# Universal symbols **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 14, 2020, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946 "2020-02-14T19:21:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/41 "2020-02-15T17:38:41Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I think _some_ mathematical symbols might be at the level of universal, but it would be ones widely used outside mathematics like “+” and “=” not things like union and intersection. I won’t insist on those particular examples. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/42 "2020-02-15T17:53:29Z")
Easier to differentiate typewritten, but if I was sloppy in my writing, does this 一 二 十 mean minus equals plus (of course a nonsense equation), minus equals cross or one, two, ten in Chinese or Japanese. Edit: The little uptick in one and two aren’t there in written Chinese and Japanese, with the possible exception of calligraphy. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/43 "2020-02-15T18:00:05Z")
Thinking about it, Arabic numbers _MAY_ be the most universal _symbol_ (in the sense that they represent something abstract), as it’s often intermixed with native language text, particularly in markets. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/44 "2020-02-15T18:03:39Z")
The Italian symbol for range looks like the American symbol for division (dash with a dot and above). Rather confusing. Even though the stop sign might not be always used for stop, it is a ISO/ANSI standard for Danger. The yellow triangle with an exclamation mark means warning. And there’s the yellow triangle with the jagged arrow which means high voltage. There might be places that don’t use it, but it is quite universal. If ANSI and ISO agree, those are the symbols which are practically universal. Of course, they don’t always agree, and there are local variants. A sign including a wheelchair typically indicates accessible areas. And did you know there’s the [Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globally_Harmonized_System_of_Classification_and_Labelling_of_Chemicals)? I first learned about it a few years ago. Switzerland has, for many years, used their own signage. Recently they decided to join the rest of Europe. No rushing such things, of course. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/45 "2020-02-15T18:06:19Z")
Does ° (degree symbol) get around much? ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/46 "2020-02-15T18:06:35Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > Easier to differentiate typewritten, but if I was sloppy in my writing, does this 一 二 十 mean minus equals plus (of course a nonsense equation), minus equals cross or one, two, ten in Chinese or Japanese. > > Edit: The little uptick in one and two aren’t there in written Chinese and Japanese, with the possible exception of calligraphy. Yes, I know 一 isn’t written in the middle like minus and the top stroke of 二 is shorter than the bottom stroke, but I said I was sloppy in my writing! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/47 "2020-02-15T18:59:17Z")
There are the copyright symbols © ® ™ ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/48 "2020-02-15T19:25:57Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > There are the copyright symbols © ® ™ Only the first one is a copyright symbol. The other two are trademark symbols. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/49 "2020-02-15T19:53:11Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > There are the copyright symbols © ® ™ The Chinese knock-off manufacturers don’t recognize or acknowledge any of them! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/50 "2020-02-15T19:55:02Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I’m gonna say the short white cross on red( **or do I have that reversed?** ) that means Redcross. It’s hard to imagine anyone making a _worse_ case for something being universal.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/51 "2020-02-15T20:26:42Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > How about symbols from mathematics? Even if you exclude those found on computer keyboards (the Hindu-Arabic numerals, the equals sign, etc.), you still have things like π (pi), the infinity symbol, symbols for union and intersection, etc. Pi is used all over math for other things than the familiar constant. Most notably for homotopy groups, where it is absolutely standard. I will grant you that union and intersection signs have no other usage–at least none I am familiar with, but they will not be widely know outside of mathematics. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/52 "2020-02-15T20:45:35Z")
I want to note that this thread is about graphic symbols, not hand gestures. Or at least I meant it to be about them, although I failed to mention that in the OP. Also lets ignore issues like whether the symbol can be easily confused with another symbol under poor viewing conditions. Assume people get a clear view of the symbol. (Some day I’ll anticipate all these kinds of things _before_ I write a question.) Suggstions that look likely: copyright and trademark symbols (© ® ™), degree °, and maybe pi (π). I don’t think the biohazard symbol qualifies nor do any other mathematical symbols. Even the obelus (÷) is probably not universally recognized, although it may appear on some keyboards (it doesn’t on mine, though). And perhaps I was wrong about all the currency symbols, at least the yen. The centavo symbol is certainly not universal. The dollar, pound, and euro signs I’m going to stick with though, even if they can be mistaken for letters. The exclaimation in a triangle is a big maybe. I know it’s a road sign in some places (although it’d cause confusion around here if seen on the highway) and I’ve seen it in instructions, but I’m not sure it’s that universal. > [@lingyi](#): > > Thinking about it, Arabic numbers _MAY_ be the most universal _symbol_ (in the sense that they represent something abstract), as it’s often intermixed with native language text, particularly in markets. Yes, to the extent that there are degrees of “universal” (and I’m sure there are people who will think that that word should be an absolute), those are certainly the most widely recognized. Even illiterates will often recognize those. