Tau Greek Letter Meaning Meaning & Symbolism

Τ τ — Tau — represents the number 300; time constants — and a rival to pi. As part of the alphabet that gave us the word 'alphabet' itself, its symbolic life now far exceeds its role in Greek spelling.

Origin & History

The Tau Greek Letter Meaning (Τ) comes from The Greek alphabet, adapted from Phoenician c. 800 BCE. In the Greek mystical and numerological tradition (isopsephy), every letter was also a number, so words could be summed into meanings — tau participated in that sacred arithmetic. Fraternities later adopted Τ τ for the values its sound and shape suggested.

Spiritual Meaning

In the Greek mystical and numerological tradition (isopsephy), every letter was also a number, so words could be summed into meanings — tau participated in that sacred arithmetic. Fraternities later adopted Τ τ for the values its sound and shape suggested.

Modern Usage

Today you meet Τ τ constantly: tau in physics and engineering; the "tau vs pi" math debate. It is also a staple of fraternity and sorority names, tattoo designs, and brand logos.