Subscript Minus
U+208BSuperscripts and Subscripts
Copy and paste ₋. The Subscript Minus character has Unicode code point U+208B and decimal HTML code ₋.
Symbol codes
- Unicode
U+208B- HTML Code
₋- CSS Code
\208B- HEX Code
₋
Technical properties
Unicode 18.0.0
- Code point
- U+208B
- Decimal
- 8331
- Unicode name
- SUBSCRIPT MINUS
- Block
- Superscripts and Subscripts · U+2070–U+209F
- General category
- Math Symbol (Sm)
- Script
- Common
- Introduced
- Unicode 1.1
- JavaScript
- "\u208B"
Appears in
About Subscript Minus
₋ is encoded in Unicode as code point U+208B (decimal 8331). Its official Unicode name is SUBSCRIPT MINUS.
It belongs to the Superscripts and Subscripts block (U+2070–U+209F), its General Category is Math Symbol (Sm), and it was added in Unicode 1.1, released in 1993. Its script value is Common: it is shared across writing systems rather than belonging to one.
Sources: Unicode Character Database 18.0.0.
How to type or insert Subscript Minus
- Any device
- Select Copy symbol, then paste with Ctrl+V, or ⌘+V on a Mac.
- Microsoft Word
- Type
208B, then press Alt+X. - macOS Character Viewer
- Press Control+⌘+Space and search for “subscript minus”.
- Linux (GTK and IBus)
- Press Ctrl+Shift+U, type
208b, then press Space. - HTML
₋. In a UTF-8 page you can also paste the character itself.- CSS
content: "\208B";in a::beforeor::afterrule.- JavaScript
"\u208B"
Common questions about Subscript Minus
What is the Subscript Minus symbol?
₋ (Subscript Minus) is a math symbol in Unicode’s Superscripts and Subscripts block. Its code point is U+208B, and it has been part of the standard since Unicode 1.1 (1993).
How do I copy and paste the Subscript Minus symbol?
Select Copy symbol at the top of this page, then paste with Ctrl+V on Windows and Linux or ⌘+V on a Mac. On a phone, tap Copy symbol, then touch and hold where you want it and choose Paste. ₋ pastes as ordinary text, so it works in documents, messages, and code.
How do I type the Subscript Minus symbol on Windows?
In Microsoft Word, type 208B and press Alt+X to turn the code into ₋. In any app, open Character Map from the Start menu, search for “subscript minus”, then select and copy the character.
How do I type the Subscript Minus symbol on a Mac?
Press Control+⌘+Space to open the Character Viewer, search for “subscript minus”, and double-click the result to insert it.
How do I type the Subscript Minus symbol on an iPhone or Android phone?
The simplest way is to copy it from this page and paste it where you need it. If you use it often, save it as a text shortcut: on iPhone, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement; with Gboard on Android, go to Gboard settings > Dictionary > Personal dictionary.
Can I use the Subscript Minus symbol in Word, Google Docs, and social media?
Yes. ₋ is a standard Unicode character, so you can paste it into Microsoft Word, Google Docs, emails, and posts or bios on Instagram, X, Facebook, and TikTok. In Google Docs you can also choose Insert > Special characters and search for “subscript minus”. In Word, choose Insert > Symbol > More Symbols, set from to Unicode (hex), and enter 208B as the character code.
Is the Subscript Minus symbol an emoji?
No. ₋ is a text symbol, not an emoji. It takes the color and size of the surrounding text, and its exact shape depends on the font.
Why does the Subscript Minus symbol show as a box or question mark?
An empty box or a question mark means the font on that device has no glyph for ₋. The character is still there: it appears correctly wherever a font covers Unicode’s Superscripts and Subscripts block, and free font families such as Google Noto cover nearly all of Unicode.
What are the HTML and CSS codes for the Subscript Minus symbol?
In HTML, write ₋ (decimal) or ₋ (hexadecimal). In CSS, use content: "\208B"; in a ::before or ::after rule, and in JavaScript "\u208B". See all HTML codes.