diaeresis

noun

di·​aer·​e·​sis dī-ˈer-ə-səs How to pronounce diaeresis (audio)
 British also  -ˈir-
variants or dieresis
plural diaereses dī-ˈer-ə-ˌsēz How to pronounce diaeresis (audio)
 British also  -ˈir-
1
: a mark ¨ placed over a vowel to indicate that the vowel is pronounced in a separate syllable (as in naïve or Brontë) compare umlaut
2
: the break in a verse caused by the coincidence of the end of a foot with the end of a word
diaeretic adjective

Examples of diaeresis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Examples include Spanish or French words like jalapeño (tilde), fiancé (acute), très (accent grave), Noël (diaeresis), façade (cedilla) or hôpital (circumflex). Marc Saltzman, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diaeresis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin diaeresis, from Greek diairesis, literally, division, from diairein to divide, from dia- + hairein to take

First Known Use

circa 1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diaeresis was circa 1611

Dictionary Entries Near diaeresis

Cite this Entry

“Diaeresis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaeresis. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

diaeresis

noun
di·​aer·​e·​sis
variants or dieresis
dī-ˈer-ə-səs
plural diaereses or diereses
-ˈer-ə-ˌsēz
: a mark ¨ placed over a vowel to show that it is pronounced in a separate syllable (as in naïve or Brontë)

More from Merriam-Webster on diaeresis

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