diakritickými

Diakritickými is a Czech and Slovak word meaning "diacritical marks." Diacritical marks are glyphs or signs added to letters of the alphabet to alter their pronunciation, distinguish them from similar-looking letters, or indicate stress or tone. These marks are commonly used in many languages, including Czech and Slovak, to represent sounds that are not adequately represented by the basic Latin alphabet.

In Czech and Slovak, diacritics play a crucial role in the correct spelling and pronunciation of words. For example, the acute accent (čárka) over vowels like á, é, í, ó, ú, ý indicates a long vowel sound. The caron (háček), often placed above consonants like č, ď, ň, ř, š, ť, ž, modifies their pronunciation to create distinct sounds not found in English. The umlaut or double acute accent (kroužek) over the vowel u (ů) also signifies a long vowel sound, but historically has a different origin than ú. The dot above (tečka) over i (i) and j (j) is not a diacritic in the same sense as the others; it is an integral part of the letterform.

The presence or absence of diacritics can significantly change the meaning of a word in Czech and Slovak. For instance, "byt" means "apartment," while "být" means "to be." Therefore, understanding and correctly using diacritical marks is essential for fluency and accuracy when reading or writing these languages. They are not mere decorative additions but fundamental components of the orthography.