Circumflexed: meaning, definitions and examples
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circumflexed
[ ˈsɜːrkəmflɛkst ]
linguistic use
Circumflexed refers to a phonetic feature that involves a specific pronunciation of a vowel, often indicated by a diacritical mark called a circumflex. This mark, which looks like a small 'v' placed over the letter, signifies a particular quality of pronunciation, such as an elongation or a change in tone. In some languages, such as French or Portuguese, circumflexed vowels can change meaning or indicate a historical spelling. In general English usage, the term may also relate to any curved shape resembling a circumflex mark.
Synonyms
accented, diacritical, marked.
Examples of usage
- The word 'hôtel' is circumflexed in French.
- In Portuguese, the circumflexed 'ê' adds a specific pronunciation.
- Linguists study circumflexed vowels to understand phonetic changes.
Translations
Translations of the word "circumflexed" in other languages:
🇵🇹 circunflexo
🇮🇳 वक्रित
🇩🇪 Zirkumflex
🇮🇩 sirkumfleks
🇺🇦 циркумфлекс
🇵🇱 krótkie
🇯🇵 サーカムフレックス
🇫🇷 circonflexe
🇪🇸 circunflejo
🇹🇷 sirkumfleks
🇰🇷 서큘프렉스
🇸🇦 المدور
🇨🇿 circumflex
🇸🇰 circumflex
🇨🇳 抑扬符
🇸🇮 circumflex
🇮🇸 sirkumflex
🇰🇿 циркумфлекс
🇬🇪 ცირკუმფლექსი
🇦🇿 çevrili
🇲🇽 circunflejo
Etymology
The term 'circumflex' originates from the Latin 'circumflexus', which means 'bent around'. The word is a combination of 'circum', meaning 'around', and 'flectere', meaning 'to bend'. It was originally used in the context of writing systems and described a written mark placed over vowels in various languages to denote specific phonetic characteristics. Over time, the use of the term extended into linguistic discussions, where it signifies features like intonation and vowel length. The circumflex itself has been used in various alphabets historically, influencing language and pronunciation across cultures.