diphthong

noun

diph·​thong ˈdif-ˌthȯŋ How to pronounce diphthong (audio)
ˈdip-
1
linguistics : a gliding (see glide entry 1 sense 4) monosyllabic speech sound (such as the vowel combination at the end of toy) that starts at or near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves to or toward the position of another
2
linguistics : digraph
3
: the ligature (see ligature sense 4) æ or œ
diphthongal
dif-ˈthȯŋ-(g)əl How to pronounce diphthong (audio) dip- How to pronounce diphthong (audio)
adjective

Examples of diphthong in a Sentence

The sounds of “ou” in “out” and of “oy” in “boy” are diphthongs.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Think about it: Is there anything worse than losing your woman to a member of Oasis? Better Man Rated R for familiar vices and unfamiliar diphthongs. — Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times, 25 Dec. 2024 Monday night they were said through tears, out loud, in a cacophony of accents — the lyric diphthongs and soft Ss of Yiddish crashing against the tight vowels and sharp Ts of modern Hebrew — a reminder of the multitude of Jewish ethnicities that call LA. — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English diptonge, from Middle French diptongue, from Late Latin dipthongus, from Greek diphthongos, from di- + phthongos voice, sound

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of diphthong was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing diphthong

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Diphthong.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diphthong. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

diphthong

noun
diph·​thong ˈdif-ˌthȯŋ How to pronounce diphthong (audio)
ˈdip-
: a two-element speech sound that begins with the tongue position for one vowel and ends with the tongue position for another all within one syllable
the sounds of "ou" in "out" and of "oy" in "boy" are diphthongs

More from Merriam-Webster on diphthong

Nglish: Translation of diphthong for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diphthong

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