Definition

Relating to marks added to letters to change their pronunciation or meaning.

Example

The word 'café' uses a diacritic to indicate the correct pronunciation of the letter 'e'.

Conversation

Have you seen that new font with the diacritic marks?

Yeah, I think it adds a nice touch to the design.

I agree! It makes the text look more interesting and unique.

Exactly, I love how it stands out without being too flashy.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A symbol added to a letter to change its pronunciation or to help differentiate between words that look the same.

Example

In French, the word "café" uses a diacritic to show the correct pronunciation of the letter 'e'.

Conversation

Did you know that some languages use a diacritic to change the meaning of words?

Yeah, I find that really interesting!

It's amazing how a small mark can have such a big impact on pronunciation.

Root Explanation

Diacritic → It is formed from "dia-" (meaning through or across) and "kritikos" (from Greek, meaning to separate or judge). The word refers to marks that are used to distinguish or separate sounds in written language.

Memory Tip

Think of marks that help to 'separate' ('kritikos') sounds in writing, as they go 'through' ('dia-') the letters to clarify pronunciation.

Visually Confused Words