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/53 "2020-02-15T20:52:53Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Pi is used all over math for other things than the familiar constant. True, but is it relevant? If the same symbol has more than one meaning, I don’t think that disqualifies it from being “universal” in the way the OP is asking about. At least not if at least one of those meanings is known by everyone who recognizes the symbol. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/54 "2020-02-15T21:29:03Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Not counting trademarks and those found on computer keyboards, what symbols can reasonably be considered universal? That is, symbols you’d expect an educated person[sup]1[/sup] from anywhere in the world to recognize. > > The only ones I can think of are certain currency symbols (euro, pound, yen (although I believe those are on some computer keyboards)) and some road signs. But I’m not sure how many of the second group can really be considered universal. The Stop sign for sure; Yield and Do Not Enter, very likely; not sure if there’s any others. The radioactivity symbol ☢, probably. Any others? > > [sup]1[/sup] We can ignore isolated people like the Sentinelese islanders and those of remote regions of the Amazon, New Guinea, etc. I wouldn’t include road signs because there are some variations across countries. How about the no smoking sign? The Star of David? I guess some people wouldn’t recognise it. (I’m assuming you’re talking about what adults would recognise, FWIW). The swastika isn’t universal because it has a different meaning in Hindusim, though then it’s clockwise rather than counter-clockwise, so maybe it counts. > [@Banksiaman](#): > > Even Winston Churchill couldn’t get it right - either V’ing for victory or telling you to get stuffed. > > I’d suggest something very primal - the yuck face. Are they symbols? I assumed the OP meant stuff you see in writing, not gestures. V for victory and v for get stuffed are different to each other - it’s pal out for victory, palm in for get stuffed. The peace symbol, though, which started out as the CND logo, is probably very widely recognised, but I wouldn’t say universally. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/55 "2020-02-15T21:52:09Z")
Welcome to the world of people trying to safeguard stuff like nuclear waste that will be lethal for thousands of years. How do you say “Stay the hell away from this!” without knowing what languages will exist? ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/56 "2020-02-15T22:42:48Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > I was thinking this one — [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Peace\_sign.svg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Peace_sign.svg) > > Not this one — [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Woman\_of\_Malaysia\_at\_the\_Spring\_Fest\_2009\_in\_Moscow%2C\_Russia.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Woman_of_Malaysia_at_the_Spring_Fest_2009_in_Moscow%2C_Russia.jpg) My apologies and I’ll give you a right-way-round Winston V. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/57 "2020-02-15T23:09:24Z")
I disagree that the pound, euro and dollar symbols are universal. If someone has doesn’t do monetary transactions in anything but their own currency, they may not recognize those. To infer that they’re not “relatively intelligent” is extremely dismissive and insulting. They’re just not exposed to international currency. I knew about the Euro, but when I first encountered it on the internet, it [took] a good bit of thinking to associate the symbol with the word. That said, arguably not a symbol, but the man and woman images on Voyager 1\* is \*universally recognizable by any human and possibly even some highly intelligent animals or alien being who may know about Earth. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/58 "2020-02-15T23:21:54Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > I wouldn’t include road signs because there are some variations across countries. I agree for most of them. But see discussion above for the stop sign. > [@](#): > > How about the no smoking sign? Possibly. > [@](#): > > The Star of David? I guess some people wouldn’t recognise it. Not sure that would be recognized everywhere. But as someone pointed out, the Christian cross is one. > [@](#): > > (I’m assuming you’re talking about what adults would recognise, FWIW). I did say educated people, so yes, that pretty much means adults. > [@](#): > > The swastika isn’t universal because it has a different meaning in Hindusim, though then it’s clockwise rather than counter-clockwise, so maybe it counts. Is the swastika still in use in India to mean something other than Naziism? Or did the Nazis ruin it for them too? > [@](#): > > Are they symbols? I assumed the OP meant stuff you see in writing, not gestures. In a later post, I made the point that I meant graphic symbols, not hand gestures. So let’s skip the side thread about the peace/victory sign. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/59 "2020-02-15T23:27:45Z")
_SIGH_ For those seeing Nazi swastikas everywhere in Hinduism and Buddhism, they’re _not_ Nazi swastikas! Non-Nazi swastikas can be right or left facing. But they’re _almost never_ at a 45 degree cant like the Nazi version! [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika) ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946/60 "2020-02-15T23:38:43Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > _SIGH_ For those seeing Nazi swastikas everywhere in Hinduism and Buddhism, they’re _not_ Nazi swastikas! Non-Nazi swastikas can be right or left facing. But they’re _almost never_ at a 45 degree cant like the Nazi version! [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swastika) No need for the snark - we’re talking about what people actually recognise, not what they _should_ recognise. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/universal-symbols/847946.md?page=4)