umlaut Definition
a mark (¨) used over a vowel, especially in German, to indicate a different vowel quality, typically fronting or rounding.
Using umlaut: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "umlaut" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
In German, the umlaut changes the pronunciation of the vowel.
Example
The word 'coöperate' uses an umlaut to show that the two o's are pronounced separately.
Example
The letter 'ë' in French is an example of an umlaut.
umlaut Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with umlaut
the use of umlauts in the names of heavy metal bands, often for purely aesthetic reasons
Example
The band Mötley Crüe is known for their use of the heavy metal umlaut.
a change in the vowel sound of a word caused by the influence of a vowel in the following syllable
Example
The umlaut mutation in German is a common feature of the language.
a type of plural formation in some languages, such as German, where the vowel in the stem of a noun is changed and an umlaut is added
Example
The umlaut plural in German is used for many nouns, such as 'Mann' (man) becoming 'Männer' (men).
Origins of umlaut
from German 'umlaut', from um- 'around' + Laut 'sound'
Summary: umlaut in Brief
The term 'umlaut' [ˈʊmlaʊt] refers to a mark (¨) used over a vowel, especially in German, to indicate a different vowel quality, typically fronting or rounding. It can be seen in words like coöperate and in the letter 'ë' in French. Umlaut also has specific uses in heavy metal band names, as well as in linguistics, where it refers to umlaut mutation and umlaut plural.
