In Poland, the At Sign is called a monkey. Did you know that such a naming convention is popular in only a few countries? Besides Poland, you can also encounter it in Bulgaria, for example.
Have you ever wondered what the At Sign is called in other parts of the world? Snail, elephant’s ear… Check out how @ is referred to in different languages…
What will you find in this article?
- What is an At Sign (@)?
- Why does the @ Sign have different names?
- What is the At Sign called in different languages?
- Interesting facts about the At Sign
- Summary – At Sign
What is an At Sign (@)?
The At Sign has a long and fascinating history. Its original use was purely practical—as an abbreviation in accounting and trade. For example, in trade documents, „5 @ $2” meant „5 units at $2 each.” The symbol itself most likely originates from the Latin word „ad,” meaning „at” or „to.”
A pivotal moment in the history of @ came in 1971 when Ray Tomlinson, the creator of the first email system, chose this symbol as a separator between the user name and the server name. The At Sign was rarely used in everyday language and did not appear in personal names or server names, making it an ideal choice!
Since then, the @ has become a symbol of digital communication and global connectivity. Today, it not only Signifies email addresses but also plays a crucial role in social media, where it is used to tag users (e.g., @username).
Why does the @ have different names?
The names of the At Sign often refer to its appearance or local cultural associations. For example, in Scandinavian countries, its curved shape resembles an elephant’s trunk or a swirling letter „a,” while in Italy, „snail” is an obvious reference to the spiral pattern.
What is the At Sign called in different languages?
The names of the @ in various countries often reflect local traditions, humor, or resemblance to familiar shapes. Here are the most interesting examples:
- England and English-speaking countries: At Sign
- Poland: Monkey
- Bulgaria: Monkey
- Germany: Klammeraffe (literally „monkey climbing a vine”)
- Italy: Chiocciola („snail”)
- France: Arobase (from an old typographic term)
- Spain: Arroba (a reference to a unit of measurement used in the past)
- Sweden: Snabel-a („A with a trunk,” referring to the shape resembling an elephant’s trunk)
- Norway: Krøllalfa („curly alpha”)
- Israel: Shtrudel („strudel”)
- China: Xiao laoshu („little mouse”)
- Czech Republic and Slovakia: Zavináč („rollmops” – referring to the shape resembling a rolled fish)
Interesting facts about the At Sign
- At Sign is sometimes used in computer graphics as an element of minimalist art.
- It is globally recognized as a symbol of online communication.
- @ is also used in the syntax of programming languages.
- The At Sign is included in the Unicode standard under the code U+0040.
- In the year 2000, the @ was added to the computer keyboard.
- Thanks to social media, where the At Sign is crucial for tagging other users, it has become even more recognizable.
- The „monkey” Sign appears in books, songs, and movies. For example, in the movie „You’ve Got Mail,” it is a key element of the plot!
Summary – At Sign
At Sign is not only a part of our daily online life but also a fascinating example of linguistic and cultural diversity. The next time you use @ in an email or on social media, think about how somewhere in the world, someone calls it a „snail” or a „strudel”!
Different names for @ in various languages are a great way to learn new words and cultural trivia—perfect for both teachers and students.
If you want to learn more about fascinating language facts, click here to explore everything about the European Day of Languages!