Delta Symbol Δ Copy and Paste

Tap Δ to copy the triangle that means "change in": Δt, ΔV, ΔH. It is the Greek capital delta, and the table explains how to type it on each platform and why the Mac shortcut produces a lookalike instead.

Δ

GREEK CAPITAL LETTER DELTA

U+0394 · tap the symbol to copy

How to Type the Delta Symbol

UnicodeU+0394 GREEK CAPITAL LETTER DELTA
HTMLΔ or Δ
WindowsWin + . (emoji panel) → Symbols, or type 0394 then Alt + X in Word
MacOption + J types ∆ (INCREMENT, U+2206), a lookalike; for the Greek letter add the Greek keyboard and press Shift + D
iPhoneAdd the Greek keyboard (Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards) and press Shift + D; or set up a Text Replacement
AndroidGboard: the =\< symbols page has ∆ (the maths Increment sign); for Greek Δ add a Greek layout and press Shift + D
LaTeX\Delta (\varDelta for italic with amsmath; \delta for δ; \nabla for ∇)

Delta Symbol Variants and Lookalikes

Using the Delta Symbol

Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, and the capital form is a clean equilateral triangle. In science and engineering it is the universal shorthand for a difference or a change: Δt is elapsed time, ΔT a temperature rise, ΔH the enthalpy change of a reaction, Δv the velocity budget of a rocket. ### Capital and lower-case

The two cases have separate jobs. Δ is a finite difference between two states, while δ marks a small or infinitesimal variation, as in the δ of the calculus of variations, the Kronecker delta δᵢⱼ and the Dirac delta function. In finance, δ (or Δ, usage varies) is the sensitivity of an option's price to the underlying asset. The inverted triangle ∇, nabla, is a third character again, the vector differential operator behind gradient and divergence. ### Δ versus ∆

Unicode has both the Greek letter Δ (U+0394) and a maths operator called INCREMENT, ∆ (U+2206). They are drawn the same way in nearly every font, but they are different characters, and the Mac shortcut Option + J and Gboard's symbols page both give you the operator. Unicode's guidance favours the Greek letter for general use, including in formulas, and that is what &Delta; in HTML, \Delta in LaTeX and every Greek keyboard produce. ### Spacing and layout

Δ attaches directly to the quantity it modifies with no space: ΔP, not Δ P. Treat the pair as a single symbol in equations and put spaces only around operators: ΔP = P₂ − P₁. The letter is upright in most publishing styles even when the variable after it is italic, which is a useful visual cue that it is an operator rather than a variable named delta.

Typing it

Windows has no Latin-1 Alt code, so use the Win + . panel or type 0394 then Alt + X in Word. Mac users who need the real Greek letter should add the Greek input source and press Shift + D, since Option + J gives the increment sign. Phones follow the same pattern: a Greek keyboard on iPhone or Android puts Δ on Shift + D. As a letter rather than a maths operator it is present in nearly every font, from game chat to WhatsApp.

Δ in culture

Outside the lab the triangle means transformation. Airline logos, river deltas, change-management slides and fitness accounts ("Δ 12 kg") all borrow it, and Delta is a common name for a fourth item in a series, from NATO's phonetic alphabet to virus variants. In bios it signals "always changing" and pairs with the arrow symbols collection for a before-and-after look. Its shape is also the classic Greek-life letter, so it appears in sorority and fraternity handles with the sigma symbol and the lambda symbol. For a triangle used purely as decoration rather than as a letter, the aesthetic symbols page has △ ▲ ▵ and their downward twins.

Delta Symbol FAQ

How do I type the delta symbol on Windows?

There is no reliable 4-digit Alt code for the Greek capital. In Word, type 0394 and press Alt + X. Elsewhere, press Win + . and search "delta" in the Symbols tab, or copy the character from this page.

Why does Option + J on my Mac give a different delta?

Option + J inserts ∆, the INCREMENT operator (U+2206), not the Greek letter Δ (U+0394). They look alike but are distinct characters. To type the letter, add the Greek keyboard in System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources and press Shift + D.

What does Δ mean in maths and physics?

It stands for a finite change or difference: Δx = x₂ − x₁. In chemistry ΔH, ΔS and ΔG are the changes in enthalpy, entropy and free energy. Δ can also denote the Laplacian operator and, in geometry, a triangle or the discriminant of a quadratic.

Is there a space between Δ and the variable?

No. Write Δt, ΔV or ΔH as one unit. Spaces go only around the operators of the surrounding equation, so ΔT = T₂ − T₁ is correct.

What is the difference between Δ, δ and ∇?

Δ is a finite difference; δ is an infinitesimal or small variation, and also the Kronecker and Dirac deltas; ∇ (nabla) is the vector differential operator used for gradient, divergence and curl. All three are separate Unicode characters.

How do I type Δ on an iPhone or Android?

Add the Greek keyboard in your keyboard settings, switch to it with the globe key and press Shift + D. Gboard also offers ∆ (the increment sign) on its second symbols page, which looks the same but is a different code point.