Bosch, Neff and Siemens oven symbols

25 symbols that Bosch, Neff and Siemens themselves document, each in our own drawing, with the Bosch, Neff and Siemens name for the mode next to ours. Tap a symbol for what it does, where makes differ and every source.

Check your manual — models differ. Two Bosch, Neff and Siemens ovens can carry different sets of symbols, and the same drawing can mean different things on different brands; only your model’s manual says exactly which elements run and how hot.

Read this first

Bosch, Neff and Siemens ovens are all made by BSH Hausgeräte, and their UK symbol guides draw most functions the same way while naming them differently: the same zigzag-over-fan is Hotair grilling on a Bosch, Hot air grilling on a Siemens and Circo-roasting on a Neff. Two Neff habits trip people up: it draws each heating element as a pair of lines (one long, one short), so a Neff bottom-heat symbol has two lines at the bottom, and two rows of zigzags mean its full grill. On Bosch and Siemens ovens one line at the top plus two at the bottom is a different mode, Intensive heat.

The 25 symbols

Top and bottom heat (conventional)

Neff calls it “Top and bottom heat”; Siemens “Top/bottom heating”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Top and bottom heat symbol”: two lines at the top and bottom; ideal for roasting and baking on a tray; the fan is not used.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Top/bottom heating” pictogram (one line top, one line bottom): traditional baking and roasting on one level.

Fan oven (hot air, true fan)

Siemens calls it “3D hotAir”; Neff “Fan oven”.

Confirmed by:

Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “3D hotAir” and “4D hotAir” pictograms (fan in a circle): cook on up to 3 or 4 shelves without flavours intermingling.
NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Fan oven symbol” (fan, often inside a circle) and “CircoTherm symbol” (large fan): bake and roast on different shelves at the same time.

Bottom heat

Neff calls it “Bottom heat”; Siemens “Bottom heating”; Bosch “Bottom heat”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Bottom heat symbol” (line at the bottom): gentle, slow cooking of casserole-type dishes, reheating or crisping.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Bottom heating” pictogram (one line at the bottom): preserving, browning and final baking stage; heat is emitted from below.
Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Bottom heat” symbol icon: only the bottom element is heated — pastry cases, bain-marie cooking and reheating.

Fan with bottom heat (pizza setting)

Neff calls it “Pizza (fan with bottom heat)”; Siemens “Pizza setting”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Pizza symbol (fan with bottom heat)”: a fan with a single line below; bottom heat with the fan crisps pizza bases and keeps pastry fillings moist.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Pizza setting” pictogram (fan in a circle over a bottom line): perfect for crisping pizza bases or tarts.

Pizza (a pizza or a slice)

Bosch calls it “Pizza setting”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Pizza setting” symbol icon (a pizza with one slice removed): crisp bases and moist toppings; also quiches, tarts and frozen foods.

Full grill

Neff calls it “Full surface grill”; Siemens “Grill, large area”; Bosch “Full width variable grill”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Full surface grill symbol”: two rows of jagged lines; for large amounts of food covering the whole grill area.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Grill, large area” pictogram (zigzag across the top): the whole area of the grill element becomes hot; steaks, sausages, bread.
Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Full width variable grill” symbol icon: grill large quantities with precise temperature control, door closed.

Centre or half grill

Neff calls it “Centre surface grill”; Siemens “Grill, small area”; Bosch “Centre Grill”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Centre surface grill symbol”: a single jagged line; for smaller amounts of food placed directly under the hot area.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Grill, small area” pictogram (short zigzag at the top centre): the centre part under the grill element becomes hot.
Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Centre Grill” symbol icon (short zigzag): for smaller quantities and more efficiency.

Fan grill (turbo grill, hot-air grilling)

Siemens calls it “Hot air grilling”; Bosch “Hotair grilling”; Neff “Circo-roasting/grill with fan”.

Confirmed by:

Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Hot air grilling” pictogram (zigzag over a fan): grill element and fan switch on and off alternately; larger meat, poultry and whole fish.
Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Hotair grilling” symbol icon: grill and fan operate alternately for a rotisserie effect; crisp meats and poultry.
NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Circo-roasting/grill with fan symbol”: a jagged line above a fan; the grill switches on and off so food does not dry out.

Intensive heat (top heat and stronger bottom heat)

Bosch calls it “Intensive heat”; Siemens “Intensive heat”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Intensive heat” symbol icon (one line top, two lines bottom): for dishes with a crispy base; heat from above and more intensively from below.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Intensive heat” pictogram (one line top, two lines bottom): for dishes with a crispy base; heat from above and more intensively from below.

Slow cook

Bosch calls it “Slow cook”; Siemens “Slow cooking”; Neff “Slow cooking”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Slow cook” symbol icon (dashed lines top and bottom): seared, tender meat in ovenware without a lid; heat from above and below at low temperatures.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Slow cooking” pictogram (dashed lines top and bottom): the same description, heat evenly from top and bottom at low temperatures.
NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Slow cooking symbol”: gentle top and bottom heating to cook casserole-style dishes tenderly for several hours.

Eco fan (hot air eco, eco convection)

Bosch calls it “Hot air eco”; Siemens “Hot air eco”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Hot air eco” symbol icon (fan in a circle over “eco”): gently cook selected foods on one level without preheating; fan distributes heat from the ring element.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Hot air eco” pictogram (fan in a circle with an “e”): for cooking selected types of food on one level without preheating.

