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20-Oct-2005, 07:11
| | Newbie | | Join Date: Jul 2003 Country: Taiwan
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| |  What is the English word for the sign "#"?
What is the English word for the sign "#"?
I couldn't find any entry for # in any online dictionary. |
20-Oct-2005, 07:28
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Country: USA
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| |  Re: What is the English word for the sign "#"?
Hello simile!
It has two names depending on the context. It is the symbol for "number" as in #1, #2, #3, etc.
It is also called the "pound sign", pound meaning lb. as in weight.
Have a great day!
Sweet Momma Sue | | The Following User Says Thank You to SweetMommaSue For This Useful Post: | |
20-Oct-2005, 08:07
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| | Re: What is the English word for the sign "#"?
This sign is used in phones too and is called pound. | | The Following User Says Thank You to gurly For This Useful Post: | |
20-Oct-2005, 08:08
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| | Re: What is the English word for the sign "#"?
Hello SweetMommaSue,
In programmers' jargon '#' is often referred to as the 'hash' sign, although I don't think it's a proper technical ASCII term... 
All the best,
Tee Kay |
20-Oct-2005, 08:10
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| | Re: What is the English word for the sign "#"?
So there's no specific "equivalent Englsih word" for #?
Just call it "number" or "pound."
Is that what you mean? |
20-Oct-2005, 09:26
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| | Re: What is the English word for the sign "#"?
There are various names used for it. But, some of these other names are not known by many people. In the U.S., 'pound sign' and 'number sign' are the common names and will be widely understood. If you're using the phone you may hear 'pound key'. | | The Following User Says Thank You to Fizi For This Useful Post: | |
20-Oct-2005, 09:48
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| | Re: What is the English word for the sign "#"?
You guys' answers are very informative!
Thanks a lot!
There's also a * key on a cell phone.
I think we should call it "asterisk," right?
I mean when used on a cell phone. |
20-Oct-2005, 16:04
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| | Re: What is the English word for the sign "#"?
i can give you an example from software world. c# programming language is called " c sharp" so i think they call it like sharp as well. | | The Following User Says Thank You to ssendur For This Useful Post: | |
21-Oct-2005, 05:45
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| | Re: What is the English word for the sign "#"?
As a supplement:
In British English, you call it a "hache" key (pronounced "hash"). You tend not to call it "sharp" except in a musical context. (And in music, # looks slightly different.)
If you call it "pound sign", it will probably confuse British people, as they don't use # for weight (which is a pity).
On a keyboard, * is indeed an asterisk; though on a phone numberpad, it's a "star".
MrP | | The Following User Says Thank You to MrPedantic For This Useful Post: | |
21-Oct-2005, 05:49
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| | Re: What is the English word for the sign "#"?
ok i wonder if this sentence correct mrpedantic " it is required not to do that"
would you use that for your own way of speech as a native speaker, or what would you suggest instead of that | | The Following User Says Thank You to ssendur For This Useful Post: | | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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