K facts for kids

The letter K in a cursive style.

The letter K is an important part of the English alphabet. It is the eleventh letter we use. You can find it in many words, like "kite," "king," and "kangaroo."

K is also known as kappa in the Greek alphabet. There, it is the tenth letter. Both K and kappa have a long history in writing and communication.

What Does K Mean?

The letter K has many different meanings depending on where you see it. It is used in science, games, and even everyday items.

K in Science

The letter K is often used in science to represent important things.

Measuring Temperature with Kelvin

In science, K is the symbol for kelvin. The kelvin is a special way to measure temperature. It is part of the SI unit system, which scientists use worldwide. Unlike Celsius or Fahrenheit, the kelvin scale starts at absolute zero. This is the coldest possible temperature.

Potassium in Chemistry

In chemistry, K is the symbol for the element potassium. Potassium is a soft, silvery-white metal. It is very important for living things, including humans. Our bodies need potassium to work properly. The symbol K comes from its German name, kalium.

K in Games and Cards

You might also see the letter K when you are playing games.

The King in Chess

In the game of chess, K is a special symbol. It stands for the king piece. The king is the most important piece in chess. If your king is captured, you lose the game.

The King in Playing Cards

When you play with a deck of playing cards, you will see the letter K on some cards. This K marks the king card. Each suit (hearts, diamonds, clubs, spades) has one king.

See also

In Spanish: K para niños