the at sign is a graphic symbol represented by the @ sign, and is used on the internet to indicate the location of an electronic address, such as e-mail.
at sign is the same as until, an English preposition that indicates where something is situated, as well as the “in” and “para” prepositions in Portuguese.
It was in the context of the internet that the arroba became more used. The creator of the email, Ray Tomlinson, created an electronic addressing system with the person's name and the provider where that address is hosted.
Tomlinson chose the at sign (@) to separate the name of the owner of the email and the provider where it was located.
For example, on email [email protected], the person has their email address hosted on provider X. Translating the AT, it reads: E-mail User NO providerX.
Currently, the arroba is used in different contexts of information technology and the internet. On social networks, forums and other platforms, the symbol is used to tag specific people in message exchanges and comments, for example.
Origin of the at sign (@)
The symbol of the arroba would have appeared during the Middle Ages, as a variation of the ad in Latin, which represents the prepositions "to" and "in". The circle around the “a” would be the “d”, in a graphic junction that was common at the time, to save ink and paper in writing.
It was in 1972 that the at sign was linked to an electronic address for the first time. The symbol was available on the typewriter keyboard, and was reused, taking the place between the username and the provider.
Arroba do Boi
The arrobas also signal a unit of measurement used in Brazil to signal the weight of an ox.
One at sign, in Brazil and Portugal, is equivalent to 15 kg. In Spain it is used to measure liters, the arroba being different for liquids such as wine or oil.
The measure in arrobas has been gradually stopped being used since the International System of Units was assumed, but it is still traded in the agribusiness market.
See also: O meaning of underline.
