B

See also: Appendix:Variations of "b"

Translingual

B	U+0042, B LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B

Basic Latin

Ｂ	U+FF22, Ｂ FULLWIDTH LATIN CAPITAL LETTER B

← Ａ
[U+FF21]

Halfwidth and Fullwidth Forms

Ｃ →
[U+FF23]

Etymology 1

From the Ancient Greek letter Β (B, “Beta”).

Letter

B (lower case b)

The second letter of the basic modern Latin alphabet.

Usage notes

The letter B (usually its lower case form b) is used in several romanization systems of non-Latin scripts to represent the bilabial plosive or stop, usually voiced (/b/).

See also

(Latin script): A a B b C c D d E e F f G g H h I i J j K k L l M m N n O o P p Q q R r S ſ s T t U u V v W w X x Y y Z z
(Variations of letter B): Ḃ ḃ Ḅ ḅ Ḇ ḇ Ƀ ƀ Ɓ ɓ Ƃ ƃ ᵬ ᶀ ʙ Ｂｂ ȸ ℔ Ꞗ ꞗ
For more variations, see Appendix:Variations of "b".
(other scripts) Β (B, “Beta”), Б (B, “Be”), В (V, “Ve”), ב‎ (b, “beth”)

Etymology 2

(blood type): from antigen B
(symbol for boron): abbreviation of boron
(hexadecimal 11): The eleventh item from the sequence {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, A, B, C, D, E, F}

Symbol

B

A blood type that has a specific antigen that aggravates the immune response in people with type A antigen in their blood. They can receive blood from type B or type O, but cannot receive blood from AB or A.
(chemistry) The symbol for boron.
(computing) Hexadecimal symbol for 11.
(biochemistry) IUPAC 1-letter abbreviation for either glutamine or glutamic acid

Gallery

Letter styles
Capital and lowercase versions of B, in normal and italic type
Uppercase and lowercase B in Fraktur
B in uncial script

See also

Other representations of B:

Signal flag:

Semaphore:

Further reading

B on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

English

Pronunciation

(phoneme) IPA^(key): /b/
(letter name) IPA^(key): /biː/
Audio (UK) (file)
Rhymes: -iː

Etymology 1

Old English letter B, from 7th century replacement by Latin B of the Anglo-Saxon Futhorc letter ᛒ (B, “beorc”).

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b, plural Bs or B's)

The second letter of the English alphabet, called bee and written in the Latin script.
- 1945 August 17, George Orwell, chapter 3, in Animal Farm: A Fairy Story, London: Secker & Warburg, OCLC 3655473:
  
  Boxer could not get beyond the letter D. He would trace out A, B, C, D, in the dust with his great hoof […]

Usage notes

In Modern English, the letter B is sometimes silent, e.g. in climb, and debt.

Apostrophes are sometimes used to form plurals of single upper case letters, especially at the start of a sentence:

A’s are difficult to achieve in this class.

Usually, though, the apostrophe is avoided when there is no risk of confusion:

She gets straight As in school.

See also

(Latin-script letters) letter; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Number

B (upper case, lower case b)

The ordinal number second, derived from this letter of the English alphabet, called bee and written in the Latin script.

Etymology 2

(cricket, balls): abbreviation of balls
(billion): abbreviation of billion
(black): abbreviation of black

Abbreviation

B

(cricket) the number of balls faced by a batsman
The quantity one billion (1,000,000,000), usually used to signify a sum of money
$2.8 B — “two point eight billion dollars” (i.e., $2,800,000,000)
(Britain) The grade of pencil that makes darker marks than grade HB but lighter marks than grade 2B; a pencil with soft lead.
(chess) Bishop

Etymology 3

(personality type): from contrast with the letter ‘A’ and its corresponding personality type
(academic grade): from the position of the letter ‘B’ in the English alphabet

Noun

B (plural Bs)

A personality type of someone who is relaxed and easygoing and able to engage in leisure activities without worrying about work.
An academic grade, better than a C and worse than an A
Signifies a second-tier or second class of a given commodity, group, or category, as in B-movie, B-list, etc.
The television studio revived some of it's B characters for the spinoff.
Alternate or secondary part, as the back side of a phonograph record. Contrasted with A, which is the primary part.
(music) The seventh note in the C major scale.

