а

а¹ and, but (conjunction)

Pronunciation

• Unstressed: [ə]^[1]
• [ɐ]^[1]

Etymology

The conjunction is inherited from Old East Slavic а (a, “and, but”), from Proto-Slavic *a (“and, but”).^[1][2] Old Church Slavonic а (a) renders Ancient Greek ἀλλά (allá) and δέ (dé); the word is Ukrainian а (a), Polish a, Serbo-Croatian а (a), Slovene a and Bulgarian а (a) in the same sense, while Czech a means “and”.^[2] Vasmer relates it to an Old Indic adverb meaning “then, and” and to Avestan āat̰ (“then, and, but”); it takes no prothetic /j/ because it stands at the head of the clause.^[2] It is one of the few Russian words with initial ⟨а⟩ that are neither loans nor onomatopoeic.^[2]

Shaposhnikov takes it as a case form of the pronominal stem ⟨e/o⟩, from Proto-Indo-European *ēd or *ōd;^[3] Wiktionary reconstructs *h₁ōd, presumed to be an ablative of the pronoun *éy, through Proto-Balto-Slavic *ō, and compares Lithuanian õ (“and, but”).^[1] Another view, which Shaposhnikov also reports, derives the Slavic word from *ā (“or”), comparing Albanian o (“or”) and Ancient Greek ἤ (ḗ, “or”).^[3]

In Russian it often combines with particles, as in абы, авось, али, ан and ась.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Izbornik of 1076 has it in a contrast: „Гл҃и къ б҃оу много. а къ человѣкомъ мало” “speak much to God, and little to men”.^[4] The oldest dated quotation in the connective sense “and, moreover” is a scribe's note in a Menaion of 1097.^[4]

Semantic evolution

SDRJa counts about 13,000 instances in Old Russian texts, connective (“and”), contrastive (“but”) and comparative;^[4] Shaposhnikov gives the old senses “and”, “but” and “while”.^[3] The Lay of Igor's Campaign has it 56 times, as in „Княземъ слава а дружинѣ!” “glory to the princes and to the retinue!”.^[5] SlRJa XVIII lists connective uses that mark a sequence in time as well as contrastive ones.^[6] Dal also records a conditional а “if, when”.^[7]

Unlike но, which opposes, а usually marks a difference or a new point.^[1] Russian lent it to Ingrian, Votic, Kildin Sami and Eastern Mari.^[1]

Timeline

• 1076 – а къ человѣкомъ мало “and little to men” in the Izbornik of 1076.^[4]
• 1097 – а “and” in a scribe's note in a Menaion.^[4]
• end of the 12th century – а 56 times in the Lay of Igor's Campaign.^[5]
• 1219 – а вноуцѣ всеволожи “and grandson of Vsevolod” in a scribe's note.^[4]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. and, but, whereas: joins clauses or words that are contrasted or compared: я читаю, а он спит.^[8][9][1]
2. Adds a further point in a sequence, or an explanation, objection or change of subject: а что было потом?.^[8][10]

Word family

• абы
• авось
• али
• ан
• ась

а² ah! (interjection)

Pronunciation

• [a]^[1]

Etymology

The interjection “ah!” has its own etymology in Wiktionary, which compares Lithuanian à and oà, cries of pain or surprise, Gothic 𐍉 (ō, “ah!”), Latin ā and āh, cries of pain or anger, and Ancient Greek ἆ (â, “ah!”).^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

SlRJa XVIII quotes an 18th-century description: „А! Есть междометие восклицательное, изъявляющее радость” “А! is an exclamatory interjection expressing joy”, spoken with a cheerful face and wide-open eyes.^[6]

Semantic evolution

In the 18th century it expressed joy at seeing someone, annoyance or indignation, gloating, and grief or despair.^[6] The modern dictionaries give surprise or a sudden guess, irony and gloating, and annoyance or bitterness.^[11][8]

Meanings

Interjection

1. Expresses surprise or a sudden realization: а, так вот кто это!.^[11][1]
2. Expresses annoyance, bitterness or gloating.^[8]
3. (colloquial) Answers someone who calls; seeks confirmation, “eh?”.^[10][1]