In English, it is normally read aloud as "at", and is also commonly called the at symbol, commercial at, or address sign. Most languages have their own name for the symbol. At sign, symbol (@) used primarily to direct electronic communication to specified entities, most notably in email addresses and social media handles. Before the late 20th century its primary use was commercial, where it signified “at the rate of.” Jun 24, 2010 · Before the @ symbol became a standard key, the @ sign had a long past. Learn its history, use & meaning now. Apr 11, 2022 · What is an at sign? An at sign (@) is a symbol that is commonly used before the email domain name in email addresses. This symbol may also be used to informally substitute for the word at and is often used for a specific reason on social media. Sep 21, 2025 · Learn about the 'at sign,' its history, uses in email addresses and social media, etymology, and more. Explore how this symbol has become ubiquitous in digital communication. Copy and paste At Symbol (@) which is usually a part of an e-mail address. Check Alt Codes and learn how to make specific symbols on the keyboard. There are dozens of strange terms to describe the @ symbol. Several languages use words that associate the shape of the symbol with some type of animal. Before it became the standard symbol for electronic mail, the @ symbol was used to represent the cost or weight of something. What is the at-sign (@)? The at-sign (@)—pronounced "at"—is a symbol that accidentally came into use in the late 19th century for accounting and invoicing purposes. For nearly a century, the symbol was primarily used as shorthand for the phrase "at the rate of," as in the following example: 5 bananas @ .40 cents per pound = .75 cents. Sep 7, 2025 · Ampersat, asperand, arobase, at, at sign, or at symbol is the name of the " @ " symbol located above the 2 on a U.S. keyboard. When describing an e-mail address, it may be described as "support - at - computerhope -

dot - com," which is the same as support@computerhope.com. / ˈæt ˌsaɪn / (also at symbol) Add to word list the sign @, used for example in email and social media addresses: