D facts for kids

D is the fourth letter in the alphabet. It comes after C and before E. The letter D is used in many words and has a rich history. It often makes a "duh" sound, like in the words "dog" or "door."

The History of the Letter D

The letter D has a long and interesting past. It started as a simple drawing thousands of years ago.

Ancient Origins

The very first version of the letter D came from ancient Egypt. It was a hieroglyph, which is a picture used as a symbol. This symbol looked like a fish or a door.

Later, the Phoenicians, who were ancient traders, used a symbol called "daleth." This word meant "door." Their symbol looked like a triangle with a tail. It represented a sound similar to our "D."

Greek and Roman Adaptations

The Ancient Greeks borrowed the Phoenician "daleth." They changed its name to "delta." The Greek letter delta looked like a triangle. It made the same "duh" sound.

When the Ancient Romans created their alphabet, they took the Greek delta. They smoothed out its shape. This gave us the capital letter D that we use today. The small letter 'd' developed later.

How the Letter D Sounds

The letter D usually makes a specific sound. This sound is called a "voiced alveolar stop."

The "Duh" Sound

When you say "D," your tongue touches the ridge behind your upper front teeth. Then, air is stopped for a moment and released. Your vocal cords vibrate, making it a "voiced" sound. Think of words like "dog," "duck," or "dream."

Silent D

Sometimes, the letter D can be silent. This means you don't hear its sound when you say the word. For example, in the word "handkerchief," the D is usually not pronounced. Another example is "Wednesday."

D in Different Areas

The letter D is used in many different ways. It appears in music, science, and everyday life.

D in Music

In music, D is the name of a musical note. It is one of the seven main notes in the musical scale. You can find D on a piano or guitar. There are also musical keys named D major and D minor. These keys have a specific sound or mood.

D in Science and Math

The letter D is often used as a symbol in science and math.

• In biology, Vitamin D is very important. It helps your body absorb calcium. Calcium is needed for strong bones.
• In physics, D can stand for "density." Density tells you how much "stuff" is packed into a certain space.
• In mathematics, D can represent "diameter." The diameter is the distance across a circle, passing through its center.
• In Roman numerals, D stands for the number 500.

D in Everyday Life

The letter D is also used in many common abbreviations and phrases.

• It can stand for "doctor" (Dr.).
• It can mean "day" (e.g., D-Day, a famous historical event).
• In some countries, D can mean "dollar."
• In cars with automatic transmission, "D" stands for "drive." This gear makes the car move forward.
• In school, D is often a grade. It usually means you passed, but there is room for improvement.

Images for kids

• 

  The letter D, standing for "Deutschland" (German for "Germany"), on a boundary stone at the border between Austria and Germany.

See also

In Spanish: D para niños