Definition

Noun: A hacek is a diacritical mark (ˇ) resembling an inverted circumflex. It is placed above certain letters in some languages to modify their pronunciation.

Usage

The hacek is used in the orthographies of several languages, most notably in Slavic languages like Czech, Slovak, and Slovene, as well as in Baltic languages like Lithuanian and Latvian. Its primary function is to indicate a specific phonetic value for the letter it modifies.

Examples

• In the Czech word "Český" (meaning "Czech"), the hacek on the c changes its sound from /k/ to /tʃ/ (like the "ch" in "church").
• The Slovak surname "Štefánik" contains the letter š, where the hacek indicates a /ʃ/ sound (like the "sh" in "ship").
• In linguistics, the term "hacek" itself is used to name this specific diacritic.

Advanced Usage

• The hacek is also known by the more technical term caron.
• In some phonetic transcription systems, a hacek can be placed over vowels to indicate a falling tone.

Variants and Related Words

• Caron (n): A synonym for hacek, often used in typography and computing contexts (e.g., "a caron over the letter s").
• Diacritic (n): The general term for a sign, such as a hacek, accent, or tilde, added to a letter to alter its sound or to distinguish it.

Synonyms

• Caron

Notes

The hacek is distinct from other similar-looking diacritics, such as the breve (˘). It is a crucial part of spelling in languages that use it, and its omission can change the meaning of a word.

Noun

1. a diacritical mark (an inverted circumflex) placed above certain letters (such as the letter c) to indicate pronunciation