Umlaut

Quick meaning: Umlaut is a noun meaning (linguistics) A vowel so assimilated.

Meaning

(linguistics) A vowel so assimilated.

More Meanings

1. (orthography) The diacritical mark ( ¨ ) placed over a vowel when it indicates a (rounded) front vowel
2. (informal, orthography) Synonym of diaeresis.
3. (transitive) To place an umlaut over (a vowel).
4. (linguistics, transitive) To modify (a word) so that an umlaut is required in it.
5. (linguistics) An assimilatory process whereby a vowel is pronounced more like a following vocoid that is separated by one or more consonants.
6. (linguistics) The umlaut process (as above) that occurred historically in Germanic languages whereby back vowels became front vowels when followed by syllable containing a front vocoid (e.g. Germanic lūsiz > Old English lȳs(i) > Modern English lice).

Example Sentences

an umlauting vowel

"Naïve" takes an umlaut because it is pronounced as two syllables.

In fits of concealed despair that went unnoticed even by those close enough to touch, Julien cursed the language of umlauts, eszetts, and gerunds.

California, like several other states, prohibits the use of diacritical marks or accents on official documents. That means no tilde (~), no accent grave (`), no umlaut (¨) and certainly no cedilla (¸).

Word Forms

• umlauts
• umlaute
• umlauting
• umlauted

Synonyms for umlaut

Depending on context, synonyms include trema, diaeresis, dieresis.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include diaeresis, dieresis, i-mutation, anlaut, long, synaeresis.

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