letter of the alphabet
8
1.0
- noun
- /ˈlɛtər əv ði ˈælfəˌbɛt/
:
letra del alfabeto
- When I have learned all the letters of the alphabet, I read this: "Congratulations!"
- the 26 letters of the alphabet
- write letters of the alphabet
- learn the letters of the alphabet
You give them the letters of the alphabet and the sounds.
- You give them the letters of the alphabet and the sounds.
- Oh my mommy, do you want the letters of the alphabet?
- Talking of quinoa, I try to think of something beginning with each letter of the alphabet.
- It was probably imitations of the hieroglyphs mixed with letters of the alphabet, to quote Young, but he was unsure.
Examples
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Toddlers, for example, learn the letters of the alphabet through the familiar "Alphabet Song."
Academic text (2008) -
The test is composed of items that most 4- and 5-year-old children can recognize: seven letters of the alphabet and three common words.
Academic text (2012) -
You give them the letters of the alphabet and the sounds.
-
C is the third letter of the alphabet, so...
-
All the letters of the alphabet.
-
The eye doctor asked us if we knew all the letters of the alphabet.
Fiction book (1994) -
In particular, it helps children understand how spoken language is represented by the letters of the alphabet.
Academic text (2001) -
Had they sung the ABC song enough times for their child to recognize the letters of the alphabet?
Academic text (2012) -
Viewing all letters of the alphabet helps ensure a thorough assessment of handwriting.
Academic text (2015) -
The teacher explained that "A" is the first letter of the alphabet.
Synonyms
972
1.0
A written or printed mark that stands for a sound in an alphabet
136
3.2
A written sign such as a letter or number
73
2.7
A mark, like a letter, that stands for something
2
7.5
A single letter, number, or symbol used in writing and on computers
A written letter that shows a sound in a language
A written sign such as a letter that shows a sound or meaning
A written sign that stands for a sound, word, or idea
A written sign that shows one speech sound
A sign that stands for a sound, syllable, or word
A written mark, like a letter, that stands for a sound or idea
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is fully compositional: 'letter' (a written symbol) qualified by 'alphabet' (the set of written letters) yields a member of the alphabet. The linking function words 'of the' do not alter meaning, and the same construction is common cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner knowing the constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Letter of the alphabet comes from the names of the first two Greek letters, alpha and beta, which gave us the word 'alphabet'. A 'letter' is a small written sign that stands for a 'sound', so the letters of the alphabet are the set of named signs we use to make words.