An "umlaut" is a diacritical mark used in some languages, particularly in German, to indicate a change in the pronunciation of a vowel. It consists of two dots placed above a vowel, such as in the letters ä, ö, and ü. This modification alters the sound of the vowel, making it distinct from its unmarked counterpart. Umlauts can affect the meaning of words, as seen in the difference between schon (already) and schön (beautiful) in German. They are also found in other languages, such as Hungarian and Turkish, where they serve similar phonetic purposes.