k

k (Latin Small Letter K, U+006B) The Latin Small Letter K is a fundamental character in the Latin alphabet, primarily representing the voiceless velar plosive sound /k/ in countless languages, including English (e.g., "kite," "book"). Visually, it features a vertical stroke from which two diagonal strokes extend rightward, one upwards and one downwards, creating its distinctive shape. Originating from the Greek letter Kappa, its usage in Latin and early English was somewhat less frequent than 'c' for the same sound, often appearing in words of Germanic or Norse origin. An interesting historical remnant is its silence when preceding 'n' at the beginning of some English words, such as "knight" or "knowledge," a nod to older pronunciations. It forms a pair with its uppercase counterpart, K (U+004B), and is part of common digraphs like 'ck'.