Part of Speech

Noun

Pronunciation

/ˈdaɪəˌrɛsɪs/

Definitions

• Dieresis (noun): A diacritical mark (¨) placed over a vowel, especially in languages like Spanish, to indicate that the vowel should be pronounced separately from the adjacent vowel.
• Example: In the word "naïve," the dieresis over the "i" indicates that it should be pronounced as two distinct vowels: "nai-eve."

Usage Examples

• "In the word 'coöperation,' the dieresis over the 'o' signifies that the two vowels are pronounced separately."
• "Some languages, such as Spanish, use the dieresis to indicate that the 'u' in 'güero' is pronounced, rather than silent."

Etymology

The term "dieresis" comes from the Greek word "diērēsis," meaning "a separation." It was originally used in Ancient Greek to indicate that two adjacent vowels should be pronounced separately, and the same principle was adopted in modern languages.

Synonyms

• Umlaut (in German)
• Diaeresis (alternate spelling)
• Diaeresis mark

Antonyms

• Ligature
• Elision
• Synalepha

Translations

Regional Pronunciation Variations

• In languages like Spanish and French, the dieresis is placed over vowels such as "u" and "i" to indicate separation in pronunciation. In English, however, it is used mostly for stylistic or historical reasons in certain words.

Historical Usage

Historically, the dieresis was used in ancient Greek and later in languages like Latin and Spanish to separate vowel sounds. In modern English, its usage has been largely restricted to specific words borrowed from French, such as "naïve" and "coöperation."

Cultural Nuances

The dieresis is often seen as a mark of refinement or an archaic feature in English, but it continues to play a functional role in languages like Spanish. In some European languages, it serves to avoid ambiguity in pronunciation, particularly in cases where two vowels together might form a diphthong or be pronounced as a single sound.

More Information

The dieresis is a diacritical mark that is used to separate two adjacent vowels that would normally form a diphthong. In some languages like German, it is called an "umlaut" and changes the sound of the vowel it is placed over. In English, the dieresis is primarily used in borrowed words and is considered a somewhat antiquated feature of the language.