Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

How can I say the symbols "#" and "*" in English?

Thanks


Jason

[CP]

We call "#" either "the pound sign" or "the number sign." It is a shorthand way to write something.

I have four pounds of gold under my bed (don't I wish!). I could write it as, "I have 4 # gold under my bed."

Or I could write, "I am your number one fan," or "I am your #1 fan."

We call "*" an asterisk. It is a star, of course, and the Latin word for star is "aster."
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[jasonlulu_2000]

So in terms of #, i can say "Press The Pound Key" in a cellphone?

[CP]

Yes. That is what most people call the # sign on a telephone. If you call it the number sign, it might be misunderstood, since there are already 10 other real number keys on the phone.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb