–English Dictionary]‎^[18], 10th edition, Edinburgh: Birlinn Limited, →ISBN
Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “2 a”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “i”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Gregory Toner, Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Marie-Luise Theuerkauf, Dagmar Wodtko, editors (2019), “in”, in eDIL: Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
Colin Mark (2003) The Gaelic-English dictionary, London: Routledge, →ISBN, pages 34-35

Siraya

Etymology

From Proto-Austronesian *-an.

Noun

place

Southwestern Dinka

Pronoun

References

Dinka-English Dictionary‎^[19], 2005

Sumerian

Romanization

Romanization of 𒀭 (an)

Swedish

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle Low German an and German an, and less commonly from English on, from Proto-Germanic *ana (“on, at”), cognate with English on and doublet of Swedish å, Swedish på.

Adverb

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

(accounting) to

Anagrams

-na, na

Tày

Pronunciation

(Thạch An – Tràng Định) IPA^(key): [ʔaːn˧˥]
(Trùng Khánh) IPA^(key): [ʔaːn˦]

Etymology 1

From Chinese 安 (ān).

Adjective

an (安)

peaceful; undisturbed
dú bấu an ― to live unpeacefully

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Verb

to manage to do something; to fend for oneself
An ý ngòi. ― Manage it.

Etymology 3

Noun

saddle; howdah
an chạng ― howdah

an năng đây ― good leather saddle

References

Lương Bèn (2011) Từ điển Tày-Việt [Tay-Vietnamese dictionary]‎^[20][21] (in Vietnamese), Thái Nguyên: Nhà Xuất bản Đại học Thái Nguyên
Lục Văn Pảo, Hoàng Tuấn Nam (2003) Hoàng Triều Ân, editor, Từ điển chữ Nôm Tày [A Dictionary of (chữ) Nôm Tày]‎^[22] (in Vietnamese), Hanoi: Nhà xuất bản Khoa học Xã hội
Léopold Michel Cadière (1910) Dictionnaire Tày-Annamite-Français [Tày-Vietnamese-French Dictionary]‎^[23] (in French), Hanoi: Impressions d'Extrême-Orient

Tedim Chin

Etymology

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *ʔan (“vegetables”), from Proto-Sino-Tibetan *h(y)an.

Noun

food

References

Zomi Ordbog based on the work of D.L. Haokip

Torres Strait Creole

Etymology

From English hand.

Noun

hand, lower arm
flipper

Turkish

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ɑn/, [ɑn̪]

Etymology 1

From Ottoman Turkish آن (an), from Arabic آن (ʔān).

Noun

an (definite accusative anı, plural anlar)

moment

Declension

References

Kélékian, Diran (1911) “آن”, in Dictionnaire turc-français‎^[24], Constantinople: Mihran, page 38
Nişanyan, Sevan (2002–) “an”, in Nişanyan Sözlük

Etymology 2

Verb

second-person singular imperative of anmak

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 安 (“tranquil”). The character can also be read as yên, a form of probable Northern origin.

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔaːn˧˧]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔaːŋ˧˧]
(Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʔaːŋ˧˧]

Romanization

Sino-Vietnamese reading of 安

Derived terms

Anagrams

Vilamovian

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/

Conjunction

Related terms

Numeral

ān

Related terms

Waray-Waray

Etymology

From Proto-Central Philippine *aŋ. Cognate with Cebuano ang, Hiligaynon ang, Tagalog ang, Bikol Central an.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ʔan/, [ʔan]

Particle

direct marker for all general nouns other than personal proper nouns

Usage notes

This particle is analyzed as the definite article (i.e., the) when used alone, and the indefinite article (i.e., a or an) when used with the numeral "usa" plus "ka" that quantifies an object/object that it modifies.
Specific nouns are marked with "si".
Direct personal proper nouns (primarily names) are marked with "si".

Yola

Etymology 1

From Middle English an, from Old English and, ond, end, from Proto-Germanic *andi, *anþi.

Alternative forms

an', and

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /an/, /and/

Conjunction

Etymology 2

Preposition

Alternative form of on

References

Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867

Yoruba

Pronunciation

(mid-tone): IPA^(key): /ã̄/
(high-tone): IPA^(key): /ã́/

Pronoun

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a high-tone /ã/)

Pronoun

án

him, her, it (third-person singular non-honorific object pronoun following a monosyllabic verb with a low- or mid-tone /ã/)

an

an

Translingual

Symbol

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Article

Usage notes

Derived terms

Translations

Numeral

References

Etymology 2

Conjunction

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology 3

Noun

Etymology 4

Preposition

Usage notes

Synonyms

Translations

References

Anagrams

Afrikaans

Pronunciation

Preposition

Ainu

Etymology

Pronunciation

Verb

See also

Albanian

Etymology

Noun

Related terms

Arin

Noun

Aromanian

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Related terms

Asturian

Etymology

Contraction

Azerbaijani

Etymology

Pronunciation

Noun

Declension

Derived terms

Bambara

Pronunciation

Pronoun

Bikol Central

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

Particle

Usage notes

Etymology 2

Pronoun

Bourguignon

Etymology 1

Noun

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Preposition

Synonyms

Etymology 3

Pronoun

Breton

Alternative forms

Article

Chuukese

Determiner

Related terms