Umlauts Meaning in English
word · lemma: umlaut
Definición
Umlauts are two dots placed above certain vowels, mostly in German, to show a change in pronunciation. They can also refer more generally to the vowel sounds that change because of these marks.
Uso & Matices
'Umlaut' is mostly used in discussions about German or linguistics. In English, we rarely use umlauts except for borrowed words (like 'naïve' or 'coöperate') or names. Note the difference from diaeresis: in German, 'umlaut' changes the vowel sound, not just separates syllables.
Oraciones de Ejemplo
In German, some words use umlauts to change the sound of vowels.
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The letter 'ä' has an umlaut above it.
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Not every German vowel can take umlauts.
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I always struggled to pronounce German words with umlauts when I was learning.
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Some English borrowed words, like 'naïve', have marks similar to umlauts, but they aren’t used the same way.
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When typing in German, it’s important to include the umlauts, or the meaning of the word could change.
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