Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
diphthong
noun
/ˈdɪfθɔŋ/
Definition
A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel sound and glides into another within the same syllable.
Examples
- In the word ‘coin’, the ‘oi’ represents a diphthong.
- The English diphthong ‘ay’ in ‘say’ is a combination of two vowel sounds.
- Learning to identify diphthongs can improve your spoken English.
Meaning
Diphthongs are sound combinations that involve a smooth transition between two vowel sounds, making them an important aspect of pronunciation in various languages.
Synonyms
- None (Diphthongs are unique sound combinations and don’t have direct synonyms).
