alphabet
noun
Simple meaning
A character set that includes letters and is used to write a language.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
alfuhbetSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈælfəbɛt
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
A character set that includes letters and is used to write a language
The set of letters used when writing in a language.
A writing system in which letters represent phonemes. (Contrast e.g. logography, a writing system in which each character represents a word, and syllabary, in which each character represents a syllable.)
A writing system in which there are letters for the consonant and vowel phonemes. (Contrast e.g. abjad.)
The simplest rudiments; elements.
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: A character set that includes letters and is used to write a language
Used this way, alphabet is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use alphabet
- “Children learn the alphabet by singing songs and looking at colorful books.”
Share your sentence
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Knowing “alphabet” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.