Gransnet forums

Pedants' corner

Σ sigma. Anyone?

(14 Posts)
Aely Wed 26-Feb-25 18:37:38

From what has been said before, I think Sigma is a subtle variation of Alpha, although I doubt the young users would agree.

Allira Sun 02-Feb-25 13:48:16

I don't think primary school children got this from Excel!

escaped Sun 02-Feb-25 13:45:04

AuntieE

Sigma is used in Excel when you want to add up a column of figures.

There is no-one called sigma in any Harry Potter book.

Thanks. I was getting carried away with all the magic symbols in HP!

MissAdventure Sun 02-Feb-25 13:26:35

Skibidi is a great word. smile

AuntieE Sun 02-Feb-25 13:17:30

Sigma is used in Excel when you want to add up a column of figures.

There is no-one called sigma in any Harry Potter book.

Allira Sat 01-Feb-25 13:17:56

Apparently, these words are popular with Generation Alpha 😁

I'm one of the Silent Generation myself although I've been called a Baby Boomer as an insult 🤐

Allira Sat 01-Feb-25 13:14:17

escaped

So, I've come across Σ in Maths, and I believe it is a letter in the Greek alphabet.
But has anyone been called it in real life? DH accompanied a school trip to the orchestra yesterday, and the boys declared he was "Sigma". I'm guessing it means something like "cool", but I've never heard it down here in the West Country before.
Anyone? Where is it from?

Another new buzz word among young people.

There was a feature on West Country news about new words, what's in and what's out. They went into a school and interviewed staff and pupils.

Slay, sigma and skibidi are apparently the new 'in' words.
Blame Tik Tok.

Do you remember Dog Latin? We used to speak Dog Latin at school, quite rapidly and it perplexed adults or those not in the know!

keepingquiet Sat 01-Feb-25 13:01:41

There was an article recently on words young people use that are not know to older people. I think it is just part of the way our wonderful English language changes and develops- my grandsons know and use some of these words and it drives me nuts but also makes me smile. My own children had their own secret language and would collapse in hysteics when I used words that had a different meaning for them!

It is Greek originally, but I was told not to interfere too much in how these words are used or their derivation.

In other words, leave the kids alone!

NotSpaghetti Sat 01-Feb-25 12:51:45

Isn't sigma about the "standard deviation" eg. from a hypothesis?

Or it's just a Greek alphabet letter "S" (?).

I know I used it in maths! grin

Just found this:
The symbol ∑ indicates summation and is used as a shorthand notation for the sum of terms that follow a pattern.

escaped Sat 01-Feb-25 12:09:53

I'll tell him that, it will make his day! Thanks. 😆
I won't mention the nonsense term bit!
Is it used in Harry Potter maybe?

escaped Sat 01-Feb-25 12:08:12

Elowen33

Daddima Sat 01-Feb-25 12:05:50

I vaguely remember a business model called Six Sigma appearing in my workplace many years ago, and various colleagues being given various new titles. It didn’t last long!

Elowen33 Sat 01-Feb-25 12:03:02

Sigma is an Internet slang term, especially among young men, referring to a man whose self-assured, dogged individualism is considered a model of status, success, and attractiveness. It can also mean “extremely good,” and is also widely used as a nonsense term and meme online

escaped Sat 01-Feb-25 12:01:36

So, I've come across Σ in Maths, and I believe it is a letter in the Greek alphabet.
But has anyone been called it in real life? DH accompanied a school trip to the orchestra yesterday, and the boys declared he was "Sigma". I'm guessing it means something like "cool", but I've never heard it down here in the West Country before.
Anyone? Where is it from?