Diphthong

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈdɪfθɒŋ(g)/, /ˈdɪpθɒŋ(g)/
• US IPA: /ˈdɪfθɔŋ/, /ˈdɪpθɔŋ/
• w IPA: /ˈdɪfθɑŋ/, /ˈdɪpθɑŋ/

Origin

French diphtongue, from Ancient Greek δίφθογγος (díphthongos, "two sounds"), from δίς (dís, "twice") + φθόγγος (phthóngos, "sound").

Full definition of diphthong

Noun

1. (phonetics) A complex vowel sound that begins with the sound of one vowel and ends with the sound of another vowel, in the same syllable.For example: "ae", "au", "ou"
2. (rare) A vowel digraph or ligature.
• 1854, Robert Bigsby, Historical and Topographical Description of Repton, in the County of Derby, Woodfall and Kinder, page 47:And he might have written the name, also, with the diphthong æ, as well as the single vowel, in the initial syllable, throughout all the preceding forms.
• 1860, Joseph E. Worcester, An Elementary Dictionary of the English Language, A New Edition, Swan, Brewer, and Tileston (publishers), page 12:An improper diphthong has only one of the vowels sounded; as, ea in heat, oa in coal.
• 1874, Theophilus Dwight Hall, A Child’s First Latin Book, John Murray (publisher), page 3:The diphthong ae is sounded like Ä“ (§7); that is, it has the sound of ey in they.

Derived terms

• diphthongal
• diphthongize
• diphthongization
• diphthongoid

Related terms

• monophthong
• triphthong