Alphabet: meaning, definitions and examples
๐ค
alphabet
[ หรฆl.fษ.bษt ]
letters system
The alphabet is a set of letters or symbols in a fixed order used to represent the basic sounds of a language. Most modern alphabets are derived from Latin, Greek, or Hebrew scripts. In English, the alphabet consists of 26 letters ranging from A to Z. Each letter has both an uppercase and a lowercase form, allowing for a variety of uses in written communication.
Synonyms
character set, letters, script
Examples of usage
- The English alphabet has 26 letters.
- Children learn the alphabet in kindergarten.
- The alphabet song helps with memorization.
Translations
Translations of the word "alphabet" in other languages:
๐ต๐น alfabeto
๐ฎ๐ณ เคตเคฐเฅเคฃเคฎเคพเคฒเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Alphabet
๐ฎ๐ฉ alfabet
๐บ๐ฆ ะฐะปัะฐะฒัั
๐ต๐ฑ alfabet
๐ฏ๐ต ใขใซใใกใใใ
๐ซ๐ท alphabet
๐ช๐ธ alfabeto
๐น๐ท alfabe
๐ฐ๐ท ์ํ๋ฒณ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุฃููุจุงุฆูุฉ
๐จ๐ฟ abeceda
๐ธ๐ฐ abeceda
๐จ๐ณ ๅญๆฏ่กจ
๐ธ๐ฎ abeceda
๐ฎ๐ธ stafrรณf
๐ฐ๐ฟ ำััะฟัะตั
๐ฌ๐ช แแแคแแแแขแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ ษlifba
๐ฒ๐ฝ alfabeto
Etymology
The word 'alphabet' comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, 'alpha' and 'beta'. The term traces its roots back to the late 14th century from the Old French 'alfabet', which also derived from Latin 'alphabetum'. The Greek adaptation dated back to the 5th century BC, where the consonant-vowel structure was established. Before that, various ancient scripts employed logograms or phonetic elements to represent sounds but lacked a standardized format, unlike modern alphabets. As languages evolved, so did their respective alphabets, leading to variations such as the Cyrillic and Arabic alphabets. This historical context demonstrates how alphabets facilitate communication across different cultures and have been fundamental in the development of written language.