  We have obtained the first high resolution spectra of individual stars in the
dwarf irregular galaxy, NGC 6822. The spectra of the two A-type supergiants
were obtained at the VLT and Keck Observatories, using UVES and HIRES,
respectively. A detailed model atmospheres analysis has been used to determine
their atmospheric parameters and elemental abundances. The mean iron abundance
from these two stars is $<$[Fe/H]$>=-$0.49 $\pm$0.22 ({\it $\pm$0.21}, with Cr
yielding a similar underabundance, $<$[Cr/H]$>=-$0.50 $\pm$0.20 ({\it
$\pm$0.16}). This confirms that NGC 6822 has a metallicity that is slightly
higher than that of the SMC, and is the first determination of the present-day
iron-group abundances in NGC 6822. The mean stellar oxygen abundance,
12+log(O/H)=8.36 $\pm$0.19 ({\it $\pm$0.21}),is in good agreement with the
nebular oxygen results. Oxygen has the same underabundance as iron,
$<$[O/Fe]$>$=+0.02 $\pm$0.20 ({\it $\pm$0.21}). This O/Fe ratio is very similar
to that seen in the Magellanic Clouds, which supports the picture that chemical
evolution occurs more slowly in these lower mass galaxies, although the O/Fe
ratio is also consistent with that observed in comparatively metal-poor stars
in the Galactic disk. Combining all of the available abundance observations for
NGC 6822 shows that there is no trend in abundance with galactocentric
distance. However, a subset of the highest quality data are consistent with a
radial abundance gradient.

Astrophysics