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I would like to know how I can remove accents from a string. For example, how can I transform "string test áéíóú" into "string test aeiou"? I have to normalize some text to make comparisons, and this would be very helpful.

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  • $\begingroup$ It's worth noting that this is a follow-up question to this one. $\endgroup$ – Sjoerd C. de Vries Nov 11 '12 at 19:33
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To remove accents from a string I use this function:

removeAccent[string_] := Module[{accentMap,l1,l2},
    l1 = Characters["ŠŽšžŸÀÁÂÃÄÅÇÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏÐÑÒÓÔÕÖÙÚÛÜÝàáâãäåçèéêëìíîïðñòóôõöùúûüýÿ"];
    l2 = Characters["SZszYAAAAAACEEEEIIIIDNOOOOOUUUUYaaaaaaceeeeiiiidnooooouuuuyy"];
    accentMap = Thread[l1 -> l2];
    StringReplace[string, accentMap]
]

So, if you apply it as removeAccent["string test áéíóú"]you get: "string test aeiou"

Update

Now in version 10.1 we have the native function: RemoveDiacritics

RemoveDiacritics["string test áéíóú"] you get "string test aeiou"

Timing comparison using the new RepeatedTiming.

RepeatedTiming[removeAccent["string test áéíóú"]]
RepeatedTiming[RemoveDiacritics["string test áéíóú"]]

> 0.000057
> 0.000015

RemoveDiacritics wins!

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  • 1
    $\begingroup$ Ð (ð) is not an accented D (d) but the letter eth without any accents. It should not be considered an accented character in this context. $\endgroup$ – Oleksandr R. Apr 4 '13 at 14:04
  • $\begingroup$ Is RemoveDiacritics not yet documented? $\endgroup$ – Karsten 7. Mar 14 '15 at 3:56
  • $\begingroup$ @Karsten7. Almost, see here $\endgroup$ – Murta Mar 14 '15 at 4:14
  • $\begingroup$ You mean in the next version 10.1 ?? $\endgroup$ – SquareOne Mar 14 '15 at 21:56
  • $\begingroup$ @SquareOne yes! $\endgroup$ – Murta Mar 14 '15 at 22:19
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Your own method without extraneous reevaluation:

With[{accentMap =
  Characters /@
    Rule["ŠŽšžŸÀÁÂÃÄÅÇÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏÐÑÒÓÔÕÖÙÚÛÜÝàáâãäåçèéêëìíîïðñòóôõöùúûüýÿ", 
         "SZszYAAAAAACEEEEIIIIDNOOOOOUUUUYaaaaaaceeeeiiiidnooooouuuuyy"] // Thread},

 removeAccent[string_] := StringReplace[string, accentMap]

]
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    $\begingroup$ Would a Dispatch[] help matters here? $\endgroup$ – J. M. is away♦ Nov 12 '12 at 9:28
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    $\begingroup$ I don't think so. I have made some tests with Dispatch, and it gets slower. StringReplacemust already do something like it. $\endgroup$ – Murta Nov 12 '12 at 11:38
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    $\begingroup$ @J.M. I'll have to test it but I believe that because the String operations are handled by a separate library things like Dispatch are not applicable. At least that's what I seem to recall concluding previously. $\endgroup$ – Mr.Wizard♦ Nov 12 '12 at 16:39
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Works nicely:

removeAccent[s_String] := Module[{patt = "(Capital)?([A-Z]{1})([A-Z]\\w*)*", del}, 
 del = Select[Characters[s], StringMatchQ[ToString[FullForm[#]],
                                          RegularExpression[".*\\[" <> patt <> "\\].*"]] &];
 StringReplace[s, Thread[del -> Map[First, StringCases[ToString[FullForm[#]] & /@ del, 
               RegularExpression[patt] :> If["$1" === "", ToLowerCase, Identity]["$2"]]]]]]

Test:

removeAccent["string test áéíóú"]
   "string test aeiou"

removeAccent["Çärîñő Ð Štùrm"]
   "Carino Ð Sturm"
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