How Do You Spell SPIRITUS LENIS?

1. Spiritus lenis is a Latin term that translates to "soft or weak breath" in English. It is a linguistic term primarily used in reference to certain letters or sounds in the Greek language.

   In Greek, spiritus lenis is a diacritic symbol represented by a small letter "H" written above a vowel. This symbol is only used at the beginning of a word or following a comma to indicate a subtle or soft pronunciation of the vowel.

   The spiritus lenis is used to indicate that the corresponding vowel should be pronounced without aspiration. Aspiration refers to a puff of air or breath accompanying the pronunciation of a specific sound, typically at the beginning of a word or syllable. With the presence of spiritus lenis, this aspiration is to be omitted, leading to a softer pronunciation.

   For example, in the Greek word "ἥλιος" (hēlios) meaning "sun," the spiritus lenis is placed above the initial vowel "hēta." This implies that the letter "h" should be pronounced without aspiration, hence resulting in a softer and smoother pronunciation of the vowel.

   Spiritus lenis is an essential diacritic symbol in Greek orthography as it clarifies the way certain vowels are supposed to sound, helping to avoid confusion and misinterpretation. Its usage aids in achieving accurate and standardized pronunciation in written and spoken Greek.

2. The mark (') denoting the absence of the rough breathing.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for SPIRITUS LENIS

The term "spiritus lenis" comes from Latin. In Latin, "spiritus" means "breath" or "spirit", and "lenis" translates to "gentle" or "soft". In classical Latin grammar, "spiritus lenis" referred to the unvoiced pronunciation of consonants like "p" or "t" when they appeared at the beginning or the middle of a word. The pronunciation was softer and less aspirated compared to its voiced counterpart.