ª
Feminine Ordinal Indicator
The feminine ordinal indicator (ª) creates ordinal numbers and abbreviations in Spanish and Portuguese, indicating feminine gender in numbered sequences and providing compact notation for formal and informal writing.
Technical Details
- ASCII Code
- 170
- HTML Entity
- ª
- Hexadecimal
- 0xAA
- Binary
- 10101010
- Octal
- 252
Usage & Examples
Programming
char symbol = 'ª'; // ASCII 170HTML/Web
ª or ªCommon Uses
How to Type This Character
Windows
Mac
💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!
Related Characters
About the Feminine Ordinal Indicator
Grammatical Gender Precision
Essential for Spanish and Portuguese grammatical accuracy, indicating feminine gender in ordinal numbers (1ª, 2ª, 3ª). This gender marking is crucial for proper agreement with feminine nouns and maintaining linguistic precision in Romance languages.
Space Efficient Notation
Provides compact abbreviation for 'primera' (first), 'segunda' (second), and other feminine ordinal numbers, saving space in formal documents, academic writing, and business communications while maintaining clarity.
Cultural Linguistic Authenticity
Demonstrates proper understanding of Romance language gender systems, showing cultural competency and professional standards when communicating with Spanish and Portuguese speakers worldwide.
Formal Documentation
Standard notation in legal documents, academic papers, and official correspondence in Spanish and Portuguese contexts, where precision and proper linguistic forms are essential for professional credibility.
History of the Feminine Ordinal Indicator
Romance Language Evolution
As Latin evolved into Spanish and Portuguese, gender distinctions in ordinal numbers became more systematized, leading to the need for abbreviated forms that preserved gender marking.
Manuscript Abbreviations
Spanish and Portuguese scribes developed superscript abbreviations for common words and ordinal numbers, creating space-saving notation systems for manuscripts and official documents.
Printing Standardization
Early printers in Spain and Portugal standardized the ª symbol for feminine ordinals, establishing typographic conventions that spread throughout the Hispanic and Lusophone worlds.
Educational Integration
Spanish and Portuguese educational systems incorporated ordinal indicators into grammar instruction, making proper usage a marker of literacy and educational achievement.
Digital Typography
Computer systems and international keyboards integrated ordinal indicators, enabling authentic Spanish and Portuguese notation in digital communications and preserving traditional grammatical precision.
Cultural Impact
The feminine ordinal indicator preserved the gender precision of Romance languages in abbreviated form, enabling efficient communication while maintaining the grammatical sophistication that distinguishes Spanish and Portuguese from gender-neutral languages.
Usage Examples
Spanish Ordinal Numbers
ExampleFeminine ordinal abbreviations in Spanish contexts
Portuguese Usage
ExamplePortuguese feminine ordinal notation in formal writing
Academic Writing
ExampleScholarly references using feminine ordinal indicators
Business Documents
ExampleProfessional Spanish/Portuguese correspondence