α

also: アルファー

ア

ル

ファ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

alpha

Refers to the Greek letter α, often used in mathematics, science, and as a symbol for 'first' or 'beginning'.

αはギリシャ文も字じの最さい初しょの文も字じです。
Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.
この方ほう程てい式しきでは、αは定てい数すうを表あらわします。
In this equation, α represents a constant.

See all 47 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

プラスアルファの〈物もの〉something extra on top of the base amount
基き本ほん料りょう金きんにプラスアルファの費ひ用ようがかかることがある。
There is sometimes an extra charge on top of the base fee.
〈物もの〉にアルファをつけるto add a little something extra to X
彼かれのデザインには常つねにアルファをつけたセンスがある。
His designs always have that extra touch of flair.

Opposites

Ω
アルファ (alpha) marks the beginning or first stage of something, while オメガ (omega) marks the end or last stage, as in the phrase 'alpha and omega'.
β
アルファ is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and often marks an early test stage, while β is the second letter and typically marks a later, more refined stage such as a beta version.

Don't confuse with

Γ
アルファ (alpha, α) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, while Γ (gamma, γ) is the third, so learners can mix up their order in sequences like α, β, γ.

Written forms

α
- アルファ
  Standard Greek letter spelling.
- アルファー
  irregular kana usage
Α
- アルファ
  Uppercase variant; less common in running text.
- アルファー
  irregular kana usage
アルファー
irregular kana usage
Irregular kana usage with long vowel; rarely used.

Etymology

Borrowed from English 'alpha' or directly from Greek ἄλφα (álpha).