Have you ever seen the unusual symbol § in a legal document, book, website, or German text and wondered, “What does this symbol mean?” It looks a little like two letter S’s joined together, but it isn’t simply a decorative character.
The § symbol is called the section sign or section symbol. Its primary purpose is to identify or refer to a specific section of a document, especially a law, regulation, contract, or other formally numbered text. It is one of the most recognizable symbols in legal writing.
But there’s more to § than its use in law. It has a fascinating history, a distinctive typographic origin, a Unicode identity, and different conventions depending on the country and context.
What Does the Symbol § Mean?
The symbol § is called the section sign. It is used to refer to a particular numbered section of a document, especially a law, statute, regulation, contract, or legal code. For example, “§ 12” means “Section 12.” When two section signs appear together, “§§,” they usually refer to multiple sections.
In other words:
§ = section
For example:
- § 5 = Section 5
- § 10 = Section 10
- §§ 10–15 = Sections 10 through 15
- § 12 of a law = Section 12 of that law
The symbol is particularly common in legal citations and in countries whose laws are organized into numbered provisions marked with the section sign.
Quick meaning of §
| Symbol | Name | Main meaning | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| § | Section sign | Section | Laws, regulations, legal documents |
| §§ | Section signs | Multiple sections | Legal citations |
| ¶ | Pilcrow | Paragraph | Paragraphs and document formatting |
| § 10 | Section 10 | A specific numbered section | Statutes and codes |
What Is the § Symbol Called?
The most common name is section sign or section symbol.
It also has several other names, including:
- Section mark
- Section sign
- Section symbol
- Silcrow
- Double-S
- Signum sectionis
The term silcrow is a typographic nickname modeled partly on words such as “pilcrow.” The formal and safest term in ordinary writing is section sign.
The symbol is sometimes informally called a double S because its shape resembles two S letters joined together. This description is especially useful when someone is trying to identify the character visually.
Why Does the § Symbol Look Like Two S’s?
One of the most widely accepted explanations is that § developed from two S’s representing the Latin phrase signum sectionis, meaning “sign of the section.”
Over time, scribes writing the two S characters combined and stylized them into a single glyph. The result eventually developed into the modern section sign.
However, the exact origin isn’t completely certain. Another theory connects the character with older paragraph or textual-division marks, including the ancient Greek paragraphos tradition. So while the double-S explanation is widely repeated and historically plausible, it should not be presented as an absolutely proven fact.
The modern section sign, with essentially its modern function, has been used for centuries and became especially established through manuscript and printing traditions.
The visual idea is simple
You can think of it like this:
S + S → §
That doesn’t mean the character is literally two ordinary S letters in modern digital text. It is a single character with its own Unicode code point.
What Does § Mean in Law?
This is where the section sign is most important.
In legal writing, § identifies a particular section of a law, statute, regulation, or legal code.
For example:
§ 123
is generally read as:
Section 123
A citation might look like:
16 U.S.C. § 580p
Here, the symbol indicates that the citation is pointing to a particular numbered section.
The section sign is especially useful because legal documents can contain hundreds or thousands of individually numbered provisions. Instead of repeatedly writing the word “section,” the symbol provides a compact way to reference one.
What does §§ mean in legal writing?
When the symbol is doubled:
§§
it generally means multiple sections.
For example:
§§ 10–15
means:
Sections 10 through 15
So the distinction is:
- § 10 → one section
- §§ 10–15 → multiple sections
This is one of the most important things to remember when reading a legal citation.
What Does § Mean in a Legal Document?
If you see § in a legal document, don’t assume it means something mysterious or symbolic.
In most cases, it simply tells you:
“Look at the numbered section that follows.”
For example:
§ 4. Payment Terms
means the document’s Section 4 concerns payment terms.
Similarly:
§ 7. Termination
means Section 7 deals with termination.
Depending on the legal system and document, the actual formatting can vary. Some documents use the word Section, while others use the section sign.
What Does § Mean in Germany?
The section sign is particularly familiar in German-speaking legal contexts.
German laws commonly use § before numbered legal provisions. For example:
§ 242 BGB
refers to Section 242 of the German Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch).
This is one reason the symbol can appear much more frequently in German legal material than an English-speaking reader might expect.
