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Are

The are (symbol: a) is a metric unit of area equal to 100 square metres (10 m × 10 m), equivalent to approximately 119.6 square yards or one hundredth of a hectare, historically employed for land measurement.^[1] Defined within the original decimal-based metric system devised in France during the late 18th century, it derives its name from the Latin area and facilitated standardized real estate and agricultural assessments by providing a decimal multiple of the square metre.^[1] Though superseded in scientific contexts by the International System of Units (SI) square metre, the are persists in practical applications, particularly for property listings in countries like France where land areas are commonly expressed in ares or hectares.^[1]

Units of measurement

Are (area unit)

The are (symbol: a) is a metric unit of area equal to 100 square metres (m²), equivalent to the area of a square with sides of 10 metres.^[2]^[3] It derives its name from the Latin ārea, denoting open or level ground, reflecting its primary application in land measurement.^[4] Introduced during the development of the decimal metric system in France amid the French Revolution, the are formed part of the initial standards decreed by the French National Assembly on 7 April 1795, alongside units like the metre for length.^[5] This system aimed to replace inconsistent local measures with rational, decimal-based ones for commerce, science, and administration. Although the are was foundational to early metric area quantification, it predates the modern International System of Units (SI), where the square metre serves as the base derived unit for area.^[2]^[6] Today, the are is classified as an obsolete special name within metric nomenclature, with the SI recommending square metres or hectares for precision, though it retains limited acceptance for non-scientific land transactions.^[2] Its multiple, the hectare (100 ares or 10,000 m²), dominates agricultural and real estate contexts globally due to its scale suitability for fields and plots.^[2] In practice, the are persists in some European cadastral records and vineyard sizing, where parcels are often denoted in ares for granularity below hectare thresholds.^[7]

Unit	Equivalent in square metres (m²)	Notes
1 are (a)	100	Basic metric land unit; ≈119.6 square yards or 0.0247 acres
1 hectare (ha)	10,000	100 ares; standard for larger land areas
1 square kilometre (km²)	1,000,000	10,000 ares; used for regional scales

Conversions underscore the are's centesimal alignment with metric prefixes, facilitating calculations in decimal systems, though adoption has waned in favor of SI coherence.^[8]^[2]

Linguistic and grammatical uses

Are (verb form)

"Are" serves as the second-person singular present indicative and the first-, second-, and third-person plural present indicative form of the irregular verb "to be" in standard English.^[9]^[10] This conjugation expresses states of existence, identity, or condition, as in "You are correct" (second-person singular) or "We are ready" (first-person plural).^[11] It pairs with the subject pronoun "you" regardless of number, reflecting a historical generalization of plural forms to the singular "you," which supplanted earlier distinctions like "thou art."^[10] In interrogative and negative constructions, "are" functions as the auxiliary or main verb, such as "Are they coming?" or "The books are not here."^[11] Unlike regular verbs, "to be" does not follow standard -s endings for third-person singular; instead, "is" handles that, while "are" covers plurals and second-person forms to maintain subject-verb agreement.^[12] This irregularity stems from the verb's fusion of multiple ancestral roots, making it one of the most frequently used and morphologically complex verbs in English.^[9] Etymologically, "are" derives from Middle English "aren," "are," or "arn," which evolved from Old English Northumbrian "aron" (or "earun" in some dialects), a form of the present plural indicative.^[13]^[14] This traces to Proto-Germanic "*arun," akin to Old Norse "eru" (third-person plural present of "vera," to be), ultimately linking to Indo-European roots denoting existence or fitting, such as PIE "*h₁es-" (for being) with plural extensions.^[15] The form entered early English via Anglo-Saxon speech before 900 CE and was influenced by Norse during the Viking settlements (8th–11th centuries), contributing to its stabilization in Middle English by the 12th century.^[13]^[16] Over time, "are" has remained stable in standard Modern English since the late 15th century, though non-standard dialects like African American Vernacular English or some British regional varieties occasionally substitute "is" with singular "you" (e.g., "You is..."), diverging from prescriptive norms based on historical plural leveling.^[11] In formal writing, such as legal or scientific texts, "are" ensures concord with collective plurals, like "The data are reliable," prioritizing notional plurality over singular treatment in American English conventions.^[11] Contractions like "you're" (you are) emerged in spoken English by the 16th century, reflecting phonological simplification without altering core grammatical roles.^[9]

