Diaeresis

Pronunciation: /daɪˈɛrəsɪs/

Definitions of diaeresis

noun a sign (¨) placed over a vowel, indicating that it is sounded separately from the preceding vowel

Example Sentences

A1 I learned about the diaeresis in my beginner English class.

A2 The diaeresis is used in some languages to indicate that two adjacent vowels are pronounced separately.

B1 The use of a diaeresis can change the pronunciation of a word in English.

B2 In French, the diaeresis is commonly used over the letter 'e' to indicate that it should be pronounced separately.

C1 Understanding the rules of when to use a diaeresis can be challenging for language learners.

C2 The diaeresis is a diacritic mark that is used in various languages to indicate a break between two vowels.

Examples of diaeresis in a Sentence

formal The diaeresis is a diacritical mark placed over a vowel to indicate that it is pronounced separately.

informal The diaeresis in the word 'naïve' tells us to pronounce the two vowels separately.

slang I always forget to include the diaeresis when typing words like 'coöperate'.

figurative The diaeresis in her name symbolizes the uniqueness of her identity.

Grammatical Forms of diaeresis

• plural: diaereses
• comparative: more diaeretic
• superlative: most diaeretic
• present tense: diaereses
• future tense: will diaerese
• perfect tense: have diaeresed
• continuous tense: is diaeresing
• singular: diaeresis
• positive degree: diaeretic
• infinitive: to diaerese
• gerund: diaeresing
• participle: diaeresed

Origin and Evolution of diaeresis

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'diaeresis' originated from the Greek word 'diairesis', meaning division or separation.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in Greek grammar to indicate the separation of two adjacent vowels into separate syllables, the term 'diaeresis' evolved to also refer to the two dots placed over a vowel to indicate that it is pronounced separately from the preceding vowel.