The nickname for McDonald’s yellow M-shaped symbol is the “Golden Arches.”
The arches began as architectural features of early McDonald’s restaurants and later became a standalone corporate symbol. Their curved form was combined visually to create the familiar M associated with the chain.
The phrase “Golden Arches” became widely used as a shorthand for McDonald’s itself, especially in discussions of the company’s global expansion and cultural influence. The symbol is therefore both a logo element and a reference to the restaurant brand.
A common mix-up is confusing the arches with the company’s full wordmark. The arches are the recognizable symbol, while the wordmark spells out the McDonald’s name.