Latin Small Letter Sharp S Letter
ß (sharp s) is a Latin small letter used in German words and represents the “ss” sound in many contexts.
U+00DF
The symbol ß is known as the Latin small letter sharp s, often called eszett in German. It has a single Unicode character you can copy and use in text, web pages, and programming.
Latin Small Letter Sharp S Letter Meaning
ß is the Latin small letter sharp s (Unicode U+00DF). It is most commonly used in German spelling, where it often corresponds to the “ss” sound, especially in words that historically used a long-s form. In writing and typing, ß helps preserve the correct German orthography, particularly in contexts where “ss” is not the preferred spelling. For developers, it is also a distinct character that can appear in names, brands, and content written in languages that use it.
Common uses
- •German-language writing and proofreading
- •Typing correct German text in emails, documents, and forms
- •Branding and proper nouns that include ß
- •Subtitles, captions, and localized UI text for German audiences
- •Programming and templates that must preserve exact Unicode characters
Examples
ß Latin Small Letter Sharp S (eszett)
- ßIch trinke heißen Kaffee mit ßahne.
- ßFußball ist heute spannend.
- ßStraße ist gleich um die Ecke.
- ßIch heiße Laura und komme aus Köln.
- ßBitte beißen Sie nicht in den Stift.
Variations
Technical codes
| Unicode | U+00DF | |
| HTML Entity | ß | |
| HTML Code | ß | |
| CSS | \00DF |
FAQ
What does the Latin Small Letter Sharp S letter mean?
ß is the Latin small letter sharp s (Unicode U+00DF). It is most commonly used in German spelling, where it often corresponds to the “ss” sound, especially in words that historically used a long-s form. In writing and typing, ß helps preserve the correct German orthography, particularly in contexts where “ss” is not the preferred spelling. For developers, it is also a distinct character that can appear in names, brands, and content written in languages that use it.
Is ß the same as “ss”?
In many cases it represents the same “ss” sound, but ß and “ss” are not the same character and are not interchangeable for correct German spelling.
What is the Unicode code point for ß?
ß is Unicode U+00DF (LATIN SMALL LETTER SHARP S).
How can I include ß in HTML?
Use the HTML entity: ß.
How do I type ß in programming code?
You can use the CSS/escaped form \\00DF or the JavaScript form \\u{00DF}, depending on your environment.