a many a
Many a; a large number of something, said before a singular noun.
Also called a many of a, a-many a.
Updated September 21, 2026
a many a pronunciation
/uh MEN-ee uh/
Meaning
Means the same as "many a." Speakers add an extra "a" up front: "I've seen him a many a time." It pairs with a singular noun even when the count is big. A close cousin is "a many of a," heard in the southern mountains.
How folks use it
- “I've seen him a many a time down at the store.”
- “He killed a many a squirrel in that hollow.”
Origin and etymology
Older English already had "many a" before a singular noun. Southern and South Midland speech often stuck an extra "a" on the front. Dialect surveys and Smoky Mountain collections record it from the 1800s into the late 1900s.
Frequently asked questions
Why say "a many a time" instead of "many times"?
Same idea. The older "many a" pattern kept a singular noun, and mountain talk often adds that first "a."