Vowels marked with a macron (a horizontal line placed above the letter) are pronounced with a long vowel sound. This notation is used in phonetic transcriptions and several languages to show that the vowel should be held longer or pronounced differently than its short counterpart.
Examples of Vowels with a Macron:
- Ā: Pronounced like the “a” in “cake” (long “a”).
- Ē: Pronounced like the “e” in “see” (long “e”).
- Ī: Pronounced like the “i” in “machine” (long “i”).
- Ō: Pronounced like the “o” in “go” (long “o”).
- Ū: Pronounced like the “u” in “flute” (long “u”).
In various languages, such as Latin, Hawaiian, and Māori, macrons are used to distinguish between short and long vowel sounds, which can affect the meaning of words. The length of the vowel often plays a crucial role in communication and proper pronunciation within these languages.