Definition of DIPHTHONG

diphthong

Meanings

Plural: diphthongs

Noun

  • a vowel sound that starts near the articulatory position for one vowel and moves toward the position for another
  • A complex vowel sound that begins with the sound of one vowel and ends with the sound of another vowel, in the same syllable.
  • A diaphoneme realized as a two-target vowel in some but not necessarily all dialects.
  • A vowel digraph or ligature.

Origin / Etymology

PIE word
*dwóh₁
From French diphtongue, from Late Latin diphthongus, from Ancient Greek δίφθογγος (díphthongos, “two sounds”), from δίς (dís, “twice”) + φθόγγος (phthóngos, “sound”).

Synonyms

gliding vowel

Scrabble Score: 19

diphthong is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
diphthong is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
diphthong is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 20

diphthong is a valid Words With Friends word