[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/an/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [A](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/a/) / an # an article (an — the form of «a» before a vowel sound) «an» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition and Early Modern English — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. An is a small word used before a word that starts with a vowel sound, like an apple, an egg or an hour. It means one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#m1) 2. In rates «an» means each or per: «60 km an hour», «5 dollars an hour». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#m2) 3. (casual) In quick talk «an» is often swallowed or turned into «a»: «a apple» is heard but wrong in writing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#m3) 4. (casual) «'n'» or «an'» is a clipped «and»: «fish 'n' chips», «me an' him»; this is a different word. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#m4) 5. (formal, old) Some formal writers still use «an» before a sounded h: «an historic day», «an hotel». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#m5) ### In the lessons In school maths: means one of something before a vowel sound; in rates it means «each» or «per», as in «an hour», so the total is rate × time. In everyday reading: «an» shows a new thing in a story, «the» shows one we already know («an owl... the owl»). In casual talk: «an hour» is often «an hr» in texts. In the exam voice: «per hour», «at a rate of 5 dollars per hour». Phrases: «an hour», «an apple a day», «once an hour», «an hour and a half». ### Examples - Sam has an apple and 3 pears. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x1) - A car goes 60 kilometres an hour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x2) - She earns 5 dollars an hour. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x3) - An egg costs 20 cents. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x4) - An elephant is the biggest land animal. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x5) - We waited for an hour and a half. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x6) - An owl lived in the tree; the owl hooted all night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x7) - It is an honour to meet you. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x8) - been waiting like an hr, where r u (casual) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x9) - 5 bucks an hour?? that's a rip-off (casual) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x10) - An 8 and an 18 are both even. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x11) - Remuneration is at a rate of 5 dollars per hour; compute the earnings for a period of 6 hours. (formal exam) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x12) - Then an idea came to him. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/#x13) ### Note Use «an» before a vowel sound, not just a vowel letter: «an hour», «an honest boy» (silent h), but «a uniform», «a one-way street» (they start with a «y» or «w» sound). Numbers follow the sound: «an 8», «an 11», «an 18», but «a 1» and «a 7». Maths: «an» can stand for the number one. In «miles an hour» or «dollars an hour» it marks a rate, so the total is rate × time. Trap: forgetting that «an orange» counts as 1. Formal «per» = an in rates. Casual «'n'» means and, not an. ## In Jewish tradition In school maths: means one of something before a vowel sound; in rates it means «each» or «per», as in «an hour», so the total is rate × time. In everyday reading: «an» shows a new thing in a story, «the» shows one we already know («an owl... the owl»). In casual talk: «an hour» is often «an hr» in texts. In the exam voice: «per hour», «at a rate of 5 dollars per hour». Phrases: «an hour», «an apple a day», «once an hour», «an hour and a half». ### Examples - And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. (Torah GEN.33.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/an/#x1) - Now an omer is the tenth part of an ephah. (Torah EXO.16.36, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/an/#x2) - and the second row a carbuncle, a sapphire, and an emerald; (Torah EXO.28.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/an/#x3) - Shall windy words have an end? (Writings JOB.16.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/an/#x4) - Or hast thou an arm like God? (Writings JOB.40.9, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/an/#x5) - Why are the nations in an uproar? (Writings PSA.2.1, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/an/#x6) ### Note Use «an» before a vowel sound, not just a vowel letter: «an hour», «an honest boy» (silent h), but «a uniform», «a one-way street» (they start with a «y» or «w» sound). Numbers follow the sound: «an 8», «an 11», «an 18», but «a 1» and «a 7». Maths: «an» can stand for the number one. In «miles an hour» or «dollars an hour» it marks a rate, so the total is rate × time. Trap: forgetting that «an orange» counts as 1. Formal «per» = an in rates. Casual «'n'» means and, not an. ## Early Modern English ### Meaning Used before a word that starts with a vowel sound, to mean one. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/an/#m1) ### Then and now The old sense "if" does not appear in these sentences; they use "an" just as we do today. ### Examples - And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel. (Torah GEN.33.20, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/an/#x1) - He would think me an adventurer." (The Arabian Nights Entertainments) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/an/#x2) - Misery, or an evil end, or simply evil, ROH. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1893) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/an/#x3) ### Note Today: a (before a vowel sound). ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «an» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/A/an/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«an» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/an.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «an» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/A/an/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«an» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/an.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «an» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/emode/A/an/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«an» in the Early Modern English dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/emode/w/an.html) on Mova free.