Diaeresis

ASCII Code: 168•Category: symbols

The diaeresis (¨) is a diacritical mark consisting of two dots placed above a vowel to indicate that it should be pronounced separately from an adjacent vowel, preventing the formation of a diphthong or ligature.

Technical Details

ASCII Code: 168
HTML Entity: ¨
Hexadecimal: 0xA8
Binary: 10101000
Octal: 250

Usage & Examples

Programming

char symbol = '¨'; // ASCII 168

HTML/Web

¨ or ¨

Common Uses

diaeresisumlautaccentpronunciationlinguistic

How to Type This Character

Windows

Alt Code:

Hold Alt and type168 on numeric keypad

Character Map:

Search "Character Map" in Start menu

Mac

Character Viewer:

Press Ctrl +Cmd +Space

Copy & Paste:

Easiest method - copy from this page!

💡 Pro tip: The fastest way is to bookmark this page or copy the character from our ASCII library!

Related Characters

About the Diaeresis

Pronunciation Guidance

Essential for accurate pronunciation in multiple languages, the diaeresis indicates that two adjacent vowels should be pronounced as separate syllables rather than blended together. Critical for words like 'naïve,' 'Noël,' and 'coöperate' where vowel separation affects meaning and pronunciation.

Linguistic Distinction

Functions differently from the umlaut despite identical appearance - while umlauts change vowel quality in Germanic languages, the diaeresis specifically marks syllable boundaries. This distinction is crucial for proper linguistic analysis and language learning.

Multilingual Usage

Appears across various languages including French (naïf, Citroën), Spanish (pingüino), Dutch (geüpdatet), and historically in English. Each language applies specific rules for when diaeresis is required versus optional.

Typography Precision

Important in professional typography and publishing for maintaining linguistic accuracy in international texts, proper names, and scholarly writing. Publishers use diaeresis to preserve original pronunciation intentions across language boundaries.

History of the Diaeresis

Ancient Greek

Classical Origins

Ancient Greek grammarians developed the diaeresis (διαίρεσις, meaning 'division') to mark vowel separation in poetry and formal writing, establishing the foundational concept of vowel boundary marking.

Medieval Period

Latin Manuscript Usage

Medieval scribes adopted diaeresis in Latin texts to clarify pronunciation of consecutive vowels, particularly in religious and scholarly manuscripts where accurate reading was essential.

1500s-1600s

Vernacular Languages

European vernacular languages systematized diaeresis usage in printed books, with French, Dutch, and Spanish developing specific orthographic rules for vowel separation marking.

1800s-1900s

English Adoption

English publishers temporarily adopted diaeresis for words like 'coöperate' and 'reëlect,' though this practice largely disappeared in American English by the mid-20th century.

Modern Era

Digital Typography

Unicode and modern typography systems preserve diaeresis support for international publishing, maintaining linguistic accuracy in digital texts and global communication.

Cultural Impact

The diaeresis represents the intersection of linguistics and typography, enabling accurate preservation of pronunciation across languages and maintaining cultural authenticity in international written communication.

Usage Examples

French Language

Example

naïve, Noël, Citroën, maïs, coïncidence

Standard French orthography for vowel separation

Spanish Language

Example

pingüino, bilingüe, vergüenza, güero

Spanish diaeresis over 'u' in 'gue' and 'gui' combinations

Historical English

Example

coöperate, reëlect, zoölogy, preëminent

Historical English usage, now largely obsolete

Proper Names

Example

Brontë, Chloë, Zoë, Citroën, Möet

Personal and brand names maintaining original pronunciation