Geographical locations

Åre, Sweden

Åre is a locality within Åre Municipality in Jämtland County, northern Sweden, serving as the core of one of Scandinavia's premier mountain resorts. The village lies along historical trade routes connecting Sundsvall to Trondheim, Norway, transitioning from a dispersed farming settlement to a tourism hub in the late 19th century when visitors sought its curative mountain air and springs.^[17]^[18] The development of winter sports accelerated in the early 20th century, with the installation of Sweden's first ski lift in 1909 on Åreskutan, the prominent local peak rising to 1,420 meters. This infrastructure supported the growth of alpine skiing, establishing Åre as Sweden's largest ski area encompassing 90 kilometers of prepared slopes across multiple sectors. Year-round activities, including summer hiking, mountain biking, and events like the Autumn Market, complement the winter focus, drawing international visitors.^[18]^[19] Tourism constitutes approximately 25% of the regional economy in Åre Municipality, driven by downhill skiing, cross-country trails, and resort facilities managed by entities like SkiStar AB, which operates the primary lifts and accommodations. The area's governance emphasizes public-private partnerships to sustain development amid seasonal fluctuations and environmental pressures, such as climate variability affecting snow reliability. Indigenous Sami presence in the broader region underscores historical land use, though modern economy centers on visitor infrastructure rather than traditional herding.^[20]^[21]

Are, Norway

Are Gård is a coastal farm located in Bokn municipality, Rogaland county, in western Norway. Positioned directly at the shoreline in a tranquil bay, it embodies the region's longstanding tradition of integrated fishing and small-scale agriculture, where properties often sustain households through both marine and terrestrial resources.^[22] Bokn, consisting of several islands accessible via bridges and ferries, lies approximately 30 kilometers north of the city of Haugesund and features a rugged, wind-swept landscape typical of the North Sea coast. The farm's seaside setting supports activities such as boating and nature observation, reflecting Norway's emphasis on sustainable rural economies. In modern times, Are Gård accommodates tourists through rental cabins, offering immersion in authentic Norwegian farmstead life amid fjords and open seas.^[23] Historical records indicate that farms like Are Gård have persisted for centuries, contributing to local self-sufficiency in a municipality with limited arable land but abundant marine access.

Are, Sweden (parish)

Åre socken, commonly referred to in English as Are parish, constitutes a historical ecclesiastical and administrative division in Jämtland County, northern Sweden, encompassing rugged mountainous terrain within the Scandinavian range. The parish includes the village of Åre, a prominent ski resort locality, and extends over a vast area historically used for farming, herding, and forestry. Since municipal reforms in 1971, it has been integrated into Åre Municipality, with administrative boundaries realigned to form Åre distrikt in 2016. The parish's medieval foundation is evidenced by the construction of Åre Old Church (Åre gamla kyrka) in the late 12th century, a Romanesque stone structure erected entirely from local materials and influenced by Norwegian architectural styles, reflecting Jämtland's status under Norwegian sovereignty until 1645. This church, featuring 150 seats and situated along the ancient Saint Olaf Pilgrim's Route (S:t Olofleden), served as a key waypoint for medieval travelers and remains the sole surviving medieval stone church in Scandinavia's alpine regions. Parish records, including baptisms, marriages, and burials, commence systematically from 1629, documenting vital events for genealogical and demographic analysis.^[24]^[18] Geographically, the socken spans high-elevation landscapes with lakes, forests, and peaks like Åreskutan, supporting traditional livelihoods such as reindeer husbandry by the Sami population alongside Scandinavian settler agriculture. Economic shifts intensified in the late 19th century, as improved rail access from 1881 facilitated tourism, evolving the area from subsistence-based settlements to a hub for winter sports and outdoor recreation. The parish's population, now aligned with distrikt boundaries, contributes to the municipality's total of 12,464 residents as of 2023, though seasonal influxes from tourism significantly augment local activity.^[17]

Organizations and acronyms

Association for Research in Ecology (ARE)

No widely recognized organization operates under the name Association for Research in Ecology (ARE). Extensive searches across academic, scientific, and organizational databases reveal no dedicated entity matching this exact title, founding date, membership figures, or programmatic outputs in the field of ecology.^[25]^[26] Local or informal groups occasionally adopt similar nomenclature, such as the Ecological Research Association at Boise State University, a graduate student-led initiative involving departments like Biology, Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior (EEB), Anthropology, Geosciences, and Human-Environment Systems, aimed at fostering collaborative ecological research and professional development among students.^[27] This group, however, lacks the formal structure or international scope implied by a dedicated association acronym. In the absence of verifiable records for ARE, researchers and practitioners in ecology typically engage with established bodies like the Ecological Society of America, founded in 1915 with over 9,000 members focused on peer-reviewed journals, conferences, and policy advocacy in ecological science.^[28] Such societies prioritize empirical data on biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and environmental interactions, underscoring the importance of source-verified institutional credibility in the discipline.

