Copy, type, and use

Male Symbol (♂)

The male symbol is ♂. The male symbol is used to represent male sex or gender in many scientific, demographic, and informational contexts. It is also associated with the planet Mars.

Character
Unicode
U+2642
HTML

Male Symbol Copy and Paste

Select Copy to place the male symbol ♂ on your clipboard. Move the cursor to the destination and use Ctrl+V on Windows, Command+V on Mac, or the Paste command on mobile.

Copy the male symbol One click copies the exact Unicode character.
  1. 1
    Copy

    Press the button to copy ♂.

  2. 2
    Place the cursor

    Open the message, document, form, or profile where you need it.

  3. 3
    Paste

    Use Ctrl+V, Command+V, or the mobile Paste command.

Biology and geneticsDemographic labelsGender notationAstronomical notation for Mars

What Is the Male Symbol?

The male symbol is used to represent male sex or gender in many scientific, demographic, and informational contexts. It is also associated with the planet Mars.

Biology and genetics

Demographic labels

Gender notation

Astronomical notation for Mars

How to Type the Male Symbol

Choose your device or app to insert the male symbol without copying it from another page.

Male Symbol on Windows

In Microsoft Word, type 2642 and press Alt + X. In other Windows apps, use Character Map, the Symbols panel, or the copy button on this page.

Male Symbol on Mac

Open Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, then search for “male sign.”

Male Symbol on iPhone and iPad

Use the copy button on this page, then paste the male symbol into the target app. For repeated use, save it as a keyboard text-replacement shortcut.

Male Symbol on Android

Use the copy button on this page, then paste the male symbol into the target app. For repeated use, save it as a keyboard text-replacement shortcut.

Male Symbol on Chromebook

Use the Copy button to copy ♂, then press Ctrl+V to paste it. You can also open the Chromebook emoji and symbols picker when it is available in the current app.

Male Symbol on Microsoft Word

In Microsoft Word, type 2642 and press Alt+X to convert the code to ♂. You can also use Insert > Symbol.

Male Symbol on Google Docs

Use the Copy button and paste ♂ into Google Docs, or choose Insert > Special characters and search by the symbol name.

Male Symbol Unicode and HTML Codes

Use these values when you need the male symbol in HTML, CSS, source code, or a character reference.

Unicode U+2642
Unicode name MALE SIGN
HTML entity
HTML decimal
HTML hex
CSS escape 2642

How to Use and Format the Male Symbol

The male sign ♂ is Unicode U+2642 and is historically associated with the planet Mars as well as male sex notation in scientific and informational contexts. Use it only when the surrounding subject clearly establishes the intended meaning.

In tables, legends, forms, or diagrams, include a visible word or accessible label such as “male” or “Mars” where the symbol alone may be ambiguous. Do not use color as the only way to distinguish it from other category symbols.

  • Use ♂ as the exact Unicode male sign rather than a drawing or substituted glyph.

  • Define ♂ in a legend when it appears in scientific, demographic, or tabular material.

  • Use the word Mars when the symbol is serving an astronomical or planetary meaning.

  • Add a text label or accessible name when ♂ is used in an interface or control.

  • Do not rely only on color to differentiate ♂ from ♀ or other category markers.

  • Do not assume the symbol alone communicates every aspect of gender identity or context.

Male Symbol Examples

  • Legend: ♂ = male.
  • Specimen B ♂
  • Participant 18 ♂
  • Male parent: ♂
  • Plant 7 ♂
  • Mars: ♂
  • ♂ and ♀
  • Category: ♂
  • Record label: ♂
  • Biology key: ♂ male

Common Male Symbol Mistakes

  • Do not confuse ♂ (U+2642 MALE SIGN) with ♀ (U+2640 FEMALE SIGN).
  • Do not assume ♂ has only one context; Unicode also identifies it with Mars.
  • Do not use ♂ as the only accessible label; include the word male or another clear label where needed.
  • Do not assume ♂ represents every aspect of gender identity in every context.
  • Do not confuse the text symbol ♂ with an emoji-styled presentation of the same code point.
  • Do not omit a legend in scientific or tabular material when the audience may not know the symbol.
  • Do not confuse ♂ with combined gender symbols.
  • Do not rely on color alone to distinguish ♂ from other category symbols.

More About the Male Symbol

The male symbol ♂ is a Unicode text character, not an image. The male symbol is used to represent male sex or gender in many scientific, demographic, and informational contexts. It is also associated with the planet Mars. Because it remains selectable text, it can be copied into documents, messages, spreadsheets, source code, usernames, captions, and other fields that support Unicode. Its appearance can change with the active font or operating system, while the stored character remains U+2642 (MALE SIGN).

Supporting searches such as “male sign symbol”, “male gender symbol”, and “what is the male symbol” usually describe the same core task from different angles: identifying the correct character, copying it, or learning how to enter it with a keyboard. This page keeps those intents together so you do not need separate pages for small wording differences. Use the copy control for the fastest method, then check the platform rows when you need a repeatable shortcut on a specific device or app.

Queries such as “symbol for male” and “man symbol” are covered by the keyboard, application, and character-code sections. The Windows and Mac instructions explain practical input methods, while the Microsoft Word and Google Docs rows cover document editing. Unicode, HTML, hexadecimal, and CSS values are listed separately so developers can insert the exact character without confusing it with a similar-looking mark.

Choose ♂ when its documented meaning matches the surrounding text, and compare the related-symbol links below when another character may be more precise. Spacing and visual style can vary by context, so follow the style guide of the document or platform. For example: ♂ may label a male specimen.

Male Symbol FAQ

What is the male symbol?

The male symbol is ♂. The male symbol is used to represent male sex or gender in many scientific, demographic, and informational contexts. It is also associated with the planet Mars.

How do I copy and paste ♂?

Select the copy button next to ♂, then paste it with Ctrl+V on Windows, Command+V on Mac, or the Paste command on mobile.

What is the Unicode for ♂?

The Unicode code point is U+2642 and its Unicode name is MALE SIGN.

How do I type ♂ on a keyboard?

In Microsoft Word, type 2642 and press Alt + X. In other Windows apps, use Character Map, the Symbols panel, or the copy button on this page. On Mac, Open Character Viewer with Control + Command + Space, then search for “male sign.”