diacritic
/ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪk/ (bre, ipa) · [dˌaɪəkrˈɪtək] /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪk/ (ame, ipa) · [dˌaɪəkrˈɪtək] /ˌdī-ə-ˈkri-tik How to pronounce diacritic (audio)/ (ame, mw)
diacritic — noun
- diacriticsingular
- diacriticsplural
1. An extra written sign attached to a letter, above it, below it, or across it, to
An extra written sign attached to a letter, above it, below it, or across it, to signal a different sound from the plain letter.
The teacher added a diacritic to show the vowel sound in Spanish.
add a diacritic to [letter]
Without the diacritic, Lena read the Czech name with the wrong sound.
In Vietnamese, one diacritic can change a word's meaning completely.
The keyboard shortcut lets Omar type a diacritic over the final e.
A small diacritic under the letter tells readers to soften the sound.
- accent mark
more common in classrooms, but often used for only some kinds of diacritics
- mark
much broader — a mark can be any small written sign, not specifically one that changes pronunciation
- modifier
technical and less common; it suggests something that alters a base form
文法句型
a diacritic on [letter]
add a diacritic to [letter]
用法筆記
Most often used in language study, typing instructions, and dictionary explanations. Common verbs are add, type, and use, and the mark is usually said to be on, over, or under a letter.