The belly is the rounded, swelling part of a letter, often attached to its stem, that gives it its volume. The term is close to “bowl”, which places more emphasis on the curved stroke enclosing the counter.
Where to see it
The belly is visible on lowercase letters such as “a”, “b”, “d”, “p” or “q”, as well as on the capitals “B”, “P” and “R”. On each of them, a rounded part extends from the vertical stroke and forms the letter’s “belly”.
Why this detail matters
The shape and proportions of the belly directly shape the balance and personality of a typeface:
- A full, rounded belly conveys softness and generosity; a narrower or more angular one gives a tauter, more technical look;
- On the capitals “B”, “P” and “R”, the size and position of the bellies determine the balance of the letter, the lower belly of the “B” usually being slightly wider than the upper one;
- The connection between the belly and the stem, at the joint, affects the refinement of the drawing and the evenness of the text’s color.
Related term
The bowl is the curved stroke that encloses the counter of a letter, as on “b”, “d” or “o”, and often refers to the same part as the belly.
Anatomy glossary
Ascender, Descender, Sidebearing, Joint, Axis, Bar, Beak, Bowl, Loop, Set width, Counter, Serif, Stem, Leg, Minim, Baseline, Eye, Belly, Foot, Point, Tail, Cross stroke, Terminal; X-height, X-height, Cap height, Body; Mean line, Ear, Spur, Ball terminal, Ligature, Apex, Vertex, Arm, Shoulder, Spine, Em dash, Thick stroke, Hairline, Bracket, Bounding box