See also

Translations

musical note

Czech: H (cs)
Faroese: H n
Finnish: H (fi)

French: si (fr) m
German: H (de) n

Usage notes

Apostrophes are sometimes used to form plurals of single upper case letters, especially at the start of a sentence:

A’s are difficult to achieve in this class.

Usually, though, the apostrophe is avoided when there is no risk of confusion:

She gets straight As in school.

Symbol

B

(computing) byte

Derived terms

(computing): Bps, B/s
(computing): kB, MB, GB, TB, PB, EB

See also

(computing): b (bit)

Translations

byte

French: o (fr) (octet)

Proper noun

B

(computer languages) A programming language from which C is derived.

Afar

Letter

B

The second letter in the Afar alphabet.

See Also

(Latin-script letters) A a, B b, T t, S s, E e, C c, K k, X x, I i, D d, Q q, R r, F f, G g, O o, L l, M m, N n, U u, W w, H h, Y y

American Sign Language

Alternative forms

(thumb unopposed and flat against the radial edge of the palm, used in rapid fingerspelling of words like B-A-B-Y) FlatB

Etymology

From French Sign Language sign for the letter B.

Production

This one-handed ASL sign is produced as follows:

Posture the dominant hand in the “B” handshape .

Letter

(transliteration needed) (Stokoe B)

The letter B

See also

Index:American Sign Language/B

Azerbaijani

Letter

B upper case (lower case b)

The second letter of the Azerbaijani alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) hərf; A a, B b, C c, Ç ç, D d, E e, Ə ə, F f, G g, Ğ ğ, H h, X x, I ı, İ i, J j, K k, Q q, L l, M m, N n, O o, Ö ö, P p, R r, S s, Ş ş, T t, U u, Ü ü, V v, Y y, Z z

Catalan

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /be/

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the Catalan alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) lletra; A a, À à, B b, C c, Ç ç, D d, E e, É é, È è, F f, G g, H h, I i, Í í, Ï ï, J j, K k, L l (L·L l·l), M m, N n, O o, Ó ó, Ò ò, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, Ú ú, Ü ü, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Czech

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /beː/

Letter

B

B (the 2nd letter in the Czech alphabet)

See also

(Latin-script letters) písmeno; A a, Á á, B b, C c, Č č, D d, Ď ď, E e, É é, Ě ě, F f, G g, H h, Ch ch, I i, Í í, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, Ň ň, O o, Ó ó, P p, Q q, R r, Ř ř, S s, Š š, T t, Ť ť, U u, Ú ú, Ů ů, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Ý ý, Z z, Ž ž

Noun

B

(music) B flat

Dutch

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /beː/
Audio (file)

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the Dutch alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) letter; A a (Á á, Ä ä), B b, C c, D d, E e (É é, Ë ë), F f, G g, H h, I i (Í í, Ï ï, Ĳ ĳ), J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o (Ó ó, Ö ö), P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u (Ú ú, Ü ü), V v, W w, X x, Y y (Ý ý), Z z

Esperanto

Pronunciation

(letter name): IPA^(key): /bo/
(phoneme): IPA^(key): /b/

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the Esperanto alphabet, called bo and written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) litero; A a, B b, C c, Ĉ ĉ, D d, E e, F f, G g, Ĝ ĝ, H h, Ĥ ĥ, I i, J j, Ĵ ĵ, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, R r, S s, Ŝ ŝ, T t, U u, Ŭ ŭ, V v, Z z

Finnish

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the Finnish alphabet, called bee and written in the Latin script.

Usage notes

Used only in loanwords.

