HTML Entity for Lowercase Z Curl (ʑ)
What You'll Learn
How to display the lowercase z curl (ʑ) in HTML using hexadecimal, decimal, and CSS escape methods. This character is officially named LATIN SMALL LETTER Z WITH CURL—an IPA symbol for the voiced alveolo-palatal fricative [ʑ], related to sounds in languages such as Polish, Mandarin, and Japanese in phonetic transcription. It is U+0291 in the IPA Extensions block.
Render it with ʑ, ʑ, or CSS escape \0291. There is no named HTML entity for this character. Do not confuse ʑ (z curl) with plain z (U+007A), ž (z caron), or ż (z with dot above).
⚡ Quick Reference — Lowercase Z Curl Entity
U+0291IPA Extensions
ʑHexadecimal reference
ʑDecimal reference
—No named entity
Name Value
──────────── ──────────
Unicode U+0291
Hex code ʑ
HTML code ʑ
Named entity (none)
CSS code \0291
Meaning Latin small letter z with curl
Also called z curl
IPA Voiced alveolo-palatal fricative [ʑ]
Related U+017E = ž (z caron, Slavic letter)
plain z (U+007A) = Latin letter
Block IPA Extensions (U+0250–U+02AF)Complete HTML Example
A simple example showing the lowercase z curl (ʑ) using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, and a CSS content escape:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<style>
#point:after{
content: "\0291";
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Symbol (hex): ʑ</p>
<p>Symbol (decimal): ʑ</p>
<p id="point">Symbol (CSS): </p>
</body>
</html>🌐 Browser Support
The lowercase z curl (ʑ) is supported in modern browsers when the font includes IPA Extensions glyphs:
👀 Live Preview
See the lowercase z curl (ʑ) in phonetic and content contexts:
🧠 How It Works
Hexadecimal Code
ʑ uses the Unicode hexadecimal value 0291 to display the character. The x prefix indicates hexadecimal format.
Decimal HTML Code
ʑ uses the decimal Unicode value 657 to display the same character. A common method for IPA Extensions characters.
CSS Entity
\0291 is used in CSS stylesheets, particularly in the content property of pseudo-elements like ::before and ::after.
Same visual result
All three methods produce the glyph: ʑ. Unicode U+0291 sits in IPA Extensions. Do not confuse with plain z (U+007A), ž (z caron), or ż (z with dot above). Use IPA-capable fonts for reliable rendering.
Use Cases
The lowercase z curl (ʑ) is commonly used in:
Represents the voiced alveolo-palatal fricative [ʑ] in International Phonetic Alphabet transcriptions.
Phonetic transcription, dictionaries, and academic papers using IPA consonant symbols.
Language learning apps, pronunciation guides, and phonetics courses teaching IPA consonants.
Transcribing alveolo-palatal sounds in Polish, Mandarin, Japanese, and related languages in linguistic content.
Character charts and linguistic resources requiring precise IPA representation.
Font specimens and design references showcasing IPA Extensions characters.
When building HTML from phonetic data, using ʑ or ʑ guarantees correct output.
💡 Best Practices
Do
- Serve pages as UTF-8; you can type ʑ directly in UTF-8 source
- Use numeric references (
ʑorʑ) when escaping is required - Use
\0291in CSScontentwhen generating the symbol via pseudo-elements - Use fonts that support IPA Extensions (U+0250–U+02AF)
- Distinguish ʑ (z curl) from plain
zand Slavic z letters
Don’t
- Substitute plain
zor ž (z caron) when ʑ is required for IPA accuracy - Confuse ʑ (IPA z curl) with ż (z with dot above) or ź (z acute)
- Use the old incorrect CSS escape
\00291—the correct value is\0291 - Expect a named HTML entity—none exists for ʑ
- Put CSS escape
\0291in HTML text nodes
Key Takeaways
Type ʑ directly, or use hex/decimal references
ʑ ʑFor CSS stylesheets, use the escape in the content property
\0291Unicode U+0291 — LATIN SMALL LETTER Z WITH CURL
IPA voiced alveolo-palatal fricative [ʑ]; not the plain Latin letter z
Previous: Lowercase Z Caron (ž) Next: Lowercase Z Dot Above (ż)
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
ʑ (hex), ʑ (decimal), or \0291 in CSS content. There is no named HTML entity. In UTF-8 you can also type ʑ directly.U+0291 (LATIN SMALL LETTER Z WITH CURL). IPA Extensions block. Hex 0291, decimal 657. Used in IPA for the voiced alveolo-palatal fricative [ʑ].z (U+007A) is the standard Latin letter used in everyday text. They are different characters with different Unicode values.ʑ or ʑ in HTML, or \0291 in CSS.Explore More HTML Entities!
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