In German, the relevant legal provision may be called a Paragraph, which can sometimes create confusion for English speakers because English typography commonly associates the word “paragraph” with the ¶ symbol.
The terminology depends heavily on the language and legal tradition.
Is § the Same as the Paragraph Symbol ¶?
No. § and ¶ are different symbols, even though their uses can sometimes overlap in terminology.
Section sign: §
The § symbol is primarily used to identify a numbered section or legal provision.
Pilcrow: ¶
The ¶ symbol, called the pilcrow or paragraph mark, traditionally identifies a paragraph or paragraph division.
| Symbol | Name | Typical purpose |
|---|---|---|
| § | Section sign | Numbered sections |
| ¶ | Pilcrow | Paragraphs |
| §§ | Multiple section signs | Multiple sections |
The confusion becomes greater because some languages and legal systems use terminology that doesn’t map perfectly onto English terminology.
The safest approach is to look at the context rather than assuming that § always means “paragraph.”
What Does § Mean in a Book?
In a book, § may indicate a particular section of a work.
It can be used when the author or editor wants to point readers to a specific numbered part of a text.
For example:
See § 8 for further details.
This means:
See Section 8 for further details.
It is especially likely to appear in scholarly, historical, legal, technical, or older publications.
In ordinary modern books, however, writers often simply use “Section 8” instead.
What Does § Mean in Academic Writing?
In academic writing, the section sign can be used to reference a specific section of a structured document.
For example:
See § 3.2 for the methodology.
However, academic style varies considerably by discipline and style guide.
You shouldn’t automatically substitute § for the word “section” in every academic paper. Always follow the citation and formatting rules required by the publication, university, journal, or style guide you’re using.
The symbol is most strongly associated with legal and formal textual references.
What Does § Mean in a Contract?
When you see § in a contract, it generally identifies a particular provision or section.
For example:
§ 9 — Confidentiality
means:
Section 9 — Confidentiality
A contract might also contain a cross-reference such as:
As provided in § 9…
This means:
As provided in Section 9…
Contracts use numbered sections because precise cross-referencing is extremely important. The section sign provides a compact way of identifying those provisions.
What Does § Mean in Texting?
If you saw § in a text message, social media post, username, or casual conversation, its meaning depends on context.
There is no universal texting slang meaning for § comparable to symbols such as:
- ❤️
- 😂
- 👍
- 💯
The symbol’s standard meaning remains section.
Someone might use it:
- Because they are discussing a law
- To reference a document
- As a decorative character
- As part of a username
- Because they like unusual symbols
- As a reference to a particular game or online community
Therefore, if someone sends you § by itself, you need the surrounding context to determine what they intended.
It does not have one universally recognized secret meaning in texting.
Does § Have a Secret or Hidden Meaning?
Generally, no.
The standard meaning of § is straightforward:
section sign.
Its appearance can make it seem mysterious because it isn’t used as frequently as symbols such as &, @, or # in everyday English.
But its primary function is practical rather than mystical.
If you see it in a legal document, it almost certainly relates to a section or legal provision.
What Does § Mean Spiritually?
The § symbol does not have a universally established spiritual meaning.
Unlike symbols such as:
- ☯ Yin-yang
- ☮ Peace symbol
- ☪ Islamic crescent and star
- ॐ Om
- ✝ Cross
the section sign wasn’t originally created as a spiritual or religious symbol.
Its established purpose is typographic: identifying sections of written material.
Someone could personally assign spiritual or symbolic meaning to almost any shape, but that would be an individual or modern interpretation, not the historical meaning of §.
This distinction is important when researching symbols. A symbol’s personal meaning isn’t necessarily the same as its historical meaning.
Does the § Symbol Have a Biblical Meaning?
There is no standard biblical meaning for the § symbol.
The Bible does not establish § as a religious symbol, and it isn’t a traditional Christian symbol.
If you encounter the character in a Bible study, theological book, or religious publication, it may simply be functioning as a typographic reference mark—for example, to point readers to a particular section.
It should not automatically be interpreted as having a hidden biblical message.
Does § Have a Cultural Meaning?
The symbol can have cultural associations, particularly with law, legislation, bureaucracy, and formal rules.
In countries where laws routinely use the section sign, people may immediately associate § with legal authority or government regulations.
