# alpha

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈælfə/ · frequency rank #4,651

## Definitions
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.
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. Clipping 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.
9. The level of translucency of a color, as determined by the alpha channel.
10. Ellipsis of alpha layer.
11. The significance level of a statistical test; the alpha level.
12. In omegaverse fiction, a person of a dominant secondary sex driven by biology, magic, or other means to bond with an omega, with males of this type often having canine-like genitalia.
13. Alternative letter-case form of Alpha (“member of Generation Alpha”).

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Egyptian 𓃾der.
Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ /⁠ʾālep⁠/)bor.
Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha)bor.
English alpha
From the Ancient Greek ἄλφα (álpha), the first letter of the Greek alphabet, from the Phoenician 𐤀 (ʾ, “aleph”). Doublet of alif and aleph.

## Easily confused with
- **apa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alpha-vs-apa)
- **Alps** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alpha-vs-alps)
- **alta** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alpha-vs-alta)
- **Asha** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alpha-vs-asha)
- **Alva** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alpha-vs-alva)
- **altho** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alpha-vs-altho)
- **alphas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alpha-vs-alphas)
- **althea** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alpha-vs-althea)
- **aha** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aha-vs-alpha)
- **ala** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ala-vs-alpha)
- **alp** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alp-vs-alpha)
- **alma** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alma-vs-alpha)
- **alba** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alba-vs-alpha)
- **alfa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alfa-vs-alpha)
- **Alla** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alla-vs-alpha)
- **Alexa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alexa-vs-alpha)
- **aloha** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aloha-vs-alpha)
- **Aisha** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aisha-vs-alpha)
- **Alina** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alina-vs-alpha)
- **Alana** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/alana-vs-alpha)

## Common misspellings (7)
`alhpa`, `allpha`, `alpah`, `alphha`, `alppha`, `aplha`, `lapha`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/alpha