Definition & Meaning of "umlaut"

What is an "umlaut"?

An umlaut is a diacritical mark consisting of two dots placed above a vowel, typically seen in German. It modifies the pronunciation of the vowel, often altering it to a fronted or rounded sound. For example, in the German word "für," the umlaut over the "u" changes the pronunciation to sound like "ue." Umlauts can also appear in other contexts, such as in the word "naïve," where the diaeresis (¨) indicates that the two vowels are pronounced separately. The umlaut is significant in written language as it affects how words are pronounced and can change their meanings, ensuring clarity in communication.