diacritic

[/daɪˈækrɪtɪk/]
nounpl: diacritics
diacrítico
1. A mark or sign added to a letter to modify its pronunciation or to distinguish it from another letter
The acute accent is a diacritic commonly used in French and Spanish.
O acento agudo é um diacrítico comumente usado em francês e espanhol.
2. Any symbol placed above, below, or through a character to indicate a special phonetic value or distinction
Portuguese uses diacritics such as tildes and circumflexes.
O português usa diacríticos como til e circunflexo.
Diacritics are essential in both Portuguese and Spanish languages, making them important for proper orthography. In Brazil and Portugal, correct diacritical usage is emphasized in formal writing and education. English speakers learning Portuguese or Spanish must master diacritical marks as they significantly alter pronunciation and word meaning.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
accent markdiacritical markaccentmodifier

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
diacrítico
Standard term used in educational and linguistic contexts
São Paulo
diacrítico
Common usage in academic and publishing sectors
Portugal
diacrítico
Identical usage; also sometimes called 'marca diacrítica'
USA
diacritic/diacritical mark
Technical term used in linguistics and typography

Related Words

accenttildecircumflexumlautmacroncedilladieresisorthography

Related Idioms & Phrases

diacritical mark
accent mark
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