Diacritic

usgb/ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪk/
noun

A mark, such as an accent, added to a letter to change its sound or to indicate stress.

The letter 'è' in the French word 'frère' has a diacritic mark to indicate a change in pronunciation.
Visual representation of "diacritic" - A mark, such as an accent, added to a letter to change its sound or to indicate stress.

Often appears as...

  • diacritic mark
  • diacritic symbol

Usage tips

Academic

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "diacritic"
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Pronunciation Clues

A diacritic mark can guide you to pronounce a word correctly in different languages.

Illustration for Pronunciation Clues
The diacritic in 'café' shows it is pronounced 'ka-FAY'.
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Stress Importance

Using diacritics can change which syllable is stressed, altering the word's meaning.

Illustration for Stress Importance
In Spanish, 'papá' means 'father', while 'papa' means 'potato'.
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Language Variance

Different languages use diacritics uniquely. Pay attention to each language's rules.

Illustration for Language Variance
German 'ü' and French 'û' have different diacritic uses.
Visual representation of the word "Diacritic"

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