Translingual

Symbol

^

1. The caret, used by writers and proof readers to indicate that something is missing
2. Separates the base and exponent in a power expression

   n^2 = n² = n × n

   2^n = 2ⁿ

3. (programming) bitwise exclusive disjunction
4. (computing) Indicates an ASCII control character in caret notation.

   ^W = end of control block

5. (regular expressions) Matches the start position within the string. Compare $, which matches the end position within the string.

   ^example$

6. (regular expressions) Used square brackets: [ ]. Matches a single character other than the characters and ranges specified between the square brackets.

   [^abc] matches any character other than "a", "b", or "c".

   [^a-z] matches any single character that is not a lowercase letter from "a" to "z"

7. (dated, computing, as part of a keyboard shortcut) control key

   Press ^F to find text in your document.

8. (Internet slang) Points to a message above in a forum, chat, etc.

Diacritical mark

^

1. The circumflex accent.
2. For the International Phonetic Alphabet, it is used over vowels and denotes a falling tone. (Mnemonic: start from the peak and move downwards in both directions.)

See also

• ‸ (caret)
• ˆ (circumflex)
• ˇ (háček)

English

Preposition

^

1. (text messaging) up (in any sense)

   its ^ in d attic luv — It's up in the attic love.

2. (text messaging) Replacing the letter sequence 'up' within a word.

Esperanto

Diacritical mark

^

1. A diacritical mark of the Latin script, called ĉapelo ‎(“hat”) in Esperanto, and found on Ĉ/ĉ, Ĝ/ĝ, Ĥ/ĥ, Ĵ/ĵ and Ŝ/ŝ.

French

Diacritical mark

^

1. A diacritical mark of the Latin script, called accent circonflexe ‎(“circumflex accent”) in French, and found on Â/â, Ê/ê, Î/î, Ô/ô and Û/û.

Japanese

Diacritical mark

^

1. A diacritical mark of the Latin script, called サーカムフレックス ‎(“circumflex”) in Japanese, and found on Â/â, Ê/ê, Î/î, Ô/ô and Û/û.

Usage notes

In a number of romanization systems of Japanese, particularly Kunrei-shiki, the circumflex indicates that a vowel is a long vowel.

Other romanization systems, particularly Hepburn, use the macron (an uppermost horizontal line: ¯) for that purpose.

Portuguese

Diacritical mark

^

1. A diacritical mark of the Latin script, called acento circunflexo ‎(“circumflex accent”) in Portuguese, and found on Â/â, Ê/ê and Ô/ô.
   1. In the letter "a", forms "â" with the stressed sound /ɐ/, as in ânion and momentâneo.
   2. In the letter "e", forms "ê" with the stressed sound /e/, as in nêutron and português.
   3. In the letter "o", forms "ô" with the stressed sound /o/, as in avô and pôr.

Vietnamese

Diacritical mark

^

1. A diacritical mark of the Latin script, called dấu mũ ‎(“hat mark”) in Vietnamese, and found on Â/â, Ầ/ầ, Ẩ/ẩ, Ẫ/ẫ, Ấ/ấ, Ậ/ậ, Ê/ê, Ề/ề, Ể/ể, Ễ/ễ, Ế/ế, Ệ/ệ, Ô/ô, Ồ/ồ, Ổ/ổ, Ỗ/ỗ, Ố/ố and Ộ/ộ.

Usage notes

In Vietnamese handwriting and signmaking, this diacritical mark often appears curved, similar to an inverted breve.