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What symbol is this φ?

Published in Greek Alphabet 1 min read

The symbol φ (lowercase phi) is the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

  • Name: Phi

  • Case: Lowercase (φ) and Uppercase (Φ)

  • Origin: Greek Alphabet

  • Pronunciation: In Ancient Greek, it represented the "ph" sound. Pronunciation varies in modern Greek.

  • Uses: Phi has various applications across different fields, including:

    • Mathematics: Often represents the golden ratio (approximately 1.618).
    • Physics: Used in fields like electromagnetism and quantum mechanics.
    • Engineering: Can represent various coefficients or angles.
    • Philosophy: Sometimes used to represent concepts in philosophy.
    • Linguistics: Represented the /pʰ/ sound in the IPA.

In summary, φ is the lowercase version of the Greek letter phi, and its meaning depends on the context in which it's used.

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