Diphthongs
Use Diphthongs in a sentence
θɔŋ, -θɒŋ, ˈdɪp- noun
1.
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.
2.
a.
a digraph, as the ea of meat.
b.
a ligature, as æ.
verb (used with object), verb (used without object)
3.
to diphthongize.
Origin:
1425–75; late Middle English diptonge < Late Latin diphthongus < Greek díphthongos literally, having two sounds (di- di-1 + phthóngos voice, sound)
1425–75; late Middle English diptonge < Late Latin diphthongus < Greek díphthongos literally, having two sounds (di- di-1 + phthóngos voice, sound)
Related forms
non·diph·thon·gal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To diphthongs
00:10
Diphthongs
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
diphthong (ˈdɪfθɒŋ, ˈdɪp-) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | 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 () |
| 2. | a digraph or ligature representing a composite vowel such as this, as ae in Caesar |
| [C15: from Late Latin diphthongus, from Greek diphthongos, from | |
| diph'thongal | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
diphthong
late 15c., from M.Fr., from L.L., from Gk. diphthongos, from di- "double" + phthongos "sound, voice," related to phthengesthai "utter, speak loudly."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
Use knowledge of spelling patterns such as diphthongs, and special vowel spellings when reading.
Sounds of individual letters, digraphs, and diphthongs are blended to form syllables.
Pronounce long and short vowels, blends, and diphthongs.
Demonstrate the difference between pure vowels and diphthongs.
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