szlig

The "szlig," also known as the Eszett or sharp S (ẞ), is a letter in the German alphabet used exclusively in the German language. It represents the voiceless sibilant /s/ and is used primarily in orthography to denote the sharp "s" sound, often occurring after long vowels and diphthongs. The character originated from a ligature of the long s (ſ) and the "z" or "s" character, evolving during the Middle Ages as a way to distinguish different sibilant sounds in handwritten texts.

In traditional German orthography, the "szlig" is used in uppercase and lowercase forms, with the lowercase being written as "ß" and the uppercase as "ẞ." However, until recent standards, the uppercase form was not officially recognized or widely used. Since the German orthography reform of 2017, the capital form "ẞ" has been officially adopted, allowing the uppercase to be written in formal contexts and particular applications such as computer text and signage.

The "ß" character is unique to the German language and does not have a direct equivalent in the standard Latin alphabet. In contexts where only uppercase letters are used, "ß" is often replaced with "SS" to preserve pronunciation and clarity. The character has also become a symbol for German linguistic identity and is sometimes used in branding or logos.

The "szlig" key on German keyboards typically produces the lowercase "ß," while entering the uppercase version "ẞ" might require special input methods or character codes. Its usage remains an important aspect of correct German spelling and orthography, reflecting phonetic distinctions that are essential for meaning in spoken and written language.