umlaut

linguisticsAn assimilatory process whereby a vowel is pronounced more like a following vocoid that is separated by one or more consonants.

linguisticsThe 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).

linguisticsA vowel so assimilated.

orthographyThe diacritical mark ( ¨ ) placed over a vowel when it indicates a (rounded) front vowel

informalorthographyA diaeresis.

“Naïve takes an umlaut as it's pronounced as two syllables.”

A diacritical mark (two dots) placed over a vowel to indicate a change in sound in some languages

To place an umlaut over (a vowel).

linguisticsTo modify (a word) so that an umlaut is required in it.

“an umlauting vowel”