Difference Between Ewe Letters and Diacritics (Tone marks)

Understanding the difference between Ewe letters and diacritics (tone marks) is essential for accurate reading, writing, and teaching of the Ewe language. Many learners confuse tone marks with letters, but in standard Ewe orthography, they serve very different roles.

This article clearly explains what tone marks are, what they are not, and how they function in written Ewe.

What Is a Letter in Ewe?

In Ewe, a letter is:

• A single written symbol
• Part of the standardized Ewe alphabet
• Counted as one unit of the alphabet

Examples of letters include:
a, e, ɛ, i, o, ɔ, u, b, d, ɖ, ƒ, ŋ, and others.

Letters form the alphabet itself.

New to the Ewe language? This definitive guide explains the Ewe alphabet, including all vowels and consonants.

What Are Tone Marks (Diacritics)?

Tone marks in Ewe include:

• ´ (high tone)

• ̀ (low tone)

Tone Marks Are not Letters

Tone marks:

• ❌ Are not letters
• ❌ Do not count as alphabet units
• ❌ Do not increase the number of Ewe letters

Instead, they are writing marks added to letters.

What Diacritics Do in Ewe

Diacritics modify pronunciation and meaning, but they do not change the letter itself.

They are used to:

• Indicate tone
• Distinguish meaning between words that use the same letters
• Guide correct speech and understanding

Example

• e → letter
• é, è, ê → the same letter e, with different tone marks

In this example:

• The base letter remains e
• The tone mark only changes how it is pronounced, not what letter it is

Why Tone Marks Do Not Belong to the Alphabet

An alphabet is defined by its letters, not by pronunciation variations.

Tone marks:

• Can be added or omitted in certain writing contexts
• Are often excluded in informal writing
• Exist to support speech, not to expand the alphabet

Because of this, tone marks are treated as separate from the alphabet in books, schools, and digital publishing standards.

Common Mistake to Avoid

A frequent error is assuming that:

• é, è, ê are separate letters

This is incorrect.

They are simply letter + diacritic, not new alphabet entries.

Summary

• Letters are the core units of the Ewe alphabet
• Tone marks are diacritics, not letters
• Diacritics modify pronunciation, not the alphabet
• The Ewe alphabet remains fixed, regardless of tone usage

Key Takeaway

Tone marks are part of speech and meaning, not part of the alphabet.

Understanding this distinction helps you maintain clarity, consistency, and accuracy in written Ewe.