Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
macron
noun
/ˈmeɪ.krɒn/
Definition
A macron is a diacritical mark that is placed over a vowel to indicate that it is to be pronounced with a long or stressed sound.
Examples
- The word ‘ā’ in Hawaiian has a macron over the ‘a’ to indicate a long vowel sound.
- In Latin, ‘ā’ represents a long ‘a’ sound, as seen in the word ‘fāma.’
Meaning
In phonetics, a macron signifies that the vowel it accompanies should be extended in duration compared to a short vowel sound.
Synonyms
- Diacritical mark
- Vowel lengthener
