noun
umlaut
A vowel change caused by a following sound in Germanic languages.
The vowel difference between foot and feet is a result of umlaut.
Etymology
The German term expresses a change of sound. Linguistics uses it for vowel alteration conditioned by a later sound in the word.
More examples
- In German, umlaut helps distinguish some singular nouns from their plurals.
- The vowels that originally triggered umlaut often disappeared from later forms.
- Students trace the umlaut in mouse and mice to an earlier vowel.
Forms
umlaut · umlauts
Similar words
- mutation
- A broader term for sound changes, including consonant changes.
- assimilation
- Sounds become more alike; not limited to vowels or Germanic languages.