What Is a Euro Symbol? Meaning, Origin, and How to Type

The Euro symbol, represented by €, is a widely recognized monetary sign for the Euro currency. It indicates value across financial transactions and everyday exchanges. Its widespread adoption ensures clear communication of prices and financial figures globally.

Visual Characteristics

The Euro symbol features a stylized capital letter ‘E’ intersected by two parallel horizontal lines. The ‘E’ represents Europe, drawing inspiration from the Greek letter epsilon (Є). The two horizontal lines convey stability and strength. The design also incorporates six tips, each cut at a specific angle.

Symbol Origin and Significance

The European Commission officially presented the Euro symbol on December 12, 1996. Its creation involved an internal competition, narrowing over 30 design proposals to ten candidates. The final design was selected by Jacques Santer and Yves-Thibault de Silguy. This symbol became the world’s first copyrighted currency sign, owned by the European Community.

The design embodies European identity and economic goals. While the European Commission attributes the design to an unnamed team, individuals like Alain Billiet and Arthur Eisenmenger have been credited with its creation.

Currency Context and Application

The Euro symbol (€) is the official currency sign for the Euro, the national currency for 20 European Union member states. These countries, collectively known as the Eurozone, include:
Austria
Belgium
Croatia
Cyprus
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain

The symbol is frequently used in financial documents, price displays, and everyday transactions. The ISO currency code for the Euro is EUR, often used in financial markets.

The placement of the Euro symbol relative to numerical values varies by language and regional conventions. In English-speaking contexts, the symbol typically precedes the amount without a space, such as €100. In many other European languages, it is placed after the amount, often with a space, appearing as 100 €.

Typing the Euro Symbol

Typing the Euro symbol on various devices involves specific keyboard shortcuts or character input methods. For Windows users, common methods include pressing Ctrl + Alt + 4 or AltGr + 4, particularly on European keyboards. An alternative method involves holding down the Alt key and typing 0128 on the numeric keypad, then releasing the Alt key. On macOS devices, the Euro symbol can typically be produced by pressing Option + Shift + 2 on a US keyboard layout, or Option + 2 on UK or Irish layouts. Users can also access the symbol through the Character Viewer or Emoji panel, usually found under the Edit menu or by pressing Control + Command + Space. For mobile devices, including iPhones and Android phones, the Euro symbol is usually available by pressing and holding the dollar sign ($) on the keyboard, which then presents a pop-up menu of alternative currency symbols, including the Euro.