Macron/ˈmeɪkrɑːn/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Pronunciation Clue A macron tells you to stretch out the vowel sound when pronouncing the word. The 'ā' in 'mākou' is said as a long 'a'. Pro Tip 2/3Common in Polynesian The macron is often used in Polynesian languages to indicate vowel length. In Māori, 'māori' has a macron over the first 'a'. Pro Tip 3/3Not a Hyphen Don't confuse macrons with hyphens or dashes; they look similar but have different functions. The word 'sake' doesn't need a macron, but 'sakē' does.