´
Acute Accent
The acute accent (´) marks stressed syllables and modifies vowel pronunciation in numerous languages including French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, making it essential for authentic multilingual communication and proper pronunciation.
Technical Details
- ASCII Code
- 180
- HTML Entity
- ´
- Hexadecimal
- 0xB4
- Binary
- 10110100
- Octal
- 264
Usage & Examples
Programming
char symbol = '´'; // ASCII 180HTML/Web
´ or ´Common Uses
How to Type This Character
Windows
Mac
💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!
Related Characters
About the Acute Accent
Stress Indication
Marks primary stress in words where stress placement affects meaning, particularly in Spanish (sábado vs sabado), Italian (perché vs perche), and other Romance languages. Essential for distinguishing word meanings and proper pronunciation.
Vowel Modification
Changes vowel quality and pronunciation in French (é, á), Portuguese (ó, í), and other languages. The acute accent transforms basic vowels into distinct phonemes, creating entirely different sounds and meanings.
Multilingual Authenticity
Required for proper representation of millions of speakers of Romance languages, enabling authentic communication in international business, education, and cultural exchange. Demonstrates respect for linguistic diversity and cultural accuracy.
Typographic Precision
Essential in professional publishing, academic writing, and digital communications for maintaining linguistic integrity. Proper use of acute accents distinguishes professional, culturally-aware content from amateur approximations.
History of the Acute Accent
Pitch Accent Origins
Ancient Greek scholars developed the acute accent (oxeîa) to mark high pitch in spoken Greek, establishing the foundational concept of diacritical stress marking in Western linguistics.
Romance Language Evolution
As Latin evolved into French, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese, scribes adopted acute accents to preserve pronunciation distinctions that were crucial for meaning and comprehension.
Printing Standardization
Renaissance printers standardized acute accent usage across Romance languages, creating consistent typographic conventions that spread throughout European publishing.
Academic Codification
National academies (Académie française, Real Academia Española) formalized acute accent rules, establishing authoritative standards for educated written communication.
Digital Integration
Unicode and international keyboard layouts ensured global accessibility of acute accents, enabling authentic multilingual communication across digital platforms and preserving linguistic heritage online.
Cultural Impact
The acute accent became the guardian of linguistic precision, preserving the distinct identities of Romance languages while enabling clear communication across cultural boundaries in an increasingly connected world.
Usage Examples
French Vocabulary
ExampleCommon French words with acute accents used in English contexts
Spanish Stress Marking
ExampleSpanish words where acute accents indicate stress and meaning
International Business
ExampleProfessional communications requiring authentic accent usage
Academic Writing
ExampleScholarly citations and references with proper accent notation