Things That Start with A in English: A Complete Guide

The letter A is the first letter of the English alphabet and a great place to begin learning new vocabulary. Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or just curious, discovering things that start with A in English can be both educational and fun. From animals and foods to places and objects, this list is packed with examples that expand your language skills.
In this comprehensive article, we’ll cover:
Common and uncommon nouns that start with A
Animals, foods, and places beginning with A
Fun facts and tips to enhance memory and learning
Images and helpful outbound links for deeper learning
Let’s dive in!
1. Common Things That Start with A
This section covers everyday things that begin with the letter A. These are common items you might find at home, school, or in nature.
Animals
Alligator
Ant
Antelope
Albatross
Aardvark
Armadillo
Anaconda
Angelfish
Ape
Alpaca
Food & Drinks
Apple
Avocado
Almond
Apricot
Asparagus
Artichoke
Anchovy
Acorn
Arugula
Ale
Objects & Items
Airplane
Automobile (Car)
Axe
Anchor
Album
Armchair
Apron
Arrow
Amulet
Atlas
Places & Locations
Airport
Alley
Arena
Abbey
Archipelago
Aquarium
Asylum
Attic
Avenue
Auditorium
Nature & Science
Aurora (Northern Lights)
Asteroid
Atom
Atmosphere
Algae
Acorn
Ash (Tree)
Amber
Avalanche
Arid (Desert)
Clothing & Accessories
Apron
Anorak
Armband
Ascot
Aviator (Sunglasses)
Ankle socks
Angora (Sweater)
A-line dress
Athletic shoes
Apron
Body Parts
Arm
Ankle
Abdomen
Artery
Appendix
Adam’s apple
Achilles tendon
Alveoli (Lungs)
Auricle (Ear)
Aorta
Vehicles & Transport
Ambulance
Airship
ATV (All-Terrain Vehicle)
Aircraft
Automobile
Armored truck
Aerial tramway
Auto rickshaw
Amphibious vehicle
Airliner
Household Items
Alarm clock
Ashtray
Air conditioner
Antenna
Apron
Armrest
Absorbent (Paper towel)
Ashcan
Adhesive tape
Appliance
Miscellaneous
Award
Art
Alphabet
Agenda
Ammunition
Antique
Aroma
Amplifier
Anecdote
Autograph
2. Cool Things That Start with A
Here’s a list of cool, unique, and interesting things that start with A—perfect for trivia, creative writing, or just sparking curiosity!
Cool Animals & Creatures
Axolotl (A rare, smiley-faced salamander that can regenerate limbs!)
Aye-Aye (A creepy-but-cool lemur with a long, bony finger for hunting bugs)
Arctic Fox (Changes color with the seasons)
Andean Condor (One of the world’s largest flying birds)
Anglerfish (Deep-sea fish with a glowing lure)
Awesome Tech & Gadgets
AI Assistant (Like Alexa or Siri)
AirTag (Apple’s tracking device)
Android (Google’s OS for smartphones)
Autopilot (Self-driving tech in cars/planes)
Arcade Machine (Retro gaming vibes)
Adventures & Extreme Stuff
Astronaut (Space explorer!)
Aurora Chasing (Hunting the Northern Lights)
Abseiling (Rock climbing downward)
Archery (Sport of bows and arrows)
Airsoft (Tactical combat game)
Cool Vehicles
Aston Martin (Luxury sports car)
Apache Helicopter (Badass military chopper)
Amphibious Car (Drives on land and water)
ATVÂ (All-terrain vehicle for off-roading)
Airboat (Skims over swamps like a boss)
Mythical & Fantasy
Atlantis (The lost underwater city)
Angel (Celestial being)
Alchemy (Medieval science/magic)
Asgard (Thor’s mythical realm)
Apparition (Ghostly figure)
Art & Pop Culture
Anime (Japanese animation)
Avatar (Pandora’s blue aliens or the bending hero)
Asterix (Classic comic book warrior)
Arcade Fire (Iconic indie band)
A24 Films (Studio behind Everything Everywhere All at Once)
Nature Wonders
Amazon Rainforest (Largest tropical jungle)
Ayers Rock (Uluru) (Australia’s sacred red monolith)
Alps (Epic European mountains)
Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)
Atoll (Ring-shaped coral island)
Sci-Fi & Futuristic
AI Robot (Like Boston Dynamics’ creations)
Anti-Gravity (Zero-G dreams)
Android (Human-like robot)
Alien (ETs from space)
Apocalypse (Zombies, meteors, take your pick)
Unique Hobbies & Skills
Astrophotography (Photographing galaxies)
Aquascaping (Designing underwater gardens)
Archery Tag (Like dodgeball with bows)
Acrobatics (Gymnastics meets Cirque du Soleil)
Animation (Making cartoons or CGI)
Miscellaneous Coolness
Absinthe (The legendary “green fairy” drink)
Amber (Fossilized tree sap with ancient bugs)
Artisan Coffee (Fancy brews from hipster cafés)
Augmented Reality (AR games like Pokémon GO)
Aerogel (Lightest solid material on Earth!)