In literature and popular culture, the character has occasionally been used as shorthand for bureaucracy or the machinery of law.
That is a cultural association rather than its fundamental dictionary meaning.
What Does § Mean in Different Contexts?
The same symbol can mean slightly different things depending on where you encounter it.
| Context | Meaning of § |
|---|---|
| Law | Section of a law or statute |
| Legal citation | Specific numbered legal section |
| Contract | Numbered provision or section |
| German legal text | Numbered legal provision/paragraph |
| Academic text | A referenced section |
| Book | A particular section |
| Texting | Usually still “section,” unless used decoratively |
| Typography | Section sign |
| Unicode | U+00A7 SECTION SIGN |
| Gaming | Can have a special game-specific meaning |
| Personal use | May simply be decorative |
Context matters more than the shape alone.
What Does § Mean in The Sims?
There is an interesting exception to the symbol’s usual legal meaning.
In The Sims and SimCity video game franchises, the § symbol is used to represent Simoleons, the fictional currency used in those games.
So if you’re playing The Sims and see:
§1,500
you aren’t looking at a legal reference.
You’re looking at an amount of in-game money.
This is a good example of why symbols can develop specialized meanings inside particular communities or fictional worlds.
Why Is § Associated With Law?
The relationship between § and law developed because legal and other formal texts have long needed an efficient way to identify individual divisions.
Imagine a legal code containing hundreds of numbered provisions.
Instead of repeatedly writing:
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
a compact symbol can be placed before the number:
§ 1
§ 2
§ 3
That makes references shorter and visually easy to identify.
Over centuries, this practical function helped make the symbol strongly associated with statutes, regulations, codes, and legal documents.
History of the § Symbol
The history of § goes back much further than modern computers.
Medieval scribes
The commonly accepted explanation connects the symbol with scribal abbreviations for the Latin phrase signum sectionis, meaning “sign of the section.”
Scribes often developed compact abbreviations because writing manuscripts by hand was labor-intensive.
A pair of S-shaped forms could gradually become more integrated until the character developed into something resembling today’s §.
Printing standardized the character
With the development of printing, typographers needed repeatable metal type for commonly used marks.
The section sign became established as a distinct typographic character and continued to appear in legal and scholarly publications.
Its modern form and function have been associated with written sections for centuries.
The symbol enters the digital world
The symbol eventually became part of computer character sets.
Today it has its own Unicode character:
U+00A7
The Unicode name is:
SECTION SIGN
It belongs to the Latin-1 Supplement block and is categorized as punctuation.
So the symbol has essentially traveled through three major stages:
Manuscript writing → print typography → digital Unicode character
What Is the Unicode for §?
The Unicode code point for the section sign is:
U+00A7
Important technical information includes:
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Character | § |
| Official Unicode name | SECTION SIGN |
| Unicode | U+00A7 |
| Decimal value | 167 |
| UTF-8 | C2 A7 |
| HTML entity | § |
| HTML decimal | § |
| HTML hexadecimal | § |
The Unicode standard treats § as a punctuation character rather than as an ordinary letter.
How Do You Type the § Symbol?
The easiest way to use the symbol is simply to copy it:
§
If you need it frequently, your keyboard or operating system may provide a dedicated shortcut depending on your keyboard layout.
On Windows, common character-entry methods can include using the numeric code Alt+0167 on compatible keyboard configurations. Keyboard shortcuts can vary by operating system, keyboard layout, and application.
You can also insert it through a character or symbol menu.
Copy and paste
If all you need is the character, copy this:
§
For web development, the HTML named entity is:
§
You can also use:
§
or:
§
These represent the same section sign.
How Do You Type §§?
If you need to reference several sections, simply use two section signs:
§§
For example:
§§ 20–25
generally means:
Sections 20 through 25
The doubled form is particularly common in legal writing.
What Is the Difference Between § and ¶?
This is one of the most common points of confusion.
§ and ¶ look very different, but both are connected with the organization of written text.
§ Section sign
Used primarily to identify a numbered section.
Example:
§ 12
= Section 12
¶ Pilcrow
Traditionally indicates a paragraph or paragraph division.
Example:
¶
= paragraph mark
The two characters have different histories and functions, even though terminology can vary between languages and legal traditions.
