Diphthong

Definitions

1. A complex vowel sound that begins with the sound of one vowel and ends with the sound of another vowel, in the same syllable.
2. A diaphoneme realized as a two-target vowel in some but not necessarily all dialects.
3. A vowel digraph or ligature.
   rare

Equivalents

Examples

“In Lang Belta vowels usually appear⟳ preceding or following a consonant (see⟳ previous examples), and as of now no occurrence of diphthongs or triphthongs has been attested.”

“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.”

“An improper diphthong has only one of the vowels sounded; as, ea in heat, oa in coal.”

“The diphthong ae is sounded like⟳ ē (§7); that is, it has the sound⟳ of ey in they.”

CEFR level