Is there a named HTML entity for lowercase z retroflex hook?

No. Use numeric codes (ʐ or ʐ) or the CSS entity \0290. In UTF-8 pages you can type ʐ directly.

HTML Entity for Lowercase Z Retroflex Hook (ʐ)

Q: How do I display the lowercase z retroflex hook (ʐ) in HTML?

Use ʐ (hex), ʐ (decimal), or \0290 in CSS content. There is no named HTML entity for z retroflex hook. In UTF-8 you can also type ʐ directly.

Q: What is the Unicode value for the lowercase z retroflex hook?

U+0290 (LATIN SMALL LETTER Z WITH RETROFLEX HOOK) in the IPA Extensions block. Hex 0290, decimal 656. Used in IPA for the voiced retroflex fricative [ʐ].

Q: What is the difference between z retroflex hook (ʐ) and plain z?

ʐ (U+0290) is LATIN SMALL LETTER Z WITH RETROFLEX HOOK—an IPA consonant symbol for the voiced retroflex fricative. Plain z (U+007A) is the standard Latin letter. They are distinct Unicode characters.

Beginner

⏱️ 5 min read

📚 Updated: Jun 2026

🎯 1 Code Example

Unicode U+0290

HTML Entity for Lowercase Z Retroflex Hook tutorial illustration

What You'll Learn

How to display the lowercase z retroflex hook (ʐ) in HTML using hexadecimal, decimal, and CSS escape methods. This character is officially named LATIN SMALL LETTER Z WITH RETROFLEX HOOK—an IPA symbol for the voiced retroflex fricative [ʐ], as in Polish ż [ʐ] or Mandarin r [ʐ] in many transcriptions. It is U+0290 in the IPA Extensions block.

Render it with ʐ, ʐ, or CSS escape \0290. There is no named HTML entity for this character. Do not confuse ʐ (z retroflex hook) with plain z (U+007A), ȥ (z hook), or ż (z dot above).

⚡ Quick Reference — Lowercase Z Retroflex Hook Entity

Unicode U+0290

IPA Extensions

Hex Code ʐ

Hexadecimal reference

HTML Code ʐ

Decimal reference

Named Entity —

No named entity

Reference Table

Name           Value
────────────   ──────────
Unicode        U+0290
Hex code       &#x0290;
HTML code      &#656;
Named entity   (none)
CSS code       \0290
Meaning        Latin small letter z with retroflex hook
Also called    z retroflex hook
IPA            Voiced retroflex fricative [ʐ]
Related        plain z (U+007A) = Latin letter
               U+0225 = ȥ (z hook, Latin Extended-B)
Block          IPA Extensions (U+0250–U+02AF)

Complete HTML Example

A simple example showing the lowercase z retroflex hook (ʐ) using hexadecimal code, decimal HTML code, and a CSS content escape:

html

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
 <style>
  #point:after{
   content: "\0290";
  }
 </style>
</head>
<body>
<p>Symbol (hex): &#x0290;</p>
<p>Symbol (decimal): &#656;</p>
<p id="point">Symbol (CSS): </p>
</body>
</html>

Try It Yourself

🌐 Browser Support

The lowercase z retroflex hook (ʐ) is supported in modern browsers when the font includes IPA Extensions glyphs:

Chrome1+

Firefox1+

Safari1+

Edge12+

Opera4+

Android4.4+

iOS Safari1+

👀 Live Preview

See the lowercase z retroflex hook (ʐ) in phonetic and content contexts:

Large glyphʐ

IPAVoiced retroflex fricative: [ʐ] (e.g. Polish ż [ʐ], Mandarin r [ʐ] in many transcriptions)

Unicode nameLatin small letter z with retroflex hook

Latin letterPlain z (U+007A) is the everyday Latin letter, not IPA retroflex z

Not the same asplain z (U+007A) | ȥ (z hook) | ż (z dot above)

Numeric refsʐ ʐ \0290

🧠 How It Works

Hexadecimal Code

ʐ uses the Unicode hexadecimal value 0290 to display the character. The x prefix indicates hexadecimal format.