Is § a Letter or a Symbol?
§ is a symbol, specifically a punctuation character.
It is not an ordinary letter.
Although its shape may look like two S’s, modern digital text treats it as a separate character.
For example:
- S = Latin capital letter S
- s = Latin small letter S
- § = section sign
The three are completely different characters.
Is § the Same as S?
No.
The visual resemblance is meaningful historically, but § is not simply the letter S repeated twice.
In digital text, § is encoded separately as U+00A7.
That means a computer treats:
SS
and
§
as different strings of characters.
Why Do Some People Call § a Double S?
The nickname comes from the symbol’s appearance.
Look closely:
§
It resembles two S-like curves stacked or intertwined.
The visual form is often explained as having developed from two S forms associated with the Latin signum sectionis.
So “double S” is a useful descriptive nickname, but section sign is the standard name you should use when you want to be precise.
Common Examples of the § Symbol
Here are some examples showing how the character works.
Legal citation
See § 15.
Meaning:
See Section 15.
Multiple sections
See §§ 15–18.
Meaning:
See Sections 15 through 18.
Contract
The obligations described in § 6 shall remain in effect.
Meaning:
The obligations described in Section 6 shall remain in effect.
German legal reference
§ 242 BGB
This refers to a specific provision of the German Civil Code.
Gaming
§10,000
In a game such as The Sims, the symbol can represent the game’s fictional currency rather than a legal section.
Common Mistakes About the § Symbol
Mistake 1: Thinking it always means paragraph
The section sign can sometimes be called or interpreted as a paragraph mark in certain languages or contexts, but its standard English name is section sign.
Don’t automatically translate every § as “paragraph.”
Mistake 2: Assuming it is a religious symbol
There is no standard religious meaning attached to §.
Its historical purpose is primarily typographic.
Mistake 3: Assuming it means “law”
The symbol is strongly associated with law, but technically it means section, not “law.”
A legal document can contain §, but the character itself simply identifies a section.
Mistake 4: Assuming §§ means “paragraphs”
In legal citation, §§ generally indicates multiple sections.
Mistake 5: Treating § as two S letters
Although its history is often explained through two S forms, modern computers recognize § as one independent character.
Does § Mean “Law”?
Not literally.
The symbol’s primary meaning is section.
However, because it is heavily associated with statutes, legal codes, contracts, and regulations, people sometimes use it informally as a visual shorthand for law or legal matters.
This is similar to how a gavel may culturally represent law even though a gavel’s literal meaning isn’t “law.”
The distinction is:
Literal meaning: section
Common association: law and legal documents
Does § Have a Negative Meaning?
No.
The section sign doesn’t inherently represent anything negative, threatening, or offensive.
If someone uses it in a legal or bureaucratic context, it may feel formal or intimidating simply because laws and regulations can be serious.
But the symbol itself has no inherently negative meaning.
Does § Have a Psychological Meaning?
There is no established psychological meaning for the section sign.
A person may personally associate it with:
- rules
- authority
- law
- bureaucracy
- school
- paperwork
- contracts
Those associations can influence how the character feels to an individual.
But these are personal or cultural associations, not a recognized psychological interpretation of the symbol.
Is § a Symbol of Authority?
Not formally.
However, because § frequently appears in legal and regulatory writing, it can visually evoke authority, rules, legislation, and formal institutions.
This is an example of cultural association rather than the symbol’s literal definition.
A lawyer may immediately recognize § as a practical citation character, while someone unfamiliar with legal typography may simply see it as an unusual symbol.
What Does § Mean on Social Media?
On social media, there is no single universal meaning.
If someone posts:
§ 5
they may be referencing a section of a law, book, document, game, or another numbered text.
If someone uses § in a username or profile, it may simply be decorative.
Therefore, don’t assign a hidden meaning without looking at the surrounding content.
What Does § Mean in a Username?
A person may use § in a username simply because they want a distinctive-looking character.
For example:
Shadow§
or
§Knight§
In these cases, the symbol may have no connection with law whatsoever.
Its meaning is determined by the person using it.
What Does § Mean in a Dictionary or Reference Book?
In specialized reference works, § can indicate a numbered section or division.
The exact convention depends on the publication.
