What are the two golden arches in the McDonald’s logo shaped like?

The two golden arches in the McDonald’s logo are shaped like the letter M.

The arches began as architectural features rather than as a logo. Architect Stanley Meston designed two large yellow arches for a McDonald’s restaurant in San Bernardino, California, in 1952. The arches were intended to make the restaurant visible from the road and give the building a distinctive silhouette.

When McDonald’s expanded, the arches became a recognizable brand symbol. In 1962, designer Jim Schindler combined the two arches into the familiar golden M used in corporate identification. The symbol is often called the Golden Arches, although the modern mark is a stylized letter rather than two separate building parts.

A common mix-up is assuming the arches were created as a logo first. Their original purpose was architectural signage; their later use as a corporate emblem helped make McDonald’s one of the world’s most recognizable brands.