a mite

/ə ˈmaɪt/

//ə ˈmaɪt// adv

"a-mite" is a 5-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“a mite” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as an adverb - the kind of word writers most often double-check.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To a small extent; in a small amount; rather.

Key facts for a mite
PropertyValue
Headworda mite
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdverb
IPA/ə ˈmaɪt/
Letters6
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “a mite” sits in English frequency

a mite falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for a mite is 6 letters long, classified as an adverb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ə ˈmaɪt/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. The dominant gloss from Wiktionary reads: "To a small extent; in a small amount; rather.".

The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for a mite, a straightforward case of a spelling with little room for common typos. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From a + mite (“minute arachnid of the order Acarina; anything very small, a minute object, a very little quantity or particle”). The correct English form is a mite, spelled A- -M-I-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To a small extent; in a small amount; rather.

Etymology

From a + mite (“minute arachnid of the order Acarina; anything very small, a minute object, a very little quantity or particle”).

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "a mite"?
"a mite" is spelled A- -M-I-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ə ˈmaɪt/.
What does "a mite" mean?
As an adverb, "a mite" means: To a small extent; in a small amount; rather.
How do you pronounce "a mite"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "a mite" is /ə ˈmaɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "a mite"?
From a + mite (“minute arachnid of the order Acarina; anything very small, a minute object, a very little quantity or particle”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “a mite”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is A- -M-I-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ə ˈmaɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list