C

What Does C Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

"C" means "Celsius" and "One Hundred." It is also the name of a computer programming language. In Spanish texting, C is used as an abbreviation of the word "sí."

Celsius

The Celsius scale, originally known as centigrade, is a temperature scale commonly used worldwide. Based on the freezing point (0°C) and boiling point (100°C) of water at standard atmospheric conditions, it's a metric system unit. Anders Celsius, a Swedish astronomer, introduced "C" in 1742. Today, it is used in almost all countries for most temperature measurements. The United States is a notable exception, where Fahrenheit ("F") remains the standard for non-scientific temperature reporting. To convert between the two, formulaic calculations are required.

Celsius to Fahrenheit Formula: (°C * 1.8) + 32 = °F (or * 9 / 5 + 32)
Fahrenheit to Celsius Formula: (°F - 32) / 1.8 = °C (or - 32 * 5 / 9)

Here is a converter that switches between the two:

Celsius to Fahrenheit Converter

Celsius

Fahrenheit

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Common Temperature	Celsius (°C)	Fahrenheit (°F)
Boiling Point of Water	100	212
Body Temperature	37	98.6
Room Temperature	20	68
Freezing Point of Water	0	32
Parity	-40	-40

One Hundred

In Roman numerals, the letter "C" represents the number 100. The system, originating from ancient Rome, uses combinations of letters to signify numbers. As numbers increase, different letters like I, V, X, L, C, D, and M are used. For instance, "CC" is 200, and "CM" is 900. The Roman numeral system developed over a long period of time and was influenced by various cultural and practical considerations. The origins of specific symbols and their values are not fully documented, which means there's some level of speculation involved when considering their meanings. The symbol "C" for 100 likely derives from the Latin word "centum," which means "one hundred." Although Roman numerals aren't as widely used for arithmetic today, they are prevalent in certain contexts like clock faces, book chapters, and movie sequels.

Programming Language

"C" is also a high-level, general-purpose programming language developed by Dennis Ritchie in the early 1970s at Bell Labs. Originally created for the UNIX operating system, its versatility and efficiency led to its widespread adoption. The influence of "C" is evident in numerous subsequent languages. Its syntax and structure have set foundational standards for modern programming. "C" remains central in system programming, embedded systems, and other fields requiring close-to-hardware development.

Spanish Word "Sí"

In Spanish text messaging and on social media, the letter "C" is often used as an abbreviation of the word "sí," which means "yes."

Image for C

When I write C, I mean this:

"Celsius"

Summary of Key Points for First Definition

"Celsius" is, by far, the most common meaning for C when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)