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Diacritical: meaning, definitions and examples

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diacritical

 

[ ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

linguistics mark

Diacritical refers to symbols or signs added to letters to alter their pronunciation or to distinguish between similar words. These marks can change the phonetic value of the letters they accompany, leading to different meanings in various languages. Diacritical marks include accents, tildes, and dots that modify the sounds of letters in written language. They are an essential aspect of phonetic notation and are used across many languages to ensure accurate pronunciation and comprehension.

Synonyms

accented, marked, modified

Examples of usage

  • The word 'naïve' uses a diaeresis as a diacritical mark.
  • In Spanish, the tilde on 'ñ' is a crucial diacritical mark.
  • Diacritical marks help foreign learners pronounce words correctly.
  • Arabic uses several diacritical signs to indicate vowel sounds.

Translations

Translations of the word "diacritical" in other languages:

🇵🇹 diacrítico

🇮🇳 डायक्रिटिकल

🇩🇪 diakritisch

🇮🇩 diakritik

🇺🇦 діакритичний

🇵🇱 diakrytyczny

🇯🇵 ダイアクリティカル

🇫🇷 diacritique

🇪🇸 diacrítico

🇹🇷 diakritik

🇰🇷 다이아크리틱

🇸🇦 علامات التشكيل

🇨🇿 diakritický

🇸🇰 diakritický

🇨🇳 变音符号的

🇸🇮 diakritičen

🇮🇸 díakritískt

🇰🇿 диакритикалық

🇬🇪 დიაკრიტიკული

🇦🇿 diakritik

🇲🇽 diacrítico

Etymology

The term 'diacritical' comes from the Greek word 'diakritikos,' which means 'able to distinguish.' This word is derived from 'diakrinein,' meaning 'to separate' or 'to distinguish.' In manuscript traditions, diacritical marks were developed to aid in the pronunciation and reading of texts, particularly in languages with rich phonetic structures. The use of these marks became more standardized with the advent of printing in the 15th century, allowing for greater consistency in texts across different languages. Over time, diacritical marks have been adapted in various writing systems, contributing to the rich diversity of human languages.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #33,218 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.