an

1 of 9

indefinite article

ən,

(ˈ)an 

: a entry 2

an opera

an honor

A vs. an: Usage Guide

In speech and writing a is used before a consonant sound.

a door

a human

Before a vowel sound an is usual

an icicle

an honor

but especially in speech a is used occasionally, more often in some dialects than in others.

a apple

a hour

a obligation

Before a consonant sound represented by a vowel letter a is usual

a one

a union

but an also occurs though less frequently now than formerly.

an unique

such an one

Before unstressed or weakly stressed syllables with initial h both a and an are used in writing.

a historic

an historic

In the King James Version of the Old Testament and occasionally in writing and speech an is used before h in a stressed syllable.

an huntress

an hundred

children are an heritage of the Lord

—Psalms 127:3 (King James Version)

an

2 of 9

preposition

ən,

(ˌ)an 

: a entry 3 sense 1

sixty miles an hour

an

3 of 9

conjunction

variants or an'

1

 see  and

: and

2

ˈan  archaic : if

an

4 of 9

abbreviation (1)

year

an-

5 of 9

prefix

see a- entry 2

-an

6 of 9

noun suffix (1)

variants or -ian or less commonly -ean

1

: one that is of or relating to

American

2

: one skilled in or specializing in

phonetician

-an

7 of 9

adjective suffix

variants or -ian or less commonly -ean

1

: of or belonging to

American

Floridian

2

: characteristic of : resembling

Mozartean

-an

8 of 9

noun suffix (2)

1

: unsaturated organic compound

furan

2

: anhydride of a carbohydrate

dextran

AN

9 of 9

abbreviation (2)

airman (Navy)

Word History

Etymology

Indefinite article

Middle English, from Old English ān one — more at one

Preposition

Middle English an, on, going back to Old English a-, an, on — more at on entry 1

Abbreviation (1)

Latin annum; annus

Noun suffix (1)

-an & -ian from Middle English -an, -ian, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French -ien, from Latin -ianus, from -i- + -anus, from -anus, adjective suffix; -ean from such words as Mediterranean, European

Noun suffix (2)

International Scientific Vocabulary -an, -ane, alteration of -ene, -ine, & -one

First Known Use

Indefinite Article

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

an

1 of 4 indefinite article

ən,

(ˈ)an

: a entry 2

—used before words beginning with a vowel sound

an oak

an hour

an-

2 of 4

see a- entry 2

-an

3 of 4 noun suffix

variants or -ian also -ean

1

: one that belongs to

American

Bostonian

2

: one skilled in or specializing in

magician

-an

4 of 4 adjective suffix

variants or -ian also -ean

1

: of or belonging to

American

2

: characteristic of : resembling

Herculean

Etymology

Noun suffix

derived from Latin -anus, -ianus (adjective and noun suffixes)