While English speakers call “@” the “at” symbol, other nations are far more clever.

“Send : The Essential Guide to Email for Office and Home” by David Shipley and Will Schwalbe provides this entertaining list of what the ”at symbol” is called in other nations.

• Czech (Czech Republic): Závinaĉ, which means a herring wrapped around a pickle.
• Danish: Snabel-a, “elephant’s trunk,”
• Dutch: Apestaartje, “little monkey’s tail,” though sometimes apeklootje, a rude word for another part of the monkey’s anatomy.
• Hebrew: Shablul or Shablool, “snail” or Shtrudl, “strudel.”
• Hugarian: Kukac, “worm or maggot.”
• Italian: Chiocciola, “Snail.”
• Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan): Xiao Lao Shu, “little mouse,” or Lao Shu Hao, “mouse sign.”
• Russian: Sobachka, “doggie.”
• Thai: Ai tua yiukyiu, “wiggling worm.”