What phrase is commonly used for the yellow M that symbolizes McDonald’s?

The yellow M that symbolizes McDonald’s is commonly called the Golden Arches.

The term originally described the large yellow arches built into the design of early McDonald’s restaurants. The arches were intended to attract attention from passing motorists and make the restaurants visually distinctive.

As the chain expanded, the architectural feature evolved into a graphic symbol. The paired arches became associated with the McDonald’s name even when they were no longer reproduced as full building structures.

People sometimes call the symbol simply the “McDonald’s M,” but “Golden Arches” is the established branding term. The phrase refers both to the early architecture and to the logo that grew from it.