DIPHTHONG Definition & Meaning

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diphthong

[ dif-thawng, -thong, dip- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

Phonetics. an unsegmentable, gliding speech sound varying continuously in phonetic quality but held to be a single sound or phoneme and identified by its apparent beginning and ending sound, as the oi- sound of toy or boil.
(not in technical use)
1. a digraph, as the ea of meat.
2. a ligature, as æ.

verb (used with or without object)

to diphthongize.

diphthong

/ ˈdɪp-; ˈdɪfθɒŋ /

noun

a vowel sound, occupying a single syllable, during the articulation of which the tongue moves from one position to another, causing a continual change in vowel quality, as in the pronunciation of a in English late, during which the tongue moves from the position of (e) towards ( ɪ )
a digraph or ligature representing a composite vowel such as this, as ae in Caesar

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Derived Forms

�徱��ˈ�ٳ�ǲԲ��, adjective

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Other �y��vlog Forms

�徱��·�ٳ�ǲ�·�� [dif-, thawng, -g, uh, l, -, thong, -, dip-], �徱��·�ٳ�ǲ�g�� �徱��·�ٳ�ǲ�g�ǳܲ� adjective
�Դǲ�d��·�ٳ�ǲ�g�� adjective

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of diphthong¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English diptonge, from Late Latin diphthongus, from Greek ��í��ٳ�ǲԲ��ǲ� literally, “having two sounds,” equivalent to di- di- ¹ + ��ٳ�ó�Բ��ǲ� “voice, sound”

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of diphthong¹

C15: from Late Latin diphthongus, from Greek diphthongos, from di- ¹+ phthongos sound

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There’s a special note of aggressive contempt that can be layered into the diphthongs and glottal stops of what linguists call Inland North American English, and Carone used it lavishly.

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Even the big diphthongs that my grandfather’s years in the States had tamped down swelled back to their former glory in this company.

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He erodes consonants, turns simple vowels into unpredictable diphthongs, and takes each new sentence as an opportunity for rococo improvisation.

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I begin by pronouncing words with vowels of the long and short variety, then diphthongs, before moving on to consonants, including plosives and fricatives.

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Some aspects of the pronunciation, such as the diphthong in words like "fight", are becoming more marked.

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