diphthong: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequency (C1+)Technical, academic, linguistic
Quick answer
What does “diphthong” mean?
A single vowel sound that glides from one quality to another within a single syllable.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A single vowel sound that glides from one quality to another within a single syllable.
In linguistics, a complex speech sound beginning with one vowel sound and moving to another within the same syllable. More broadly, it can refer to a ligature of two vowel characters, such as 'æ' or 'œ'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The pronunciation of the word itself differs, with British English stressing the first syllable (/ˈdɪfθɒŋ/) and American English often having a reduced second vowel and sometimes a different first vowel (/ˈdɪfθɑːŋ/ or /ˈdɪpθɑːŋ/).
Connotations
Identical; both varieties use the term in the same technical sense.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both dialects, used almost exclusively in linguistic or language-teaching contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “diphthong” in a Sentence
The vowel in 'price' is a diphthong.The diphthong /aɪ/ glides from [a] to [ɪ].Diphthongs are contrasted with monophthongs.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “diphthong” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- The diphthongal quality of the vowel was clear.
- His analysis focused on diphthong systems.
American English
- The diphthongal nature of the sound was evident.
- She studied diphthong shifts in regional accents.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in linguistics, phonetics, and language studies. Used with precise technical meaning.
Everyday
Extremely rare. A layperson might encounter it in a word game or a discussion about language.
Technical
Core term in phonetics and phonology. Used to classify and describe vowel sounds.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “diphthong”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “diphthong”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “diphthong”
- Mispronouncing the word as /ˈdɪpθɒŋg/ (adding a /g/ at the end).
- Misspelling as 'dipthong' (omitting the first 'h').
- Confusing a digraph (two letters) with a diphthong (one sound).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The spelling 'ou' represents the single, gliding vowel sound /aʊ/, which is a diphthong.
A diphthong is a sound (a single, complex vowel). A digraph is a pair of letters representing one sound, which could be a vowel (e.g., 'ea' in 'head') or a consonant (e.g., 'sh' in 'ship').
It comes from Greek 'diphthongos', where 'ph' is pronounced /f/. The 'p' is silent in English, making it /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/.
No. Some languages, like Spanish and Japanese, have primarily pure vowels (monophthongs). The presence and number of diphthongs vary greatly between languages.
A single vowel sound that glides from one quality to another within a single syllable.
Diphthong is usually technical, academic, linguistic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'DIP your tongue' into two different vowel positions to make a DIPHTHONG.
Conceptual Metaphor
A vowel sound taking a JOURNEY from one point to another.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes a diphthong?