accent mark

IPA/ˈaksənt mˈɑːk/
IPA/ˈæksənt mˈɑːɹk/

accent mark — noun

1. a small written sign on a letter, usually a vowel, that shows its sound, stress,

1.名詞B2
釋義

a small written sign on a letter, usually a vowel, that shows its sound, stress, or tone.

例句

Kenji added an accent mark to the Spanish word before printing the poster.

add an accent mark to a word

The keyboard shortcut lets Sivan type an accent mark over the final e.

accent mark over the final letter

同義詞
  • diacritic

    is a broader technical term for marks added to letters

  • accent

    is shorter and less precise because it can also mean a way of speaking

文法句型

add an accent mark

an accent mark over a vowel

a missing accent mark

用法筆記

In languages such as Spanish or French, this mark can affect pronunciation and sometimes meaning. In music, the same term refers to different notation signs.

常見錯誤

❌The word needs an accent in the last letter.
✅The word needs an accent mark on the last letter.
💡use 'accent mark' when you mean the written symbol itself.

2. a sign in written music that tells a player or singer to give one note extra for

2.名詞C1
釋義

a sign in written music that tells a player or singer to give one note extra force.

例句

The conductor asked Minh to hit the accent mark harder in bar four.

play a note with extra force

Erik missed the accent mark, so the melody sounded weak instead of sharp.

同義詞
  • stress mark

    can be used more generally for a sign showing emphasis

  • accent sign

    is a straightforward alternative in music contexts

文法句型

play the accent mark

miss the accent mark

an accent mark above a note

用法筆記

This sense belongs to musical notation and focuses on how strongly a note is played or sung. Distinguish it from sense 1, which is about marks on letters.

3. a mark written after a note letter to show which octave that note belongs to.

3.名詞C2
釋義

a mark written after a note letter to show which octave that note belongs to.

例句

The old theory book uses an accent mark after c to show the higher octave.

accent mark after a note letter

Beatrix copied the accent mark beside g so the class would sing the higher octave.

同義詞
  • octave mark

    names the same idea more directly in modern explanation

文法句型

an accent mark after a note letter

copy the accent mark

the accent mark shows the octave

用法筆記

This older technical sense is used in music theory writing about letter names and octave placement, not about emphasis on a note. Distinguish it from sense 2, which concerns stress in performance.