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Definition and meaning of English word "an"

an

/æn/

Meaning

Article

Form of a . Used before a vowel sound.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to use

The indefinite article 'an' is commonly used before a vowel sound, often in informal contexts such as casual conversations or everyday writing. For example, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away.' However, it's worth noting that 'an' can sometimes be misused before words that begin with a consonant sound, such as 'an hour' instead of 'a hour.'

🇬🇧 English

an

Example

I have an apple

An egg is yellow

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Synonyms

somea form of the indefinite article used before a vowel sounda

Common phrases

  • an hour— a unit of time equal to 60 minutes
  • an apple— a type of fruit
  • an example— a demonstration or illustration of something

More Articles & Pronouns words

This concept in other languages

Frequency rank: #31 in English

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "an" mean?▼

The English word "an" means "an" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "an"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "an" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "an"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "I have an apple" (which translates as "an").

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