Kappa Symbol
About Kappa Symbol
Κ is the Kappa Symbol, the tenth letter of the Greek alphabet in its uppercase form. Κ denotes curvature, thermal conductivity, and the von Karman constant in fluid mechanics.
【Pronunciation】 In English, Κ is most often pronounced KAP-uh (IPA: /ˈkæpə/). This is simply the anglicized name of the Greek letter.
The uppercase Kappa Symbol Κ is written as a distinct capital Greek glyph and is assigned codepoint U+039A in the Greek and Coptic Unicode block. In plain or sans-serif fonts it can be mistaken for the Latin letter K, so verify the typeface or context.
【Historical Origin】 Like every Greek letter, Κ 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】 Κ 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 Kappa Symbol
Windows Input
Method 1: Hold Alt and type 922 on the numeric keypad, then release Alt to get Κ.
Mac Input
Method 2: Press Control + Command + Space to open the Character Viewer, search for "greek" or "Kappa Symbol", then select Κ.
HTML/CSS Input
HTML: Κ or Κ; CSS: content: "\039A";
LaTeX Input
The capital Kappa Symbol Κ has no dedicated LaTeX command because it is identical to the Latin capital K; simply type K in math mode to produce Κ.
Kappa Symbol FAQ
How is Κ pronounced?
The English pronunciation of Κ is KAP-uh (IPA: /ˈkæpə/). It is the anglicized name of the Greek letter, used directly rather than described as "uppercase Κ".
What is the difference between Κ and the Latin letter K?
Κ (U+039A) is a Greek capital letter, whereas K is a Latin letter; their codepoints and glyphs differ. In a proper typeface Κ and K are clearly distinct, but in plain text or sans-serif fonts they can be confused, so rely on context.
How do I type Κ in Word, web pages, and LaTeX?
On Windows use Alt+922 on the numeric keypad; on Mac open the Character Viewer and search "greek" or "Kappa Symbol"; on the web use the HTML entity Κ; in LaTeX simply type the letter K.