Is 'A' a vowel or a consonant?

The letter A is a vowel in the English alphabet. It is one of the five standard vowels used to form syllables.

What are some common words that start with A?

Some common words starting with A include various common terms. These words are frequently used in everyday English communication.

What is the longest word starting with A?

There are many long words starting with A, often found in scientific or medical terminology. Exploring our A-words by length list above can help you find high-value words for word games.

Are there any two-letter words starting with A for Scrabble?

Yes, there are usually valid two-letter words starting with A that are accepted in Scrabble. These short words are incredibly useful for clearing your rack and scoring parallel points.

How is the letter A pronounced in American English?

In American English, the letter A is pronounced with its distinct alphabetical sound. However, its pronunciation can change slightly depending on its position in a word and the letters surrounding it.

Words Starting
With A

Explore the vast world of "A" words. Filter by two-letter combinations below to find exactly what you need. Perfect for students, teachers, and word game enthusiasts.

Explore Words

Total Words

All aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az

Words Starting With Au

No Words Found

We couldn't find any words starting with "A" for the combination "Au" in our dictionary. Try selecting another combination!

Origin of the Letter A

Why is 'A' shaped and used the way it is?

The letter 'A' traces its roots back to the Phoenician alphabet around 1000 BCE. The Phoenicians called it "Aleph". The Phoenicians drew an ox head, symbolizing leadership and strength, which is why it earned the first position.

The Evolution

Phoenician: Aleph (Meaning: Ox Head)

Original Symbol: 𐤀

Greek & Latin: Adapted into the modern shape.

Modern English: A

Usage & Significance

Understanding the origin of 'A' helps with spelling, pronunciation, and recognizing root words in modern English vocabulary.

A Words by Length

Quick reference for A-words sorted by character count.

Length	Common Words	Scrabble Point Value Avg
2 Letters	AB	2 - 4 pts
3 Letters	AAL, AAM, AAS, ABA	3 - 6 pts
4 Letters	AAHS, AALS, AANI, AARU	4 - 8 pts
5 Letters	AAHED, AALII, AARGH, AARON	5 - 10 pts
6 Letters	AAHING, AALIIS, AARRGH, ABABUA	6 - 12 pts
7 Letters	AARONIC, AARRGHH, ABABDEH, ABACATE	7 - 14 pts
8 Letters	AARDVARK, AARDWOLF, AARONITE, AASVOGEL	8 - 16 pts

Explore Other Words

Navigate through the alphabet to find more words.

Words Starting With

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Words Ending With

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about words starting with A.

Test Your Knowledge

Take this 50-question quiz on words starting with A.

1. The suffix -engo originally marks:

Smallness Belonging Motion Number

2. What is the Greek name paired with Abaddon in Revelation?

Apollyon Hades Tartarus Kronos

3. Which prefix is used in 'abacterial' to mean 'without'?

anti- non- a- ab-

4. Why is most abalone sold today farm-raised?

Wild populations are protected or depleted Farmed shells are prettier Wild abalone tastes bad Divers no longer exist

5. What animal does the word 'aasvogels' refer to?

African vultures African elephants American eagles Asian tigers

6. Where was 'abaiser' chiefly recorded?

Love poems Technical dictionaries of the 1800s Sea shanties Law codes

7. What does 'abanga' name in Webster's 1913?

A river only A type of cloth A West Indian palm and its fruit A ship's rank

8. Is 'abbey' a common word in modern everyday speech?

Yes, very common. Only in Catholic countries. No, it is mostly historical or touristic. Only in legal documents.

9. Which of the following is a common misspelling of 'aas'?

Ahs Aas A'ā A'as

10. Which word is the closest synonym to 'abandonment' in a legal context?

Desertion Care Maintenance Evacuation

11. Is 'aas' a singular or plural noun?

Singular only Plural only Both It is a verb

12. Which verb pairs most naturally with 'abandonedly'?

Calculate File Measure Dance

13. How is the word 'abatement' correctly pronounced?

AY-bayt-ment uh-BET-ment uh-BAYT-ment AB-bate-ment

14. What should you usually do before using a complex abbreviation in a formal essay?

Use it freely without explanation. Spell out the full term first. Only use it in the title. Put it in quotes every time.

