Latin Capital Thorn

ASCII Code: 222•Category: letters

The capital thorn (Þ) serves as the uppercase form of the thorn letter, essential for proper capitalization in Icelandic text and authentic representation of historical Germanic documents and place names.

Technical Details

ASCII Code: 222
HTML Entity: Þ
Hexadecimal: 0xDE
Binary: 11011110
Octal: 336

Usage & Examples

Programming

char symbol = 'Þ'; // ASCII 222

HTML/Web

Þ or Þ

Common Uses

thornicelandicold englishhistoricalgermaniclinguisticsmedievalphonetic

How to Type This Character

Windows

Alt Code:

Hold Alt and type222 on numeric keypad

Character Map:

Search "Character Map" in Start menu

Mac

Character Viewer:

Press Ctrl +Cmd +Space

Copy & Paste:

Easiest method - copy from this page!

💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!

Related Characters

Latin Capital A with Diaeresis

#196

Latin Capital O with Stroke Slashed Zero

Latin Small C with Cedilla

#231

Spanish letter enye

#241

Latin Small O with Stroke Slashed Zero

About the Latin Capital Thorn

Proper Capitalization

Required for grammatically correct Icelandic writing when thorn appears at the beginning of sentences, proper nouns, or emphasized text. Maintains the linguistic integrity of modern Icelandic communication and official documents.

Historical Manuscripts

Essential for accurate transcription of medieval manuscripts where capital thorn appeared in illuminated initials, chapter headings, and emphasized religious or legal passages. Preserves the visual hierarchy of historical documents.

Icelandic Identity

Represents Iceland's unique linguistic heritage and cultural independence. The capital thorn distinguishes Icelandic from other Nordic languages and maintains the country's connection to its medieval literary golden age.

Scholarly Precision

Demonstrates academic rigor in historical and linguistic research. Proper use of capital thorn shows respect for source material and ensures accuracy in scholarly publications and educational resources.

History of the Latin Capital Thorn

7th Century

Anglo-Saxon Manuscripts

Capital thorn appeared in ornate Anglo-Saxon manuscripts as decorative initial letters, often elaborately illuminated in religious texts and royal charters.

9th-12th Century

Icelandic Saga Literature

Capital thorn featured prominently in medieval Icelandic sagas and Eddic poetry, marking the beginning of major literary works and legendary narratives.

1200s

Legal Documents

Medieval legal codes and royal proclamations used capital thorn for emphasis and formal designation, establishing its role in official Germanic documentation.

1400s-1500s

Printing Challenges

Early printed books struggled to represent capital thorn, leading to various substitutions and contributing to its decline in most Germanic languages except Icelandic.

1900s-Present

Digital Preservation

Unicode standards and modern typography ensured capital thorn's survival in digital formats, enabling continued use in Icelandic publishing and historical scholarship.

Cultural Impact

The capital thorn stands as a monument to linguistic continuity, representing Iceland's successful preservation of medieval Germanic heritage in the modern world and enabling authentic scholarly engagement with historical texts.

Usage Examples

Icelandic Names

Example

Þórr (Thor), Þingvellir (Parliament Plains), Þórshöfn (Thor's Harbor)

Proper capitalization of Icelandic place names and personal names

Sentence Beginnings

Example

Þetta er fallegt land. Þú ert velkominn hingað.

Standard Icelandic capitalization at the start of sentences

Historical Titles

Example

Þe Canterbury Tales, Þe Kyng's Proclamation

Medieval English manuscript titles with authentic capitalization

Academic Writing

Example

Þórðarson's analysis of 13th-century Icelandic demonstrates...

Scholarly references using proper Icelandic name capitalization