alpha

Everyday

1. Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, written Α or α. tree →
2. Alpha can mean the first or the top one: the «alpha» wolf leads the pack. tree →
3. (computing) An alpha version is an early, unfinished test version of a program or game. tree →
4. (informal, slang) An «alpha» is a bossy, confident person who wants to lead. tree →
5. (Bible) «The Alpha and the Omega» means the first and the last, the beginning and the end; Christians use it about God. tree →

In the lessons

In maths and science lessons α is used as a symbol for an angle. The word «alphabet» comes from «alpha» and «beta», the first two Greek letters. In everyday talk children are called «Gen Alpha». In radio and spelling codes «Alpha» stands for the letter A (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie). In nature lessons the idea of strict «alpha» wolves is now thought to be too simple: wild wolf packs are mostly families led by the parents.

Examples

• Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. tree →
• The word «alphabet» comes from «alpha» and «beta». tree →
• We labelled the angle α in our maths diagram. tree →
• The game is still in alpha, so it has lots of bugs. tree →
• Kids born recently are called Gen Alpha. tree →
• In the radio alphabet, «A» is «Alpha». tree →
• «I am the Alpha and the Omega», says a verse in the Bible. tree →

Note

Plural «alphas» (rare). Trap: the «alpha wolf» idea comes from studies of wolves in zoos; in the wild, the pack leaders are simply the parents. Calling someone «an alpha» is slang. Omega (Ω, ω) is the last Greek letter.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Alpha is the first Greek letter, as aleph is the first Hebrew letter, and the two are often compared. In the primary lessons: In maths and science lessons α is used as a symbol for an angle. The word «alphabet» comes from «alpha» and «beta», the first two Greek letters. In everyday talk children are called «Gen Alpha». In radio and spelling codes «Alpha» stands for the letter A (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie). In nature lessons the idea of strict «alpha» wolves is now thought to be too simple: wild wolf packs are mostly families led by the parents.

Examples

• It is identical in form with the letter , ("> ol the Arabic alpha- bet. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →
• Like Ecclesiasticus, the Pseudo-I3en Sira's "Alpha- bet of ben Sira" was also attributed to Joshua ben Jehozadak. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Plural «alphas» (rare). Trap: the «alpha wolf» idea comes from studies of wolves in zoos; in the wild, the pack leaders are simply the parents. Calling someone «an alpha» is slang. Omega (Ω, ω) is the last Greek letter.