α

See also: Α; Α.; ά; α.; ά.; α'; ; ; and Appendix:Variations of "a"

Translingual


α U+03B1, α
GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA
ΰ
[U+03B0]
Greek and Coptic β
[U+03B2]

Symbol

α

  1. (electrodynamics) The fine structure constant.
  2. (classical mechanics) Represents angular acceleration.
    See Wikipedia article on angular acceleration for usage.
  3. (chemistry) Used in chemical nomenclature.
    α-lactam has a three-membered ring structure.
  4. (astronomy) Used to identify some bright star, usually the brightest star, of a constellation, for instance α-Centauri.
  5. (topology) Alexandroff compactification

Derived terms

See also

  • alpha (for names of this symbol in other language)

Greek

Etymology 1

Derived from its Ancient Greek majuscule counterpart Α (A, Alpha), in turn from the Phoenician letter 𐤀 (aleph).

Letter

α (a) (lower case, upper case Α)

  1. Lower-case άλφα (álfa, alpha), the first letter of the modern Greek alphabet. Represents the open front unrounded vowel: /a/.
Usage notes
  • Ancient Greek, however, did not distinguish between upper case and lower case. See Α (A) for details.
Derived terms
  • α' (a', one, 1)
  • (,a, one thousand, 1,000)
See also
  • Appendix:Greek alphabet

Etymology 2

From Ancient Greek (â).

Interjection 1

α! (a!)

  1. Expresses wonder, surprise or joy; ah, ooh, oh, wow:
    Α, τι πανέμορφη θέα!A, ti panémorfi théa!Wow, what a gorgeous view!
    Α, δεν σε περίμενα! Ποτέ έφτασες;A, den se perímena! Poté éftases?Oh, I wasn't expecting you! When did you get here?
  2. Expresses desire or wish; oh:
    Α και να ερχόταν να με δει!A kai na erchótan na me dei!Oh, if only he would come to see me!
  3. Expresses anger or threat; oh:
    Α που να σε πάρει ο διάολος!A pou na se párei o diáolos!Oh, the devil take you/Oh, to hell with you!
    Α έτσι μου είσαι; Θα δεις εσύ τώρα!A étsi mou eísai? Tha deis esý tóra!Oh, so that's how it is? Wait till you see!
  4. Expresses impatience; oh, ah:
    Α δεν μπορώ να περιμένω άλλο!A den boró na periméno állo!Ah, I can't wait any longer!
  5. Expresses confirmation of a fact; oh, ah:
    Α ναι βεβαίως ήταν αυτός!A nai vevaíos ítan aftós!Ah, yes, of course it was him!
  6. Expresses desire against; oh, ah:
    Α όχι αυτός πάλι!A óchi aftós páli!Oh, not him again!
  7. Answer word, can be either positive or negative; eh, meh:
    Θα 'ρθεις απόψε στο πάρτι; Α, μπα!Tha 'rtheis apópse sto párti? A, ba!Will you be coming to the party tonight? Ah, nah!
    Ωραίο δεν ήταν το έργο; Α, καλό ήταν!Oraío den ítan to érgo? A, kaló ítan!Wasn't the film nice? Eh, it was good!
  8. Answer word of indifference; meh:
    Πως πάει το σχόλιο τελευταία; Α, έτσι κι έτσι!Pos páei to schólio teleftaía? A, étsi ki étsi!How's school going lately? Meh, so-so!

Etymology 3

From άι < άε from Ancient Greek ἄγε sg (áge, go!, pres.imp.) (with deletion of γ-) of verb ἄγω (I lead)[1][2]. Also see etymologies of άντε, άιντε, άμε.

Alternative forms

  • άι (ái) (uncontracted)
  • and see: άντε (ánte) for interchangeable interjections for dismissal

Interjection 2

α (a)

  1. (colloquial) Contraction of άντε (ánte).
    Α να χαθείς!A na chatheís!Oh, get lost!
    Α στο καλό πια, σε βαρέθηκα!A sto kaló pia, se varéthika!Oh go away will you, I'm sick of you!
  • α να χαθείς (a na chatheís, get lost!)
  • α στο διάολο (a sto diáolo, go to the devil (to hell)!)
  • α στο καλό (a sto kaló, go to what is good (with multiple senses))
  • and see Greek dismissals

References

  1. α in Λεξικό της κοινής νεοελληνικής [Dictionary of Standard Modern Greek], 1998, by the "Triantafyllidis" Foundation.
  2. Babiniotis, Georgios (2002) Λεξικό της νέας ελληνικής γλώσσας [Modern Greek Dictionary] (in Greek), 2nd edition, Athens: Lexicology Centre

Tsakonian

Article

α (transliteration needed) f sg

  1. feminine nominative singular of ο

Etymology

From Ancient Greek () ᾱ̔ (), from Proto-Indo-European *séh₂.

Pronunciation

Declension

Letter

α (transliteration needed) (lower case, upper case Α)

The first letter of the Tsakonian alphabet.

See also

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