spiritus asper: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low (specialist/technical term)Specialist/Technical (linguistics, classical studies, philology)
Quick answer
What does “spiritus asper” mean?
A diacritical mark (rough breathing mark) used in Ancient Greek to indicate an /h/ sound at the beginning of a word.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A diacritical mark (rough breathing mark) used in Ancient Greek to indicate an /h/ sound at the beginning of a word.
Refers to the sound or phonological feature itself, or by historical extension, any aspiration in pronunciation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical, confined to academic/specialist contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Scholarly, precise, historical.
Frequency
Extremely rare outside of specific academic fields in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “spiritus asper” in a Sentence
The spiritus asper is placed...Words with a spiritus asper...The presence of the spiritus asper indicates...Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Essential term in classical philology and historical linguistics when discussing Ancient Greek orthography and pronunciation.
Technical
Used in precise descriptions of Greek manuscripts, critical editions, and phonological reconstructions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spiritus asper”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spiritus asper”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spiritus asper”
- Pronouncing 'asper' like the English word 'asper' (AS-per) instead of with a short 'a' as in Latin.
- Using it to refer to modern pronunciation features.
- Confusing it with an accent mark.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it was abolished in the 1980s monotonic reform. Modern Greek uses only the acute accent (tonos).
The spiritus lenis, or smooth breathing mark, which indicates the absence of an /h/ sound.
It appears over initial vowels and the letter rho (ρ) at the beginning of a word.
Not for spoken Modern Greek. It is only relevant for studying Ancient Greek texts or historical linguistics.
A diacritical mark (rough breathing mark) used in Ancient Greek to indicate an /h/ sound at the beginning of a word.
Spiritus asper is usually specialist/technical (linguistics, classical studies, philology) in register.
Spiritus asper: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɪrɪtəs ˈaspə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɪrɪtəs ˈæspər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a rough (asper) spirit (spiritus) breathing an 'h' sound onto the start of a Greek word.
Conceptual Metaphor
BREATHING IS PHONATION (rough vs. smooth breath)
Practice
Quiz
What does the spiritus asper primarily indicate in Ancient Greek?