monophthong: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 (Low-frequency, specialist term)Technical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “monophthong” mean?
A single, pure vowel sound made without changing the position of the tongue or lips during its articulation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A single, pure vowel sound made without changing the position of the tongue or lips during its articulation.
In historical linguistics, a vowel that remains a single sound over time, as opposed to a diphthong which merges from two sounds or a diphthong which splits.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Pronunciation differences are standard accent variations.
Connotations
Neutral, technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and specialised in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “monophthong” in a Sentence
Monophthong + [of a language]Monophthong + [in a phonological system]Monophthong + [such as /ɑː/]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “monophthong” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The monophthong quality of the vowel was remarkably stable.
- We identified a monophthong shift in the dialect.
American English
- The monophthong character of /oʊ/ is debated.
- A monophthong analysis simplifies the system.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in linguistics, phonetics, and language studies papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would only be used when discussing language pronunciation in detail.
Technical
Core term in phonetic and phonological analysis, language teaching (TESOL), and speech therapy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “monophthong”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “monophthong”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “monophthong”
- Misspelling as 'monopthong' or 'monophthong'.
- Mispronouncing the 'phth' cluster as /fθ/ is difficult; some may say /ˈmɒn.əp.θɒŋ/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in most English accents, including RP and General American, the vowel /æ/ in 'cat' is a short monophthong.
A monophthong is a single, unchanging vowel sound. A diphthong is a single syllable where the sound glides from one vowel quality to another (e.g., /aɪ/ in 'my').
It varies by accent. Standard Southern British English (RP) is often described as having 12 pure vowels/monophthongs, while General American has around 10-11.
Yes, length is a separate property. For example, /iː/ in 'see' is a long monophthong, and /ɪ/ in 'sit' is a short monophthong.
A single, pure vowel sound made without changing the position of the tongue or lips during its articulation.
Monophthong is usually technical / academic in register.
Monophthong: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɒn.əf.θɒŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑː.nəf.θɑːŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms exist for this technical term.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'MONO' means one, 'PHTHONG' sounds like 'song'—a one-note vowel song.
Conceptual Metaphor
A STABLE POINT (vs. a diphthong's JOURNEY).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a monophthong in Received Pronunciation?