Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Diphthong
Diph′thong
(?; 115, 277)
, Noun.
[L.
diphthongus
, Gr. [GREEK]; δι-
= δίσ-
twice + [GREEK] voice, sound, fr. [GREEK] to utter a sound: cf. F. diphthongue
.] (Orthoëpy)
(a)
A coalition or union of two vowel sounds pronounced in one syllable; as, ou in out, oi in noise; – called a
proper diphthong
. (b)
A vowel digraph; a union of two vowels in the same syllable, only one of them being sounded; as, ai in rain, eo in people; – called an
improper diphthong
. Diph′thong
,Verb.
T.
To form or pronounce as a diphthong; diphthongize.
[R.]
Definition 2024
Diphthong
diphthong
diphthong
See also: Diphthong
English
Noun
diphthong (plural diphthongs)
- (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"
- (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 ē (§7); that is, it has the sound of ey in they.
- 1854, Robert Bigsby, Historical and Topographical Description of Repton, in the County of Derby, Woodfall and Kinder, page 47:
Derived terms
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations
complex vowel sound
|
|