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Beta (letter)

Greek alphabet
Α α Alpha	Β β Beta
Γ γ Gamma	Δ δ Delta
Ε ε Epsilon	Ϝ ϝ Digamma
Ζ ζ Zeta	Η η Eta
Θ θ Theta	Ι ι Iota
Κ κ Kappa	Λ λ Lambda
Μ μ Mu	Ν ν Nu
Ξ ξ Xi	Ο ο Omicron
Π π Pi	Ϻ ϻ San
Ϙ ϙ Qoppa	Ρ ρ Rho
Σ σ Sigma	Τ τ Tau
Υ υ Upsilon	Φ φ Phi
Χ χ Chi	Ψ ψ Psi
Ω ω Omega	Ϡ ϡ Sampi

Beta (upper case Β, lower case β) is the 2nd letter of the Greek alphabet. In the Ancient Greek language, it was pronounced [b], but in Modern Greek is pronounced [v]. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 2. Beta should not be confused with a similar-looking but unrelated letter in German language orthography, ß, which denotes a long "s" sound.

The lower-case letter β is used as the symbol for:

• The beta particle and beta decay in particle physics.
• The speed of an object relative to the speed of light (β = v/c) in special relativity theory.
• The voiced bilabial fricative (IPA) in phonology.

The Modern Greek name of the letter is /ˈvi.ta/. The American pronunciation is /ˈbeɪ.tə/ whereas the British pronunciation is /ˈbiː.tə/. See: American and British English differences, IPA

Letters that arose from Beta include the Roman B and the Cyrillic letters Be and Ve.

The Chinese radical Fu (阝) looks almost identical.