See also

(Latin-script letters) kirjain; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, Š š, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z, Ž ž, Å å, Ä ä, Ö ö

Abbreviation

B

lubenter approbatur

German

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /beː/
Audio (file)

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the German alphabet, called be and written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) Buchstabe; A a (Ä ä), B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o (Ö ö), P p, Q q, R r, S s (ẞ ß), T t, U u (Ü ü), V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Noun

B n (genitive B, no plural)

(music) B-flat

Declension

Declension of B (uncountable)

	singular
	indef.	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	B
genitive	eines	des	B
dative	einem	dem	B
accusative	ein	das	B

See also

H (“B (musical note)”)

German Sign Language

Etymology

Related to the French Sign Language sign for "B".

Production

This one-handed GSL sign is produced as follows:

Posture the dominant hand in the “B” shape.

Letter

(transliteration needed)

the letter B

Ido

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /b/

Letter

B (lower case b)

The second letter of the Ido alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) litero; A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Italian

Pronunciation

(letter name) IPA^(key): /bi/
(phoneme) IPA^(key): /b/

Letter

B m, f (lower case b)

The second letter of the Italian alphabet, called bi and written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) lettera; A a (À à), B b, C c, D d, E e (É é, È è), F f, G g, H h, I i (Í í, Ì ì, Î î, J j, K k), L l, M m, N n, O o (Ó ó, Ò ò), P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u (Ú ú, Ù ù), V v (W w, X x, Y y), Z z
Italian alphabet on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Latvian

Etymology

Proposed in 1908 as part of the new Latvian spelling by the scientific commission headed by K. Mīlenbahs, which was accepted and began to be taught in schools in 1909. Prior to that, Latvian had been written in German Fraktur, and sporadically in Cyrillic.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [b]
Audio (file)

Letter

B

B (upper case, lower case b)

The third letter of the Latvian alphabet, called bē and written in the Latin script.

See also

Letters of the Latvian alphabet:
burti: Aa, Āā, Bb, Cc, Čč, Dd, Ee, Ēē, Ff, Gg, Ģģ, Hh, Ii, Īī, Jj, Kk, Ķķ, Ll, Ļļ, Mm, Nn, Ņņ, Oo, Pp, Rr, Ss, Šš, Tt, Uu, Ūū, Vv, Zz, Žž

Malay

Pronunciation

(Name of letter) IPA^(key): [bi]
(Phoneme, Syllable initial) IPA^(key): [b]
(Phoneme, Syllable final) IPA^(key): [p̚]

Letter

B

The second letter of the Malay alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Portuguese

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the Portuguese alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) letra; A a (Á á, À à, Â â, Ã ã), B b, C c (Ç ç), D d, E e (É é, Ê ê), F f, G g, H h, I i (Í í), J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o (Ó ó, Ô ô, Õ õ), P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u (Ú ú), V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Romanian

Pronunciation

(phoneme) IPA^(key): /b/
(letter name) IPA^(key): /be/

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The letter be, the fourth letter of the Romanian alphabet.

See also

(Latin-script letters) A a, Ă ă, Â â, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, Î î, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, Ș ș, T t, Ț ț, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Saanich

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /pʼ/

Letter

B

The fourth letter of the Saanich alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) A, Á, Ⱥ, B, C, Ć, Ȼ, D, E, H, I, Í, J, K, Ꝁ, Ꝃ, ₭, Ḵ, Ḱ, L, Ƚ, M, N, Ṉ, O, P, Q, S, Ś, T, Ⱦ, Ṯ, Ŧ, U, W, W̲, X, X̲, Y, Z, s, ,

Skolt Sami

Pronunciation

(phoneme) IPA^(key): /b/

Letter

B (lower case b)

The third letter of the Skolt Sami alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) bukva; A a, Â â, B b, C c, Č č, Ʒ ʒ, Ǯ ǯ, D d, Đ đ, E e, F f, G g, Ǧ ǧ, Ǥ ǥ, H h, I i, J j, K k, Ǩ ǩ, L l, M m, N n, Ŋ ŋ, O o, Õ õ, P p, R r, S s, Š š, T t, U u, V v, Z z, Ž ž, Å å, Ä ä, ʹ

Slovene

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the Slovene alphabet, called b or be and written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) čŕka; A a, B b, C c, Č č, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, R r, S s, Š š, T t, U u, V v, Z z, Ž ž

Somali

Pronunciation

(phoneme): IPA^(key): /b/
(letter name): IPA^(key): /ba/

Letter

B upper case (lower case b)

The second letter of the Somali alphabet, called ba and written in the Latin script.