Older scholarly works, legal references, historical texts, and technical publications are more likely to use traditional typographic symbols than everyday modern writing.
Why Is the § Symbol Still Used Today?
Despite being centuries old, § remains useful because it solves a simple problem efficiently.
Legal and formal documents contain many numbered divisions. The symbol provides a compact visual marker that readers can recognize immediately.
Digital technology hasn’t made the symbol obsolete.
Instead, Unicode has preserved it as a standardized character, allowing modern computers, websites, phones, and documents to represent it consistently.
§ Symbol Meaning at a Glance
If you only remember one thing, remember this:
§ means “section.”
Its most important uses are:
- Legal citations
- Statutes and regulations
- Contracts
- Formal documents
- Academic and scholarly references
- Numbered sections of certain texts
- Specialized cultural or gaming uses
Its meaning changes only when a particular community gives it a specialized use.
Frequently Asked Questions About the § Symbol
What does this symbol mean §?
The symbol § means section. It is called the section sign and is commonly used to identify a numbered section of a legal document, statute, regulation, contract, or other formal text.
What is the § symbol called?
It is called the section sign or section symbol. It is also known as the section mark, silcrow, or informally as a double-S.
What does § mean in law?
In law, § means “section.” For example, § 12 means Section 12 of the relevant law, statute, regulation, or document.
What does §§ mean?
§§ usually means multiple sections. For example, §§ 10–15 means Sections 10 through 15.
What is the difference between § and ¶?
§ is the section sign and usually identifies a numbered section. ¶ is the pilcrow or paragraph mark and traditionally identifies a paragraph.
Does § mean paragraph?
Not necessarily. Its standard English name is section sign. In some languages and legal traditions, related terminology may use “paragraph,” so context is important.
What does § mean in texting?
There is no universal texting meaning for §. It generally retains its standard meaning of section, although people may use it decoratively or within specialized communities.
What does § mean spiritually?
There is no established spiritual meaning for the section sign. Its historical function is typographic rather than religious or spiritual.
Does § have a biblical meaning?
No standard biblical meaning is associated with §. If it appears in a religious book, it is likely functioning as a textual or section reference rather than as a biblical symbol.
What does § mean in Germany?
In German legal writing, § is commonly used before the number of a legal provision. For example, § 242 BGB identifies a particular provision of the German Civil Code.
What is the Unicode for §?
The Unicode code point for the section sign is U+00A7.
How do I type the § symbol?
You can copy and paste §, use your operating system’s symbol/character picker, or use a compatible keyboard shortcut. In HTML, you can use § or §.
Is § the same as the letter S?
No. Although its shape and historical development are associated with S-like forms, § is a separate character from both uppercase S and lowercase s.
Does § mean “law”?
Not literally. It means section, although its frequent use in legal texts makes it strongly associated with law.
Why does the § symbol look like two S’s?
The most widely accepted explanation is that it developed from two S forms associated with the Latin phrase signum sectionis, meaning “sign of the section.” The exact historical origin is not completely certain.
Final Answer
The § symbol means “section” and is formally called the section sign. Its most common use is in legal writing, where it identifies a specific numbered section of a law, regulation, contract, or legal code.
For example:
§ 10 = Section 10
and:
§§ 10–15 = Sections 10 through 15
The symbol has a centuries-old history and is commonly believed to have developed from two S-like forms associated with the Latin signum sectionis. Although it is strongly connected with law, it isn’t itself a symbol meaning “law,” nor does it have a universally recognized spiritual, biblical, or psychological meaning.
Today, § remains an important typographic character, identified in Unicode as U+00A7.
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Zayan is the creator and lead writer at DreamETrue, a blog dedicated to exploring the fascinating world of dreams and their meanings. With a passion for dream symbolism, spiritual insights, and easy-to-understand explanations, Zayan creates well-researched content that helps readers better understand the messages and emotions behind their dreams.
Every article published on DreamETrue is written with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and reader value. By combining information from trusted sources, cultural perspectives, and psychological interpretations, Zayan aims to make dream-related topics simple, engaging, and accessible for everyone.
Whether you’re curious about a recurring dream, searching for the meaning of a specific symbol, or simply interested in learning more about dreams, Zayan’s goal is to provide helpful, reliable, and easy-to-read content that informs and inspires.
