diphthong
1 synonym for diphthong, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A vowel sound within one syllable that begins as one vowel and ends as another.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
gliding vowel
How to use diphthong
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a long diphthong
English diphthongs
a rising diphthong
vowels and diphthongs
It is a technical term used mainly in linguistics and language teaching.
Etymology
Diphthong came into English from French diphtongue, which took it from Late Latin diphthongus. That comes from Ancient Greek, where it meant "two sounds".
Full origin of diphthong →Frequently asked questions
What is a diphthong?
It is a vowel sound that starts as one vowel and ends as another within the same syllable.
How do you pronounce diphthong?
In British English it is usually said DIF-thong. Some speakers say DIP-thong, which the dictionary notes is sometimes proscribed.
How do you spell diphthong?
It is d-i-p-h-t-h-o-n-g, with ph followed by th.
