Definition: We use the word "alpha" a lot in everyday conversation, from alpha blokers, "alpha males" to "alpha waves" and much in between - but what does alpha really mean?
Alpha is the first letter of the ancient Greek alphabet ... and yes, alphabet also comes from the letter alpha. The second letter of the Greek alphabet is "beta", so the word alphabet comes from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet.
The phrases "alpha and omega" and "from alpha to omega" also come from the Greek letter alpha, combined with the last letter of the Greek alphabet, "omega" - literally the "Big O", referring to the ancient "oh" pronounced as a "long" oh. Another Greek letter, the omicron, is the "Little O" - the micro oh.
Pronunciation: al'-pha
Alternate Spellings: alfa
