diphthong means A complex vowel sound that begins with the sound of one vowel and ends with the sound of another vowel, in the same syllable.
diphthong is pronounced /ˈdɪfˌθɒŋ(ɡ)/.
Why “diphthong” is a great word
A complex vowel sound that begins with the sound of one vowel and ends with the sound of another, all within the same syllable. From the Ancient Greek δίς (dís, "twice") and φθόγγος (phthóngos, "sound"). Unlike a monophthong, which holds a single, steady vowel tone like the hum of a struck tuning fork, or a digraph, which is merely a written pair of letters, a diphthong is the audible act of motion itself. It is the vocal glide from surprise to understanding in the “oi” of voice, the slow, resigned descent in the “ou” of doubt, or the bright, upward lift in the “ay” of day—a fleeting journey contained within a single, fluid breath, as if every utterance contains its own departure and arrival.
Etymology
From French diphtongue, from Late Latin diphthongus, from Ancient Greek δίφθογγος (díphthongos, “two sounds”), from δίς (dís, “twice”) + φθόγγος (phthóngos, “sound”).
noun
- A complex vowel sound that begins with the sound of one vowel and ends with the sound of another vowel, in the same syllable.e.g.“In Lang Belta vowels usually appear preceding or following a consonant (see previous examples), and as of now no occurrence of diphthongs or triphthongs has been attested.”
- A diaphoneme realized as a two-target vowel in some but not necessarily all dialects.
- A vowel digraph or ligature.e.g.“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.”
Words closest in meaning
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