阿 （ア） first Sanskrit alphabet letter, Africa, Awa (old province of Japan), prefixed to names to show intimacy

阿呆 （アホ） fool, idiot, simpleton

南阿 （ナンア） South Africa

阿蘭陀 （オランダ） Netherlands, Holland

お亀 （オカメ） homely woman (esp. one with a small low nose, high flat forehead, and bulging cheeks), plain woman, soba in soup with slices of boiled fish paste, shiitake mushrooms, greens, seaweed, etc.

加加阿 （カカオ） cacao, cocoa

阿る （おもねる） to flatter, to play up to, to fawn on, to pander to, to cater to

隈 （くま） corner, nook, recess, shade, shadow, dark area, dark circles (under the eyes), dark rings, shading, gradation, kumadori, style of kabuki makeup used for violent roles