![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPM-bhSK76BpMBb8hrHNRhi8QteHj49JsY5JhIYefwyW3H8Bjk4OIbs23c8frP1hzzZ9bpi2QNBjv52rOxiGU3aSmWGsocjYtaeXXU3aIBoT_OYiOr8lkaiM1apx606qEHGaop2ildRs/s400/cest-magnifique.png)
If you are not familiar with French, there is an unnecessary accent mark (diacritic) underneath the C in C'est. It looks like a hook, or a "5" (which we used to call it in elementary French classes!). The proper term for it is cedilla.
In French c'est is a contraction of ce est which means "this is". There is no need for the C to take a cedilla. It was probably put there by some unknowing editor just to make the phrase look "more French".
The purpose of the cedilla in French is to make sure certain words with a C in it take an S sound, rather than a K sound. For instance, reçu ("received"), requires the cedilla to make the C have an S sound, otherwise the K sound would be assumed since the C precedes a U. The infinitive form of the verb is recevoir, which needs no cedilla since the C is assumed to have the S sound if it precedes an E.
Sign up here with your email
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon