Cedilla: meaning, definitions and examples
๐
cedilla
[ sษหdilษ ]
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
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:
๐ต๐น cedilha
๐ฎ๐ณ เคธเฅเคกเคฟเคฒเคพ
๐ฉ๐ช Cedille
๐ฎ๐ฉ cedilla
๐บ๐ฆ ัะตะดะธะปัะบะฐ
๐ต๐ฑ cedilla
๐ฏ๐ต ใปใใฃใผใค
๐ซ๐ท cรฉdille
๐ช๐ธ cedilla
๐น๐ท cedilla
๐ฐ๐ท ์ธ๋์ผ
๐ธ๐ฆ ุณูุฏููุง
๐จ๐ฟ cedila
๐ธ๐ฐ cedilla
๐จ๐ณ ๅ้ณ็ฌฆๅท
๐ธ๐ฎ cedilla
๐ฎ๐ธ cedilla
๐ฐ๐ฟ ัะตะดะธะปัะบะฐ
๐ฌ๐ช แชแแแแแแ
๐ฆ๐ฟ sedilla
๐ฒ๐ฝ cedilla
Etymology
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.