HTML markup

Decimal HTML Code

ʐ uses the decimal Unicode value 656 to display the same character. A common method for IPA Extensions characters.

HTML markup

CSS Entity

\0290 is used in CSS stylesheets, particularly in the content property of pseudo-elements like ::before and ::after.

CSS stylesheet

Same visual result

All three methods produce the glyph: ʐ. Unicode U+0290 sits in IPA Extensions. Do not confuse with plain z (U+007A), ȥ (z hook), or ż (z dot above). Use IPA-capable fonts for reliable rendering.

✅

Use Cases

The lowercase z retroflex hook (ʐ) is commonly used in:

🎤 IPA Phonetics

Represents the voiced retroflex fricative [ʐ] in International Phonetic Alphabet transcriptions.

📝 Linguistics & phonology

Phonetic transcription, dictionaries, and academic papers using IPA consonant symbols.

🇵🇱 Polish transcription

IPA value of Polish ż [ʐ] in linguistic and language-learning content (distinct from the letter ż in orthography).

🇨🇳 Mandarin & retroflex sounds

Transcribing retroflex consonants in Mandarin and other languages with retroflex articulation.

🔤 Education

Language learning apps, pronunciation guides, and phonetics courses teaching IPA consonants.

📄 Academic content

Character charts and linguistic resources requiring precise IPA representation.

⚙ Programmatic HTML

When building HTML from phonetic data, using ʐ or ʐ guarantees correct output.

💡 Best Practices

Do

Serve pages as UTF-8; you can type ʐ directly in UTF-8 source
Use numeric references (ʐ or ʐ) when escaping is required
Use \0290 in CSS content when generating the symbol via pseudo-elements
Use fonts that support IPA Extensions (U+0250–U+02AF)
Distinguish ʐ (IPA retroflex) from plain z and orthographic ż (ż)

Don’t

Substitute plain z when ʐ is required for IPA accuracy
Confuse ʐ (IPA retroflex hook) with ȥ (z hook) or ż (Polish ż letter)
Use the old incorrect CSS escape \00290—the correct value is \0290
Expect a named HTML entity—none exists for ʐ
Put CSS escape \0290 in HTML text nodes

Key Takeaways

Type ʐ directly, or use hex/decimal references

ʐ ʐ

For CSS stylesheets, use the escape in the content property

\0290

Unicode U+0290 — LATIN SMALL LETTER Z WITH RETROFLEX HOOK

IPA voiced retroflex fricative [ʐ]; not the plain Latin letter z

Previous: Lowercase Z Hook (ȥ) Next: Lowercase Z Stroke (ƶ)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do I display the lowercase z retroflex hook (ʐ) in HTML?

Use ʐ (hex), ʐ (decimal), or \0290 in CSS content. There is no named HTML entity. In UTF-8 you can also type ʐ directly.

What is the Unicode value for the lowercase z retroflex hook?

U+0290 (LATIN SMALL LETTER Z WITH RETROFLEX HOOK). IPA Extensions block. Hex 0290, decimal 656. Used in IPA for the voiced retroflex fricative [ʐ].

When should I use the z retroflex hook (ʐ) in HTML?

When writing IPA phonetic transcriptions, linguistic notation, pronunciation guides, or academic content requiring the voiced retroflex fricative symbol.

What is the difference between z retroflex hook (ʐ) and plain z?

ʐ (U+0290) is z with retroflex hook—an IPA consonant symbol for the voiced retroflex fricative [ʐ]. Plain z (U+007A) is the standard Latin letter used in everyday text. They are different characters with different Unicode values.

Is there a named HTML entity for ʐ?

No. Use ʐ or ʐ in HTML, or \0290 in CSS.

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About the author

Mari Selvan M P 🔗

Developer, cloud engineer, and technical writer

Experience 12 years building web and cloud systems
Focus Full Stack Development, AWS, and Developer Education

I write practical tutorials so students and working developers can learn by doing—from databases and APIs to deployment on AWS.

AWS Certified Developer – Associate (Credly)

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