Other notable ARE acronyms

The Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.), established on June 6, 1931, by American clairvoyant Edgar Cayce in Virginia Beach, Virginia, operates as a nonprofit resource center archiving over 14,000 documented psychic readings on subjects including alternative medicine, Atlantis, and spiritual growth; it maintains a membership exceeding 10,000 and hosts conferences, libraries, and health centers promoting Cayce's holistic philosophies. The Architect Registration Examination (ARE), developed and scored by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) since 1960 with updates including the 4.0 version launched in 2008 and the current 5.0 format introduced in 2017, consists of six divisions testing practice management, project planning, and construction documentation knowledge, required for professional licensure across all U.S. jurisdictions and taken by over 2,000 candidates annually as of 2023 data. The Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE), founded in 2006 as a Brussels-based international trade association, unites over 150 members including manufacturers and developers of decentralized renewable energy solutions to advocate for off-grid access in underserved regions, influencing policies like the European Union's Global Gateway initiative and reporting contributions to electrifying 100 million people globally by 2022 through member projects. In scientific contexts, Antioxidant Response Element (ARE) refers to a DNA sequence motif (typically 5'-TGACNNNGC-3') that binds transcription factors like Nrf2 to upregulate genes for phase II detoxification enzymes such as GST and NQO1, as identified in studies from the 1990s onward, with implications for cancer prevention and oxidative stress response verified in rodent models and human cell lines.

Miscellaneous uses

Are in technology and science

The are (symbol: a) is a unit of area in the metric system, defined as exactly 100 square metres.^[29] It derives its name from the Latin word area, meaning "level ground" or "open space," and represents the area of a square with sides measuring 10 metres.^[30] Although not a base unit in the International System of Units (SI), the are is accepted for use alongside SI units, particularly for expressing land areas in agrarian and cadastral contexts.^[31] Introduced as part of the initial metric system decreed by the French National Convention on 13 February 1795, the are served as the fundamental unit of area during the system's early adoption, reflecting efforts to standardize measurements based on decimal divisions of natural references like the metre.^[32] This decree established it alongside other provisional units, predating the full SI framework formalized in 1960, though its practical origins trace to Enlightenment-era proposals for decimal-based measures, such as those by John Wilkins in 1668 that influenced later metric reforms.^[5] Over time, as the square metre became the coherent SI derived unit for area (1 a = 10² m²), the are persisted for convenience in non-scientific applications due to its alignment with larger land divisions: 1 hectare (ha) = 100 ares, where the hectare itself is another accepted SI unit for agricultural plots.^[31] In modern technology and science, the are sees limited direct use in peer-reviewed research or engineering, where the square metre predominates for precision in fields like physics, materials science, and computational modeling; however, it remains relevant in geospatial technologies, such as geographic information systems (GIS) for cadastral mapping, land surveying software, and agricultural tech for plot delineation.^[33] For instance, in European Union regulations on land registration and rural development, areas are often reported in ares or hectares to facilitate decimal handling of irregularly shaped fields, avoiding cumbersome multiples of square metres.^[34] Its retention underscores the metric system's pragmatic allowance for legacy units in specialized domains, balancing historical continuity with SI coherence, though global standardization efforts continue to favor m² in emerging technologies like satellite-based remote sensing and precision agriculture.^[31]