Defrost (snowflake and drop)

Siemens calls it “Defrosting”; Neff “Defrosting”; Bosch “Defrost”.

Confirmed by:

Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Defrosting” pictogram (snowflake above a drop): meat, poultry, bread and cakes; the fan circulates warm air round the dish.
NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Defrosting symbol”: frost with a water droplet below it; a low-temperature setting to defrost frozen food quickly.
Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Defrost” settings icon (snowflake above a drop): defrost food more evenly and quicker than on the kitchen counter.

Plate warming (stacked plates)

Neff calls it “Plate warming / Preheating”; Bosch “Preheat ovenware”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Plate warming / Preheating symbol”: two or three stacked plates.
Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Preheat ovenware” settings icon (stacked dishes): for preheating ovenware.

Keep warm (heat lines)

Bosch calls it “Keep warm”; Siemens “Keeping warm”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Keep warm” settings icon (wavy lines over a dish): keep cooked food warm.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Keeping warm” pictogram (three wavy lines): for keeping your cooked food warm.

Reheat (dish with heat or steam)

Bosch calls it “Reheating”; Siemens “Reheating”; Neff “Reheating”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Reheating” settings icon (steam cloud and wavy lines over a dish): plated meals and baked items; steam stops the food drying out.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Reheating” pictogram: gently heating up food and crisping pastries; the steam ensures the food does not dry out.
NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Reheating symbol”: a dish with heat rising from it; keeps food warm without overcooking it.

Dough proving (rising bowl)

Bosch calls it “Dough proving”; Siemens “Dough proving”; Neff “Dough proofing”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Dough proving” settings icon (bowl with dough and an up arrow): yeast dough and sourdough rise considerably more quickly; the surface does not dry out.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Dough proving” pictogram (bowl with risen dough): yeast dough and sourdough, and culturing yogurt.
NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Dough proofing symbol”: a dish with dough rising from it; quicker than room temperature without drying the surface.

Steam or added steam (cloud)

Bosch calls it “Added Steam”; Siemens “addedSteam”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Added Steam” symbol icon (cloud and fan): succulent roasts with crispy skins and breads with good colour and crust.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “addedSteam” pictogram: the combination of steam and hot air turns food crispy outside and juicy inside.

Oven light (bulb)

Bosch calls it “Interior lighting”; Siemens “Oven light”; Neff “Interior lighting”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Interior lighting” settings icon (bulb with rays): switches on the interior lighting; all other functions remain off.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Oven light” pictogram (bulb with rays): switch the interior lighting on or off.
NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Interior lighting symbol”: a lightbulb; check progress without opening the door.

Fast preheat (heat lines with arrows)

Bosch calls it “Fast heat”; Siemens “Fast preheat”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Fast heat” settings icon (three wavy lines over two arrows): select fast heat to warm the oven faster.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Fast preheat” pictogram (» beside wavy lines): all heating elements run at once to reach the desired temperature very quickly.

Pyrolytic self-cleaning

Bosch calls it “Pyrolytic cleaning”; Siemens “activeClean®”; Neff “Pyrolytic self-cleaning”.

Confirmed by:

Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Pyrolytic cleaning” settings icon (three rows of circles, larger towards the top): heats to around 480 °C and reduces dirt to dust.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “activeClean®” pictogram (3×3 dots growing towards the top): heats the cavity up to 480 °C and burns away dirt; ashes wipe away.
NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Pyrolytic self-cleaning symbol”: three sets of three arrows or dots; residues turned to ash to wipe away.

Steam cleaning (water drop)

Neff calls it “EasyClean®”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “EasyClean® symbol”: a large droplet of water; softens food residues so they wipe away easily.

Child lock (key or padlock)

Neff calls it “Child lock”; Siemens “Childproof lock”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Child lock symbol”: a key; press for around 4 seconds to turn it on and off.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Childproof lock” pictogram (a key): prevents children from switching the oven on or changing a running programme.

Timer or minute minder (clock)

Neff calls it “Minute minder”; Siemens “Time-setting operations”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Minute minder symbol”: a clock; turns the oven off after a set time with an audible beep.
Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Time-setting operations” pictogram (a clock): opens the menu of time-setting options.

Alarm (bell)

Neff calls it “Alarm”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Alarm symbol”: looks like a bell; sounds an alarm when cooking is complete.

Bread baking (loaf)

Neff calls it “Bread baking”.

Confirmed by:

NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide, checked 2026-09-23: “Bread baking symbol”: on NEFF ovens this symbol shows a loaf of bread.

Not listed for Bosch, Neff and Siemens

The Bosch, Neff and Siemens sources checked here do not show these symbols from this site, so they are left off this page: Fan with top and bottom heat. That does not mean no Bosch, Neff and Siemens oven has them — only that no Bosch, Neff and Siemens manual or support page cited here confirms the drawing. If your oven shows one, see all oven symbols by shape.

Other brands

Sources

A symbol is listed here only when one of these Bosch, Neff and Siemens pages shows it. Each was fetched and checked on the date shown; the names in quotes are the brand’s wording, everything else is ours.

Neff: NEFF UK — Oven symbols explained: your complete guide Checked 2026-09-23.
Siemens: Siemens Home UK — Oven symbols guide Checked 2026-09-23.
Bosch: Bosch UK — Oven symbols guide Checked 2026-09-23.