# macron

CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/macron
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a small mark (a horizontal line) placed over a letter to change its sound. It is common in languages like French, Italian, and Greek.

For teachers: a diacritical mark consisting of a horizontal line placed over a vowel to indicate a long or specific pronunciation. Used in various orthographic systems to distinguish phonemes.

## Examples

- The word 'é' has a macron over the 'e'.
- In many European languages, a macron is used to show that a vowel should be pronounced for a longer duration.
- The presence of a macron over the 'a' in the word 'ā' indicates a long vowel sound that is essential for the correct pronunciation of the name.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.