Alpha Symbol
About Alpha Symbol
Α is the Alpha Symbol, the first letter of the Greek alphabet in its uppercase form. Α denotes angular acceleration, the significance level in statistics, and the dominant allele in genetics.
【Pronunciation】 In English, Α is most often pronounced AL-fuh (IPA: /ˈælfə/). This is simply the anglicized name of the Greek letter.
The uppercase Alpha Symbol Α is written as a distinct capital Greek glyph and is assigned codepoint U+0391 in the Greek and Coptic Unicode block. In plain or sans-serif fonts it can be mistaken for the Latin letter A, so verify the typeface or context.
【Historical Origin】 Like every Greek letter, Α was adapted from a Phoenician consonant and entered mathematical and scientific notation through the work of ancient Greek scholars, remaining in continuous use to the present day.
【Common Uses】 Α is highly active across disciplines and frequently appears alongside other Greek capitals such as Δ (Δ), Σ (Σ), Π (Π) and Ω (Ω) in formulas, papers, and engineering drawings. Its clear shape and long tradition make it a standard symbol in many fields.
How to Type Alpha Symbol
Windows Input
Method 1: Hold Alt and type 913 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt to get Α.
Mac Input
Method 2: Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for "greek" or "Alpha Symbol", then select Α.
HTML/CSS Input
HTML: Α or Α; CSS: content: "\0391";
LaTeX Input
The capital Alpha Symbol Α has no dedicated LaTeX command because it is identical to the Latin capital A; simply type A in math mode to produce Α.
Alpha Symbol FAQ
How is Α pronounced?
The English pronunciation of Α is AL-fuh (IPA: /ˈælfə/). It is the anglicized name of the Greek letter, used directly rather than described as "uppercase Α".
What is the difference between Α and the Latin letter A?
Α (U+0391) is a Greek capital letter, whereas A is a Latin letter; their codepoints and glyphs differ. In a proper typeface Α and A are clearly distinct, but in plain text or sans-serif fonts they can be confused, so rely on context.
How do I type Α in Word, web pages, and LaTeX?
On Windows use Alt+913 on the numeric keypad; on Mac open the Character Viewer and search "greek" or "Alpha Symbol"; on the web use the HTML entity Α; in LaTeX simply type the letter A.