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Beta (letter)

Greek alphabet
Α α Alpha Β β Beta
Γ γ Gamma Δ δ Delta
Ε ε Epsilon Ϝ ϝ Digamma
Ζ ζ Zeta Η η Eta
Θ θ Theta Ι ι Iota
Κ κ Kappa Λ λ Lambda
Μ μ Mu Ν ν Nu
Ξ ξ Xi Ο ο Omicron
Π π Pi Ϻ ϻ San
Ϙ ϙ Qoppa Ρ ρ Rho
Σ σ Sigma Τ τ Tau
Υ υ Upsilon Φ φ Phi
Χ χ Chi Ψ ψ Psi
Ω ω Omega Ϡ ϡ Sampi


Beta (upper case Β, lower case β) is the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet. In the Ancient Greek language, it was pronounced [b], but in Modern Greek is pronounced [v]. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 2. Beta should not be confused with a similar-looking but unrelated letter in German language orthography, ß, which denotes a long "s" sound.

Beta is the second highest caste in Aldous Huxley's dystopic satire Brave New World.

The lower-case letter β is used as the symbol for:

The Modern Greek name of the letter is /ˈvi.ta/. The American pronunciation is /ˈbeɪ.tə/ whereas the British pronunciation is /ˈbiː.tə/. See: American and British English differences, IPA

Letters that arose from Beta include the Roman B and the Cyrillic letters Be and Ve.

The Chinese radical Fu (阝) looks almost identical.


Last updated: 02-03-2005 08:52:38
Last updated: 04-25-2005 03:06:01