Latin Small Letter Open E Letter
ɛ (Latin small letter open e) is a Latin Extended character used to represent the open-mid front vowel in phonetic text.
U+025B
The character ɛ is a Latin Extended letter: “LATIN SMALL LETTER OPEN E.” It’s commonly used in phonetic and linguistic contexts, especially where you need a specific vowel quality. Below you’ll find copy-and-paste options and standard codepoint escapes.
Latin Small Letter Open E Letter Meaning
ɛ is the Unicode character LATIN SMALL LETTER OPEN E (U+025B), also known as the “open E.” Its most common role is phonetic transcription, where it denotes an open-mid front unrounded vowel (often transcribed as /ɛ/). Because it is a distinct letter rather than a typical alphabet “E,” it helps writers and linguists represent pronunciation more precisely. You may also see it in academic or dictionary-style notation, language-learning materials, and typography work that requires the exact glyph. If you’re working with plain text that includes phonetics, using U+025B ensures consistent rendering across systems that support it.
Common uses
- •Phonetic transcription for representing /ɛ/ vowel sounds in linguistic writing
- •Academic notes and language research where the open-mid front vowel needs a dedicated symbol
- •Dictionary and glossary entries that use IPA-like or phonetic conventions
- •Typography and font testing to verify support for Latin Extended characters
- •Web content requiring precise vowel notation in multilingual or educational materials
Examples
ɛ — Latin Small Letter Open E
- ɛThe vowel in “bed” can be transcribed as ɛ in phonetic notation.
- ɛUse ɛ to mark /ɛ/ in the transcription of this word.
- ɛIn the example sentence, ɛ appears in the stressed syllable.
- ɛThe chart includes ɛ alongside other vowel symbols.
- ɛIPA-style text often uses ɛ to distinguish vowel quality.
Variations
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+025B | |
| HTML Entity | ɛ | |
| HTML Code | ɛ | |
| CSS | \025B | |
| Alt Code | Alt + 603 | |
| Decimal | 603 |
How to type Latin Small Letter Open E Letter (ɛ)
On Windows
Hold Alt and type 603 on the numeric keypad. In Word, type 025B then press Alt + X.
On Mac
Switch to the Unicode Hex Input keyboard, then hold Option and type 025B. Or press Control + Command + Space and search.
On Linux
Press Control + Shift + U, type 025b, then press Enter or Space.
Anywhere
Copy ɛ with the button above and paste it wherever you need it — this works on every device and in every app, with no keyboard shortcut to remember.
FAQ
What does the Latin Small Letter Open E letter mean?
ɛ is the Unicode character LATIN SMALL LETTER OPEN E (U+025B), also known as the “open E.” Its most common role is phonetic transcription, where it denotes an open-mid front unrounded vowel (often transcribed as /ɛ/). Because it is a distinct letter rather than a typical alphabet “E,” it helps writers and linguists represent pronunciation more precisely. You may also see it in academic or dictionary-style notation, language-learning materials, and typography work that requires the exact glyph. If you’re working with plain text that includes phonetics, using U+025B ensures consistent rendering across systems that support it.
What is the Unicode code point for ɛ?
ɛ is U+025B (LATIN SMALL LETTER OPEN E).
How can I type or insert ɛ on the web?
You can copy/paste it directly, or use the escapes: HTML entity ɛ, CSS \025B, or JavaScript \u{025B}.
Is ɛ the same as a normal letter “e”?
No. ɛ is a distinct Unicode character and glyph, meant for specific phonetic/linguistic notation.
Why might ɛ show up as a blank square on my device?
Some fonts don’t support Latin Extended characters. Try a font that includes U+025B (or check your text encoding).