As a linguistic expert with a focus on etymology and the history of language, I can provide an explanation for why the letter "K" is often used to represent a thousand in informal contexts.

In English, the use of the letter "K" to represent a thousand is not standard and is considered informal. However, this usage has become somewhat common in certain contexts, particularly in digital communication and informal writing, where brevity is valued. The origin of this practice is not entirely clear, but there are a few theories:


1. Abbreviation of "Thousand": Some suggest that "K" comes from the Latin word "kilo," which is a prefix meaning a thousand. This prefix is used in the metric system to denote a thousand units of measure (e.g., kilometer, kilogram).


2. Symbolic Representation: Others believe it may be a symbolic representation where "K" is used as a shorthand for "kilogram," which is a unit of weight equal to a thousand grams.


3. Convenience: It could also be a matter of convenience, as "K" is easier to write than "thousand."


4. Influence from Other Languages: In some languages, such as Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish, "K" is a standard way to denote a thousand in formal contexts as well.

It's important to note that while "K" for a thousand is widely understood in informal contexts, it is not universally accepted in formal writing or in all English-speaking regions.

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To minimize confusion I would stick with K for a thousand. K comes form the Greek kilo which means a thousand. In the metric system lower case k designates kilo as in kg for kilogram, a thousand grams. Even here there is some ambiguity.read more >>