Definition & Meaning of "diacritic"in English

What is a "diacritic"?

A diacritic is a mark added to a letter to modify its pronunciation or to distinguish it from similar letters. These marks can indicate changes in tone, stress, or vowel quality. Common examples include the acute accent (é) in French, which indicates a specific pronunciation, and the umlaut (ö) in German, which changes the sound of the vowel. In the word "naïve," the diaeresis (¨) over the "i" signals that the two vowels are pronounced separately. Diacritics are significant in many languages, as they can alter meanings and pronunciation, ensuring clarity and precision in written communication.