3. Foods That Start with A
Here’s a delicious list of 100 foods, ingredients, and dishes that start with A, categorized for easy browsing:
Fruits & Vegetables
Apple
Apricot
Avocado
Acerola (West Indian cherry)
Asian pear
Atemoya (sugar apple hybrid)
Arugula (rocket)
Artichoke
Asparagus
Alfalfa sprouts
Arrowroot
Aubergine (eggplant – UK term)
Adzuki beans
Amaranth leaves
Arracacha (Andean root vegetable)
Meats & Seafood
Anchovy
Alligator meat
Albacore tuna
Antelope
Abalone
Amberjack fish
Ahi tuna
Andouille sausage
Arbroath smokie (smoked haddock)
Alaskan king crab
Grains, Nuts & Legumes
Almond
Amaranth
Arborio rice
Acorn
Azuki beans
Anasazi beans
Almond butter
Arhar dal (split pigeon peas)
Amaranth flour
Ataulfo mango (technically a fruit but often dried)
Dairy & Alternatives
Asiago cheese
American cheese
Appenzeller cheese
Almond milk
Ayran (yogurt drink)
A2 milk
Aged cheddar
Amish butter
Acai yogurt
Adobera cheese
Baked Goods & Sweets
Angel food cake
Apple pie
Anzac biscuit
Alfajores (dulce de leche cookies)
Amaretti cookies
Apple strudel
Apfelkuchen (German apple cake)
Aebleskiver (Danish pancake balls)
Arroz con leche (rice pudding)
Ambrosia salad
International Dishes
Arepa (Venezuelan corn cakes)
Adobo (Filipino stew)
Aloo gobi (Indian potato & cauliflower)
Avgolemono (Greek lemon-egg soup)
Arancini (Italian rice balls)
Acarajé (Brazilian black-eyed pea fritters)
Asado (Argentinian BBQ)
Aush (Afghani noodle soup)
Ajà de gallina (Peruvian chicken stew)
Aligot (French cheesy mashed potatoes)
Condiments & Sauces
Aioli (garlic mayo)
Apple butter
Agave nectar
Aleppo pepper
Anchovy paste
Achar (Indian pickles)
Alfredo sauce
Ajvar (Balkan roasted pepper spread)
Asian chili sauce
Amba (mango pickle sauce)
Drinks (Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic)
Apple juice
Aperol spritz
Ale (beer)
Absinthe
Acai juice
Assam tea
Almond milk latte
Appletiser (sparkling apple drink)
Ayahuasca (ceremonial tea)
Aquavit (Scandinavian liquor)
Miscellaneous & Unique
Acorn squash
Agar-agar (vegan gelatin)
Astronaut ice cream
Akutaq (Alaskan “Eskimo ice cream”)
Ambrosia apples
Aonori (Japanese seaweed flakes)
Asafoetida (Indian hing spice)
Amchur (dried mango powder)
Ajwain (carom seeds)
Annatto (natural food coloring)
Bonus: Weird & Exotic
Ant eggs (escamoles – Mexican delicacy)
Ackee (Jamaican national fruit)
Ayocote beans (giant Mexican beans)
Argan oil (Moroccan culinary oil)
Allspice (Jamaican pepper)
4. Unusual Words That Start with A
Here’s a collection of unusual, obscure, and fascinating words that start with A, complete with definitions to spark your curiosity:
Rare & Beautiful Words
Ailurophile (n.) – A cat lover.
Aubade (n.) – A morning love song (opposite of a serenade).
Aestivate (v.) – To spend the summer in a dormant state (like hibernation, but for heat).
Apricity (n.) – The warmth of the sun in winter.
Acedia (n.) – Spiritual sloth or melancholy.
Scientific & Technical Oddities
Aposematism (n.) – When animals use bright colors to warn predators (e.g., poison dart frogs).
Antediluvian (adj.) – Prehistoric, literally “before the flood.”
Anthropophagy (n.) – Cannibalism.
Autochthonous (adj.) – Indigenous; formed in its current place (used in geology/biology).
Aleatoric (adj.) – Dependent on chance (e.g., aleatoric music).
