Decoding exercises: "é"

The letter "é" (e with an acute accent) is not an integral part of the English language, and words that have it are often spelled with "e".

In languages such as Spanish and Portuguese, "é" indicates the stressed syllable. In English this is different; "é" often indicates that the "e" is pronounced, as in Beyoncé /biːˈjɒnseɪ/. The spelling "Beyonce" suggests /ˈbiːjɒns/ or /bɪˈjɒns/.

French loan words

 * As /eɪ/: attaché /əˈtæʃeɪ, ˌætəˈʃeɪ/; café /ˈkæfeɪ, kæˈfeɪ/ ; déjà vu /ˌdeɪʒɑː ˈvuː/; entrée /ˈɒntreɪ/; fiancé, fiancée /fiːˈɒnseɪ/; resumé or résumé /ˈrezjumeɪ, ˈrezʊmeɪ/
 * As /eɪ/ or /ɪ/: elite or élite /eɪˈliːt, ɪˈliːt/
 * As // résumé (also resumé)

An accent indicates that the "e" is not silent

 * As /eɪ/: Beyoncé /biːˈjɒnseɪ/; mate or maté /ˈmɑːteɪ, ˈmæteɪ/;
 * As /eɪ/ or /ɪ/: Pokémon /ˈpəʊkeɪˌmɒn, ˈpəʊkɪˌmɒn/; Poké Ball or Pokéball; Pokédex
 * As /eɪ/ or /iː/: Nestlé /ˈnsleɪ, ˈnsliː /

Heteronyms
In some cases cases the acute accent prevents two words from becoming heteronyms. However, often "é" is replaced by "e".


 * expose /ɪkˈspəʊz/ vs. exposé /kˈspəʊzeɪ, ˌkspəʊˈzeɪ/
 * mate /meɪt/ vs. mate or maté /ˈmɑːteɪ, ˈmæteɪ/;
 * resume /rɪˈzjuːm/ vs. resumé or résumé /ˈrezjumeɪ, ˈrezʊmeɪ/