Usage notes

The second letter of the Somali alphabet, which follows Arabic abjad order. It is preceded by ' and followed by T.

See also

(Latin-script letters) ', B b, T t, J j, X x, Kh kh, D d, R r, S s, Sh sh, Dh dh, C c, G g, F f, Q q, K k, L l, M m, N n, W w, H h, Y y, A a, E e, I i, O o, U u

Spanish

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the Spanish alphabet, called be and written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) letra; A a (Á á), B b, C c, D d, E e (É é), F f, G g, H h, I i (Í í), J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, Ñ ñ, O o (Ó ó), P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u (Ú ú, Ü ü), V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

Turkish

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the Turkish alphabet, called be and written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) harf; A a, B b, C c, Ç ç, D d, E e, F f, G g, Ğ ğ, H h, I ı, İ i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, Ö ö, P p, R r, S s, Ş ş, T t, U u, Ü ü, V v, Y y, Z z

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

(Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ɓe˧˧], [ɓe˧˧ ɓɔ˨˩], [ɓəː˨˩]
(Huế) IPA^(key): [ɓej˧˧], [ɓej˧˧ ɓɔ˦˩], [ɓəː˦˩]
(Hồ Chí Minh City) IPA^(key): [ɓej˧˧], [ɓej˧˧ ɓɔ˨˩], [ɓəː˨˩]
Phonetic: bê, bê bò, bờ

Letter

B (lower case b)

The fourth letter of the Vietnamese alphabet, called bê, bê bò, or bờ and written in the Latin script.

See also

(Quốc ngữ letters) chữ; A a (À à, Ả ả, Ã ã, Á á, Ạ ạ), Ă ă (Ằ ằ, Ẳ ẳ, Ẵ ẵ, Ắ ắ, Ặ ặ), Â â (Ầ ầ, Ẩ ẩ, Ẫ ẫ, Ấ ấ, Ậ ậ), B b, C c (Ch ch), D d, Đ đ, E e (È è, Ẻ ẻ, Ẽ ẽ, É é, Ẹ ẹ), Ê ê (Ề ề, Ể ể, Ễ ễ, Ế ế, Ệ ệ), G g (Gh gh, Gi gi), H h, I i (Ì ì, Ỉ ỉ, Ĩ ĩ, Í í, Ị ị), K k (Kh kh), L l, M m, N n (Ng ng, Ngh ngh, Nh nh), O o (Ò ò, Ỏ ỏ, Õ õ, Ó ó, Ọ ọ), Ô ô (Ồ ồ, Ổ ổ, Ỗ ỗ, Ố ố, Ộ ộ), Ơ ơ (Ờ ờ, Ở ở, Ỡ ỡ, Ớ ớ, Ợ ợ), P p (Ph ph), Q q (Qu qu), R r, S s, T t (Th th, Tr tr), U u (Ù ù, Ủ ủ, Ũ ũ, Ú ú, Ụ ụ), Ư ư (Ừ ừ, Ử ử, Ữ ữ, Ứ ứ, Ự ự), V v, X x, Y y (Ỳ ỳ, Ỷ ỷ, Ỹ ỹ, Ý ý, Ỵ ỵ)

Zulu

Letter

B (upper case, lower case b)

The second letter of the Zulu alphabet, written in the Latin script.

See also

(Latin-script letters) A a, B b, C c, D d, E e, F f, G g, H h, I i, J j, K k, L l, M m, N n, O o, P p, Q q, R r, S s, T t, U u, V v, W w, X x, Y y, Z z

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