Cijfer

cijfer is a Dutch word with several related senses. In mathematics and number notation, it refers to a digit—the symbols 0 through 9 that form numbers in decimal notation. A digit is the smallest unit in a positional numeral system; a number is formed by one or more digits.

In education, cijfer commonly means a grade or mark assigned for an assessment. Dutch schools typically award cijfer on a 1 to 10 scale, with higher cijfer indicating better performance. The term can apply to individual courses as well as to a student’s overall performance.

In statistics and everyday usage, cijfer can denote a figure or statistic, such as a reported quantity or value. For instance, a rising cijfer in a report refers to higher figures.

In cryptography and codes, cijfer is used as the equivalent of cipher or code, referring to an encoded message or the method used to encipher it.

Etymology: The Dutch word derives from French chiffre or Latin cifra, ultimately from Arabic sifr, shared with related terms in many European languages. The range of senses reflects the core idea of a symbol representing a quantity or value.