Dark & Gothic
Atramentous (adj.) – Black as ink.
Aboulia (n.) – Loss of willpower.
Anhedonia (n.) – Inability to feel pleasure.
Avernal (adj.) – Relating to hell (from Avernus, a mythical entrance to the underworld).
Agelast (n.) – Someone who never laughs.
Whimsical & Quirky
Accismus (n.) – Pretending to refuse something you secretly want.
Anencephalous (adj.) – Born without a brain (a medical term, but oddly poetic).
Aurora Australis (n.) – The Southern Lights (lesser-known cousin of the Northern Lights).
Ailurophobia (n.) – Fear of cats.
Anthropomorphize (v.) – To attribute human traits to non-human things.
Ancient & Obsolete
Aegis (n.) – Protection (originally Zeus’ shield in Greek myth).
Alopecoid (adj.) – Fox-like.
Anon (adv.) – Soon or immediately (used in Shakespearean English).
Argy-bargy (n.) – A noisy quarrel (British slang).
Abecedarian (adj.) – Alphabetical; or a novice learning the basics.
Nature & Weather
Apogean (adj.) – Relating to the farthest point of the moon from Earth.
Avalerion (n.) – A mythical bird said to drown itself if its mate dies.
Anabranch (n.) – A river branch that reconnects to the main stream.
Aeolian (adj.) – Shaped by wind (e.g., sand dunes).
Apricate (v.) – To bask in the sun.
Body & Mind
Agalmatophilia (n.) – Attraction to statues or mannequins.
Ageusia (n.) – Loss of taste.
Asthenia (n.) – Weakness or lack of energy.
Aphonia (n.) – Loss of voice.
Akimbo (adj.) – Hands on hips, elbows bent outward.
Mythology & Fantasy
Amaranthine (adj.) – Undying or eternally beautiful (from the mythical amaranth flower).
Acheron (n.) – The “river of woe” in Greek underworld mythology.
Asmodeus (n.) – A demon of lust from Judeo-Christian lore.
Avalon (n.) – The mythical island where King Arthur’s sword was forged.
Aitvaras (n.) – A Lithuanian household spirit that looks like a flying dragon.
Bonus: Fun to Say
Absquatulate (v.) – To leave abruptly.
Adoxography (n.) – Skilled writing about trivial topics.
Agastopia (n.) – Admiration of a specific body part.
Anonymuncule (n.) – An insignificant anonymous person.
Asterism (n.) – A constellation; or the ★ symbol.
5. Places That Start with A
Travel the world with these places beginning with A:
Place | Country | Why It’s Interesting |
---|---|---|
Athens | Greece | Birthplace of democracy and home of ancient ruins. |
Amsterdam | Netherlands | Famous for canals, bikes, and historic art. |
Alaska | USA | A vast wilderness rich in wildlife and natural beauty. |
Adelaide | Australia | Known for wine, festivals, and coastlines. |
Agra | India | Home to the stunning Taj Mahal. |
Abuja | Nigeria | The capital city of Nigeria. |
Alicante | Spain | A beautiful coastal city known for tourism. |
Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | Cultural and political hub of Africa. |
🔗 Further Reading: Lonely Planet – Destinations A-Z
Fun Learning Activities
Here are some engaging ways to practice and teach things that start with A:
Alphabet scavenger hunt: Ask children to find items at home that start with A.
Flashcards: Use pictures and words for animals, foods, and objects.
Writing prompts: Write a story using only words that start with A.
Art projects: Draw and label “A” objects.
These methods are great for visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners.
8. Why Learning Words by Alphabet Helps
Organizing vocabulary alphabetically:
Builds phonics awareness and spelling skills.
Makes learning systematic and memorable.
Helps ESL students categorize and retain new vocabulary.
Enhances writing skills by improving word choice.
🧠Tip: Use Quizlet to create flashcard sets based on “A” words for practice.
Final Thoughts
Exploring things that start with A in English offers an exciting way to boost your vocabulary, improve your writing, and enhance your communication skills. Whether you’re a student or a language enthusiast, learning by category and letter can be both effective and fun.
Keep this guide handy and revisit it when you’re teaching, learning, or simply exploring the alphabet. And remember—A is just the beginning!
FAQs
Q: What are 10 common things that start with A?
A: Apple, airplane, alarm clock, apron, arrow, axe, ant, avocado, almond, album.Q: What are some easy animals that start with A for kids?
A: Ant, alligator, alpaca, angelfish.Q: What place starts with A and is in Europe?
A: Amsterdam, in the Netherlands.
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