Definition

A collection of letters or symbols used to represent the sounds of a language, usually arranged in a specific order.

Example

The English alphabet has 26 letters.

Conversation

Do you remember learning the alphabet in school?

Yeah, I think we sang that song about it every day!

It’s funny how we take the alphabet for granted now.

True! But it really is the foundation for everything we read and write.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Alphabet → It is derived from "alpha" (the first letter of the Greek alphabet) and "beta" (the second letter of the Greek alphabet). The term "alphabet" refers to the set of letters or symbols in a fixed order used to represent the basic sounds of a language.

Memory Tip

Think of the first two letters of the Greek alphabet, 'alpha' and 'beta', to remember that 'alphabet' refers to the complete set of letters used in writing.

Visually Confused Words