Kahtpistmärk

kahtpistmärk is an Estonian term that translates to "two-dot mark" in English. It refers to a specific diacritical mark used in the Estonian orthography, namely the diaeresis or umlaut, when applied to the letter 'o'. Thus, kahtpistmärk denotes the letter 'ö'.

This letter 'ö' is a distinct vowel sound in the Estonian language. It is pronounced similarly to the 'ö' in German or the 'eu' in French "feu". The presence of kahtpistmärk distinguishes 'ö' from the plain letter 'o', which represents a different vowel sound, akin to the 'o' in English "go".

The use of kahtpistmärk is crucial for correct pronunciation and meaning in Estonian. Many words differ solely by the presence or absence of this mark. For instance, the word "korraga" means "at once" or "in one go," while "kõrra" (which would be represented with kahtpistmärk on the 'o') is not a standard Estonian word. This highlights the importance of the diacritical mark in differentiating words.

Historically, the use of umlauts in Estonian evolved over time, influenced by other languages and evolving linguistic standards. The kahtpistmärk serves as a visual indicator of a specific phonetic quality that is integral to the Estonian sound system. It is a fundamental element of written Estonian, appearing in dictionaries, textbooks, and everyday communication.