Definition & Meaning of "eth"

What is "eth"?

Eth is a letter used in some alphabets, such as Old English and Icelandic, represented by the symbol "ð" (lowercase) or "Ð" (uppercase). It represents the voiced dental fricative sound, similar to the "th" in the English words "this" or "that." In Old English, eth was commonly used and helped distinguish between sounds that were crucial for proper pronunciation. While eth is no longer used in modern English, it remains a part of the Icelandic language and is significant for understanding historical linguistics and the evolution of writing systems in Germanic languages.