alpha
/ˈæl.fə/noun, adjective
alpha is spelled A-L-P-H-A: 5 letters and 2 syllables. It appears 18 times per million words in written English, the 4,667th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, alpha means “The name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of alpha is alphas.
How many letters and syllables are in alpha?
| Letters | 5: A-L-P-H-A |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 18 times per million words; the 4,667th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is alpha?
Alpha appears 18 times per million words in written English, the 4,667th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce alpha?
- US /ˈæl.fə/
- US [ˈæɫ.fə]
- /ˈæːl.fɑː/
Alpha has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-alpha.ogg, En-in-alpha.oga, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Flame,_not_lame-Alpha.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of alpha
- alphas plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does alpha mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
The name of the first letter of the Greek alphabet (Α, α), followed by beta. In the Latin alphabet it is the predecessor to A.
- 2
Latin alpha: the Latin letter Ɑ (minuscule: ɑ).
- 3
The name of the symbols Α and α used in science and mathematics, often interchangeable with the symbols when used as a prefix.
I will attempt to make an alpha particle ("α-particle") with the Large Hadron Collider.
- 4
The return of a given asset or portfolio adjusted for systematic risk.
- 5
A person, especially a male, who is dominant, successful and attractive; (see alpha male).
- 6
informalClipping of alphabet.
- 7
The first versions of a program, usually only available to the developer, and only tested by the developer.
- 8
An angle of attack.
adjective
- 1
Designates the first in an order of precedence.
I am the alpha male.
- 2
Exhibiting characteristics of the alpha male/female archetype.
- 3
Designates some bright star, usually the brightest star, of a constellation.
When interstellar travel becomes feasible, I plan to visit Alpha Centauri.
- 4
Clipping of alphabetical.
Sort the list in alpha order.
noun
- 1
Alternative letter-case form of alpha.
- 2
A member of Generation Alpha.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Alpha in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense name of the letter Α, α:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does alpha come from?
From the Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet, from the Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ, “aleph”). Doublet of alif and aleph.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).