Fraktur is a
calligraphic hand of the
Latin alphabet and any of several
blackletter typefaces derived from this hand. The blackletter lines are broken up – that is, their forms contain many angles when compared to the smooth curves of the
Antiqua (common) typefaces modeled after antique
Roman square capitals and
Carolingian minuscule. From this, Fraktur is sometimes contrasted with the "Latin alphabet" in northern European texts, being sometimes called the "German alphabet", despite simply being a
typeface of the Latin alphabet. Similarly, the term "Fraktur" or "Gothic" is sometimes applied to
all of the blackletter typefaces (known in
German as
Gebrochene Schrift, "Broken Script").