An acute accent (´), placed over a vowel, is a diacritical mark used in various languages to:
* Indicate stress or emphasis: In some languages, like Spanish and French, the acute accent marks the stressed syllable in a word.
* Distinguish between different vowel sounds: In languages like French, the acute accent can differentiate between similar vowels, like "é" and "e."
* Indicate a specific pronunciation: In certain cases, an acute accent can clarify the pronunciation of a vowel, especially in words borrowed from other languages.
Here are some examples:
* Spanish: "café" (coffee) - The acute accent indicates stress on the second syllable.
* French: "été" (summer) - The acute accent distinguishes the vowel sound "é" from "e."
* English: "naïve" - The acute accent helps clarify the pronunciation of the "a" sound.
It's important to note that the specific usage and meaning of an acute accent can vary depending on the language.