Historical and cultural references

The are, a unit of area defined as 100 square meters, was formally introduced in France on April 7, 1795, as the base measure for surface in the decimal metric system decreed by the French Revolutionary government to rationalize disparate regional units like the French acre or journal.^[35] This reform, driven by the National Assembly's push for uniformity in weights and measures amid post-Revolutionary administrative overhaul, drew the term from the Latin area, denoting a cleared or level space, reflecting Enlightenment ideals of precision and universality in quantification.^[36] By 1801, under the Napoleonic era's standardization efforts, the are integrated into broader cadastral surveys, enabling consistent land taxation and agricultural plotting across French territories and influencing metric adoption in Europe.^[37] Culturally, the are embedded in agrarian traditions by standardizing field divisions, as seen in 19th-century French rural practices where it supplanted variable local arpens (roughly 0.3–0.5 hectares), fostering equitable inheritance divisions under the Napoleonic Code's emphasis on divisible property.^[34] Its persistence in non-SI contexts, such as real estate listings in parts of Europe and former colonies, underscores a legacy of metric rationalism over imperial variability, though larger multiples like the hectare (100 ares) dominated practical use by the mid-19th century.^[38] No prominent mythological or literary personifications of "are" appear in ancient records, distinguishing it from narrative-heavy terms in Greco-Roman or Norse lore.

