In "le maïs", what is the two dots on top of the i called in english?

dieresis

Sra (aka Mme)

thanks

The two dots on top of the letter "i" in French, such as in "maïs," are called a diaeresis or trema in English. The diaeresis is used to indicate that the two vowels that would normally form a diphthong should be pronounced separately.

To find out the name of the diacritical mark used in a different language, you can follow these steps:

1. Identify the diacritical mark you want to learn about. In this case, it's the two dots on top of the letter "i" in "maïs."

2. Look up the terms used for diacritical marks in general. Diacritical marks are symbols or signs added to letters to alter their pronunciation or to indicate stress or tone. Understanding this general concept will help you find the specific name you're looking for.

3. Search for the specific term in English. Use search engines, dictionaries, or language resources to find the information you need. In this case, searching for "French diacritical marks" or "French accents" would be a good starting point.

4. Explore the search results to find the name or explanation of the diacritical mark you're interested in. You might come across terms like "diaeresis," "trema," or "umlaut" depending on the context.

By following these steps, you should be able to find the name of the diacritical mark used in a specific language.