Zirkel (Studentenverbindung)

A (German for 'circle', as in a circle of friends) is a monogram used in European student societies in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia () as a post-nominal letter.

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Look and meaning A consists of intertwined lines, followed by an exclamation mark if the society is still active. The lines mostly show the first letters of the name of the and/or the letters v, c, f or e, f, v.

Examples:

Meaning of v-c-f: ('Long live the united brothers')Peter Krause: O alte Burschenherrlichkeit - Die Studenten und ihr Brauchtum, Graz, Wien, Köln 1979, page 78, 79 or ('Long live the circle of brothers') or ('Live, grow, flourish').Paulgerhard Gladen: Gaudeamus igitur - Die studentischen Verbindungen einst und jetzt, Köln 2001, page 31

Meaning of e-f-v: ('Honour, Liberty, Fatherland').

Usage The members of the use the as sign on or other things e.g. beer glasses etc. If a member signs in affairs of its , it places the after its signature. This use is similar to the use of postnominals in English-speaking countries.

Examples:

Zirkel (Studentenverbindung)

Bron en licentie