alfa
/AHL-fah/
alpha (the letter)
Although we cannot show the letter itself, 'alfa' represents the beginning or first element, visualized here by a starting flag on a path.
alfa(noun)
alpha (the letter)
?first letter of the Greek alphabet
beginning
?the start or origin
,alpha (star name)
?brightest star in a constellation
📝 In Action
Alfa es la primera letra y omega es la última.
A2Alpha is the first letter and omega is the last.
Necesitas saber la historia desde el alfa hasta el omega.
B1You need to know the story from beginning to end.
💡 Grammar Points
Masculine Nouns Ending in -A
Even though 'alfa' ends in -a, it is a masculine noun because it comes directly from Greek. Remember to use the masculine article 'el' (el alfa) and not 'la'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Incorrect Gender
Mistake: "La alfa es la primera letra."
Correction: El alfa es la primera letra. (Use 'el' because 'alfa' is masculine.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Context Tip
Unless you are talking about the Greek alphabet or astronomy, 'comienzo' or 'principio' are usually more common ways to say 'beginning'.
An 'alfa' is the dominant leader of a group or pack, often symbolized by the leading wolf.
alfa(noun)
alpha (dominant individual)
?leader of a group or pack
dominant member
?sociological term
📝 In Action
El macho alfa es el encargado de proteger a la manada.
B2The alpha male is in charge of protecting the pack.
Ella siempre toma el rol de alfa en el equipo de trabajo.
C1She always takes the alpha role on the work team.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Alfa' to Describe People
When used to describe a dominant person, 'alfa' is often preceded by 'macho' (male) or 'hembra' (female), though the word 'el alfa' itself can refer to the dominant person regardless of gender.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: alfa
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses the Spanish word 'alfa' in its most common grammatical form?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Since 'alfa' ends in -a, why is it masculine?
'Alfa' is an exception to the general rule that nouns ending in -a are feminine. This is because it is a direct loanword from the Greek alphabet, and in Spanish, these foreign nouns often retain their original gender, which is masculine (like 'el día' or 'el mapa').
Can 'alfa' be used as an adjective?
No, 'alfa' itself is a noun. However, it is often used *like* an adjective in phrases such as 'rayos alfa' (alpha rays) or 'partículas alfa' (alpha particles), but it is still acting as a noun modifying another noun.