Cedilla: meaning, definitions and examples

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cedilla

 

[ sษ™หˆdilษ™ ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

diacritical mark

A cedilla is a diacritical mark that appears as a hook or tail placed under a letter, usually the letter 'c'. It is used in various languages, including French and Portuguese, to indicate that the letter should be pronounced with a soft 's' sound instead of a hard 'k' sound. For example, in French, 'faรงade' includes a cedilla under the 'c', changing its pronunciation. The cedilla helps clarify pronunciation and ensures that words are pronounced correctly in languages where letter sounds may vary.

Synonyms

diacritic, mark

Examples of usage

  • The word 'faรงade' uses a cedilla.
  • In French, the cedilla under 'c' softens the sound.
  • The correct pronunciation of 'garรงon' features a cedilla.
  • A cedilla is crucial in distinguishing meaning in some words.
  • The letter 'รง' differs from 'c' due to the cedilla.

Translations

Translations of the word "cedilla" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น cedilha

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคธเฅ‡เคกเคฟเคฒเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Cedille

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ cedilla

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัะตะดะธะปัŒะบะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ cedilla

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ปใƒ‡ใ‚ฃใƒผใƒค

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท cรฉdille

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ cedilla

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท cedilla

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์„ธ๋””์•ผ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุณูŠุฏูŠู„ุง

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ cedila

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ cedilla

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ˜้Ÿณ็ฌฆๅท

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ cedilla

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ cedilla

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัะตะดะธะปัŒะบะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒชแƒ”แƒ“แƒ˜แƒšแƒ˜แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ sedilla

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ cedilla

Word origin

The term 'cedilla' is derived from the Spanish word 'cedilla', which itself comes from the Latin word 'caudilla', meaning 'little tail'. This term reflects the appearance of the mark, which resembles a small tail or hook. The cedilla has its origins in the Middle Ages when it was introduced into writing systems to modify the pronunciation of letters. It became particularly prominent in Iberian languages, especially Spanish and Portuguese, and later found its way into French and other languages. The use of the cedilla to modify the sound of 'c' is essential in helping distinguish between hard and soft sounds, particularly in cases where identical spellings could lead to confusion in pronunciation. The cedilla remains a significant element in written language, embodying the evolution of diacritical marks in different linguistic contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,671, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.