Definition

A symbol placed over a vowel to show that it is pronounced in a separate syllable, like in the word 'naïve'.

Example

The diaeresis in 'naïve' indicates that the 'a' and 'i' are pronounced separately.

Conversation

Have you ever seen the word 'naïve' written with a diaeresis?

Yeah, I think it helps to show how to pronounce it correctly.

Exactly! I find it interesting how a simple mark can change the sound of a word.

For sure, it's a neat feature of the language.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Diaeresis → It is formed from "dia-" (meaning through or across) and "airesis" (from Greek "airein", meaning to take or to separate). The word refers to the act of separating or distinguishing sounds, particularly in phonetics.

Memory Tip

Think of 'separating' ('dia-') sounds or syllables, which is what diaeresis means.

Visually Confused Words