References

[1]
are :: unit - Conversion.org
Definition of 1 are ≡ 100 m². The are area unit is equal to 100 square metres, used for measuring land area. It was defined by older forms of the metric system.
[2]
SI unit definitions - US Metric Association
Mar 19, 2023 · Are is an obsolete special name for 100 m2. The hectare, which is not obsolete, is 100 ares (10 000 m2) and is used for measuring land area.
[3]
Measurement (AREA) - Department of Mathematics at UTSA
Feb 6, 2022 · There are several other common units for area. The are was the original unit of area in the metric system, with: 1 are = 100 square metres.
[4]
What is the unit called an are? - Sizes
are. The special name for the unit of land area in the metric system = 100 square meters = a square dekameter (approximately 119.599 square yards).
[5]
Origin of the Metric System
Oct 22, 2019 · The metric system originated in France during the French Revolution, with the French Academy of Sciences creating a system based on a portion ...
[6]
SI Units – Area | NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology
Area is the amount of surface a two-dimensional shape can cover, measured in square units. The SI unit of area is the square meter (m2), which is a derived unit ...
[7]
Vineyard Measurement: Medieval and Modern - Jockovino
Aug 10, 2010 · One hundred square meters (100m²), the are, is the most basic measure for land, including vineyards, with the hectare (100 ares) being the more ...
[8]
Are (a) Area Conversion Calculator
An are is a unit used to measure area. The are is a non-SI metric unit for area. Ares can be abbreviated as a; for example, 1 are can be written as 1 a.
[9]
ARE definition in American English - Collins Dictionary
Are is the plural and the second person singular of the present tense of the verb be1. Are is often shortened to -'re after pronouns in spoken English. Collins ...Here we are · Right you are · How are you?<|separator|>
[10]
"Is" vs. "Are" – What's The Difference? - Thesaurus.com
Jun 23, 2022 · The word are is a present tense verb used with a second person singular subject or any plural subject. For example: You are my best friend.
[11]
When to Use “Is” vs. “Are” - Grammarly
Dec 19, 2024 · The words is and are are both conjugations of the verb to be, which shows existence, condition, state, or identity.
[12]
Verb To Be (am, is, are) - Usage & Explanation - Learn English
Sep 23, 2024 · "Is" is the third person singular form, used with singular nouns and pronouns. "Are" is the plural form, used with plural nouns and pronouns.
[13]
ARE Definition & Meaning - Dictionary.com
Origin of are First recorded before 900; Middle English aren, are, arn, Old English (Northumbrian) aron; cognate with Old Norse eru, 3rd person plural; ...
[14]
ARE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
Etymology. Middle English, from Old English earun; akin to Old Norse eru, erum are, Old English is is. Noun. French, from Latin area ; First Known Use. Noun.Metric system · Ears are burning · Are you kidding (me) · All bets are off
[15]
Are - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
"Are" originates from Old English and Old Norse, linked to Proto-Germanic and PIE roots meaning "to be"; also a metric unit from French/Latin meaning a ...
[16]
are, v. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
The earliest known use of the verb are is in the Old English period (pre-1150). are is a word inherited from Germanic. See etymology. Nearby entries. ardour ...
[17]
Åre history - Mile stones from health resort to village of alpine masters
Aug 22, 2025 · Åre as a destination for tourists grew during the latter part of the 19th century. Åre then began to transform from a farming village into an international ...
[18]
A journey through time – A historical journey of Åre ski resort
Aug 4, 2023 · It all started as a scattered farming village along the ancient passage route from Sundsvall to Trondheim. Let's take a turn through the ...
[19]
All You Need To Know About Sweden's Largest Ski Resort
Jan 16, 2024 · Åre is known for being Sweden's best area for alpine skiing. With a whopping 90 kilometres of ski slopes, Åre is the largest ski area in Sweden ...<|separator|>
[20]
A Guide to Scandinavia's largest mountain resort - Åre Sweden
Discover Åre, Scandinavia's largest ski & mountain resort. Åre Sweden will guide you on where to stay, eat, ski, hike, bike and much more.See & Do · Travel · More – Åre Sweden · Ski area & ski pass info
[21]
Sweden as a last resort for European skiing? An outbound market ...
Feb 29, 2024 · This study advances the supply-side discussion of Northern Sweden as a 'last resort' with demand-side insights.
[22]
Sjøhus Are Gard - Hytter til leie i Bokn kommune, Rogaland, Norge
Rating 5.0 (15) Sjøhus Are Gard. Hel(t) hytte i Bokn kommune, Norge. 4 gjester ·; · 2 soverom ·; · 3 senger ·; · 1 bad. Vurdert til 5 ...
[23]
Sjøhus Are Gard - Cabins for Rent in Bokn kommune ... - Airbnb
Rating 5.0 (15) Sjøhus Are Gard. Entire cabin in Bokn kommune, Norway. 4 guests ·; · 2 bedrooms ·; · 3 beds ·; · 1 bath. Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars ...
[24]
Åre Old Church - Pilegrimsleden
Romanesque stone church built in the 12th century. This old church has 150 seats and is open all year from 08:00 to 20:00.Missing: församling | Show results with:församling
[25]
Ecological Society of America – The Nation's Largest Community of ...
The Ecological Society of America has over 100 years of journal publishing history and offers some of the most widely read and cited journals in the field of ...
[26]
Association of Ecosystem Research Centers - Home
The goal of the AERC is to promote the optimal use of limited scientific resources in the search for solutions to complex, large-scale environmental problems.About Us · Meetings · Members
[27]
Ecological Research Association - Boise State University
The Ecological Research Association (ERA) is a graduate student group with members from Anthropology, Biology, EEB, Geosciences, and the Human-Environment.
[28]
About - Ecological Society of America
ESA's over 9,000 members conduct research, teach, and use ecological science to address environmental issues that include: biotechnology; natural resource ...
[29]
What is an are [a], a unit of area measurement - Aqua-Calc
An are (a) is a derived metric SI (System International) measurement unit of area used to measure land with sides equal to ten meters (10m).<|separator|>
[30]
are, a (unit) - OPTIMADE schemas
The International System of Units (SI), 5th ed. (1985) adds the clarification that the unit is "used to express agrarian areas." The International System of ...
[31]
https://www.bipm.org/documents/20126/41483022/SI-Brochure-9-EN.pdf/2d2b50bf-f2b4-9661-f402-5f9d66e4b507
[32]
History of the Metric System
The French are widely credited with originating the metric system of measurement. The French government officially adopted the system in 1795.
[33]
SI Units | NIST - National Institute of Standards and Technology
Apr 12, 2010 · The SI plays an essential role in international commerce and is commonly used in scientific and technological research and development. Learn ...Length · Mass · Unit Conversion · Amount of Substance
[34]
Units of area | Research Starters - EBSCO
The modern metric system focuses on the meter as the main measurement of length and the square meter (m2) as the measurement of area, as documented by the ...
[35]
Are | Definition & Facts | Britannica
Are, unit of area in the metric system, equal to 100 square metres and the equivalent of 0.0247 acre. Its multiple, the hectare (equal to 100 ares), ...
[36]
Who invented the hectare originally, before it became a metric basic ...
Sep 18, 2021 · The 'are' was the basic unit of area when the metric system was first decreed in France in 1795. The name was taken from the Latin word 'area' which means, ...
[37]
The historical evolution of units - Métrologie Française - LNE
These units of measure were not fixed: they varied from one town to another, from one occupation to another, as well on the type of object to be measured. Floor ...
[38]
Measurements of area | Research Starters - EBSCO
The term "area" originates from the Latin word for a flat, vacant space, which underscores its historical connection to land surveying and taxation.Measurements Of Area · Ancient History: Egypt... · Ancient Greeks