15. Why can botanists no longer identify the abanga precisely?

It grows only at night It is invisible No scientific name was ever attached to the trade word It is a myth

16. What is a counting abacus used for?

Weaving cloth Painting walls Storing grain Arithmetic

17. Which spelling is correct?

abdust abdict abduct abdokt

18. What does the noun 'abbot' refer to?

The physical building of a monastery A male head of an abbey of monks A female head of a convent A type of medieval prayer

19. Which part of speech is 'aaliis'?

Verb Adjective Plural Noun Adverb

20. How many syllables does 'abandons' have?

Two Three Four Five

21. What is 'abamps'?

A singular unit A verb form An adjective The plural of abamp

22. Abaculi is the plural of which word?

Abacus Abaculus Abaciscus Abaca

23. What does the Afrikaans word 'aas' mean in English?

Bird Carrion Sky Wing

24. Which type of animal is typically described using the word 'abactinal'?

Dogs Birds Echinoderms Insects

25. As an adjective, abadengo means:

Royal Abbatial Noble Rural

26. What does the adjective 'Aaronic' primarily describe?

Relating to King David Relating to the prophet Moses Relating to the priest Aaron or his descendants Relating to the tribe of Judah

27. Which sentence uses 'abduct' grammatically and contextually correctly?

The thief abducted my phone. The police abducted the suspect. The criminal abducted the child. I abducted my coffee from the desk.

28. In anatomy, what does it mean to 'abduct' a limb?

To move it toward the midline To move it away from the midline To break it To bend it at the joint

29. Abaff is often confused with which nautical word?

Aboard Abeam Alee Abaft

30. Which word is the best modern, everyday synonym for 'abash'?

Embarrass Encourage Anger Confuse

31. The word 'abalone' entered English through which language?

French American Spanish Dutch Portuguese

32. How is the word 'abate' correctly pronounced?

AY-bayt uh-BET uh-BAYT AB-bayt

33. What is a common biological mistake people make about aardvarks?

Thinking they can fly Confusing them with South American anteaters Believing they eat plants Thinking they live in water

34. From which Old French root does 'abet' originate, meaning 'to bait' or 'urge on'?

Abater Abeter Abesser Abrier

35. What plural does 'abaisse' take?

Abaissez No plural exists Abaisser Abaisses

36. What is the primary stress in the pronunciation of 'Aaronitic'?

First syllable (AIR) Second syllable (uh) Third syllable (NIT) Fourth syllable (ik)

37. How is 'abacate' pronounced in English?

AH-bah-kah-tay ah-bah-KAH-tay ah-bah-KAHT AV-uh-kah-doh

38. Which of the following is an antonym (opposite) of an abattoir?

Meatpacking plant Knacker's yard Sanctuary Butchery

39. Which punctuation mark usually follows 'aargh' in writing?

Comma Question mark Period Exclamation mark

40. Which sentence uses 'abaiser' plausibly?

She painted the shadows in abaiser. He abaiser the meeting. They abaiser to the queen. The abaiser smiled.

41. Which of the following is the exact opposite of 'abaft'?

Astern Aft Forward Aboard

42. Which modern everyday product often utilizes abaca paper?

Toilet paper Tea bags Newspaper Paper towels

43. The prefix a- in abaff also appears in:

Banana and bandana Aback, abaft, and afield About and above only Adult and adore

44. Which sentence is grammatically correct?

The ababua live in the forest. The Ababua live in the forest. The ababua Live in the forest. the Ababua live in the forest.

45. What is the Egyptian underworld that one must cross to reach Aaru?

Hades Duat Sheol Xibalba

46. What does the noun 'abduction' primarily mean in a legal context?

The theft of an object A legal arrest by police The illegal taking of a person by force The movement of a limb inward

47. What is a common mistake when using the word 'Aaronical'?

Using it as a verb Capitalizing it Using it in a museum Confusing it with 'Mosaic'

48. Which Spanish conquistador won the Battle of Abacay?

Francisco Pizarro Hernán Cortés Diego de Almagro Pedro de Valdivia

49. Which word is a common collocation meaning 'humiliating oneself'?

Self-basement Self-debasement Self-abasement Self-displacement

50. Which of the following is the literal translation of Aaru?

Field of Reeds Land of the Dead River of Souls Mountain of Gods