In Washo, lower-case ⟨m⟩ represents a typical em sound, while upper-case ⟨M⟩ represents a voiceless em sound. m is the standard abbreviation for metre (or meter) in the International System of Units (SI). [4] However, m is also used as an abbreviation for mile. [5] Ruppel, Klaas; Aalto, Tero; Everson, Michael (2009-01-27). "L2/09-028: Proposal to encode additional characters for the Uralic Phonetic Alphabet" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-10-11 . Retrieved 2018-03-24.

M often represents male or masculine, especially in conjunction with F for female or feminine. [4] [5] a b c d "M definition and meaning". Collins English Dictionary. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021 . Retrieved 9 February 2021.a b c d e "What does M stand for?". The Free Dictionary. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020 . Retrieved 9 February 2021.

The letter M is derived from the Phoenician Mem, via the Greek Mu (Μ,μ). Semitic Mem is most likely derived from a " Proto-Sinaitic" ( Bronze Age) adoption of the "water" ideogram in Egyptian writing. The Egyptian sign had the acrophonic value /n/, from the Egyptian word for "water", nt; the adoption as the Semitic letter for /m/ was presumably also on acrophonic grounds, from the Semitic word for "water", *mā(y)-. [2] Use in writing systems Gordon, Arthur E. (1983). Illustrated Introduction to Latin Epigraphy. University of California Press. pp. 45. ISBN 9780520038981 . Retrieved 3 October 2015. roman numerals. The letter ⟨m⟩ represents the bilabial nasal consonant sound [ m] in the orthography of Latin as well as in that of many modern languages, and also in the International Phonetic Alphabet. In English, the Oxford English Dictionary (first edition) says that ⟨m⟩ is sometimes a vowel, in words like spasm and in the suffix -ism. In modern terminology, this is described as a syllabic consonant (IPA [m̩]). M is the fourteenth most frequently used letter in the English language. a b Perry, David J. (2006-08-01). "L2/06-269: Proposal to Add Additional Ancient Roman Characters to UCS" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-06-14 . Retrieved 2018-03-24. Figure Three: "Chart of all early proto-Canaanite letters with comparison to proto-Sinaitic signs" (p. 39),Archaic M was used in ancient Roman texts to abbreviate the personal name 'Manius' (A regular capital M was used for the more common personal name 'Marcus') [11] Everson, Michael; etal. (2002-03-20). "L2/02-141: Uralic Phonetic Alphabet characters for the UCS" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-02-19 . Retrieved 2018-03-24.