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Glite Dictionary
diaeresis

diaeresis

1 9.9
Two dots placed over a vowel to show the vowel is pronounced separately
  • noun
  • /daɪˈɛrəsɪs/
  • UK
: diéresis

Examples

  • The more I look at it, in particular the more I look at that diaeresis in the entropy of the arts during the last couple of centuries that we call early cinema, the more it looks like a kind of goosebaggy monster.

    Academic text (2004)

  • In the word 'naïve', the diaeresis shows that the two vowels are pronounced separately.

  • When typing in French, remember to use a diaeresis over the 'e' in 'Noël'.

  • The presence of a diaeresis in 'coöperate' indicates that the 'o's are pronounced independently.

Synonyms

diacritic
vsdiaeresis
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A small mark that changes the sound of a letter

is specific to marking a vowel pronounced separately rather than as a diphthong
diacritical mark
vsdiaeresis
  • Specialized
1 6.4

A small sign written on a letter to show how to say it or to change its meaning

is specific to marking a vowel pronounced separately rather than as a diphthong

Surface Forms

diaeresis singular
diaereses plural

Etymology

The word diaeresis comes from a Greek word meaning 'division', and the part dia- means 'apart' like the English word 'divide'. So the mark shows two vowels are pronounced 'separately' rather than as one sound.