# fa

> English word · Noun · IPA /fɑ/ · frequency rank #5,127

## Definitions
1. A syllable used in solfège to represent the fourth diatonic (or sixth chromatic) note of a major scale.

## Etymology
From Glover's solmization, from Middle English fa (“fourth degree or note of Guido of Arezzo's hexachordal scales”), Italian fa in the solmization of Guido of Arezzo, from the first syllable of Latin famulī (“servants”) in the lyrics of the scale-ascending hymn Ut queant laxis by Paulus Deacon.

## Easily confused with
- **fi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fi)
- **FL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fl)
- **FM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fm)
- **Fe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fe)
- **fu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fu)
- **FF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-ff)
- **FB** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fb)
- **fo** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fo)
- **FS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fs)
- **FN** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fn)
- **FP** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fp)
- **FW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fw)
- **fy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fy)
- **for** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-for)
- **few** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-few)
- **far** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-far)
- **fun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fun)
- **fit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fit)
- **fan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fan)
- **fat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fa-vs-fat)

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