In phonetics, a diphthong (Greek δίφθογγος, "diphthongos", literally with two sounds) is a vowel combination usually involving a quick but smooth movement from one vowel to another, often interpreted by listeners as a single vowel sound or phoneme. While "pure" vowels, or monophthongs, are said to have one target tongue position, diphthongs have a moving tongue. Pure vowels are represented in the International Phonetic Alphabet by one symbol: English "seem" as [ sim], for example. Diphthongs are represented by two symbols, for example English "same" as [ seɪm], where the two vowel symbols are intended to represent approximately the beginning and ending tongue positions. Phonetics (from the Greek word phone = sound/voice) is the study of speech sounds (voice). ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... In spoken language, a phoneme is a basic, theoretical unit of sound that can distinguish words (i. ... A monophthong (in Greek μονόφθογγος = single note) is a pure vowel sound, one whose articulation at both beginning and end is relatively fixed, and which does not glide up or down towards a new position of articulation; compare diphthong. ... The International Phonetic Alphabet is a phonetic alphabet used by linguists to accurately and uniquely represent each of the wide variety of sounds (phones or phonemes) the human vocal apparatus can produce. ...

Falling diphthongs are stressed on the first element; rising diphthongs on the second. In Closing diphthongs, the second element is closer than the first; in opening diphthongs, more opened. Some languages contrast short and long diphthongs. Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ... Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ...

The unstressed elements of the diphthongs may be transcribed as semivowels. However, when the whole diphthong is analysed as being one single phoneme, both elements are often transcribed as vowels. Semivowels (sometimes called semiconsonants) are vowels that function as consonants. ... In spoken language, a phoneme is a basic, theoretical unit of sound that can distinguish words (i. ...

Diphthongs in English: The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

• [aʊ] as in house
• [aɪ] as in kite
• [eɪ] as in same
• [juː] as in few (This is phonemically analyzed as a sequence of a semivowel and a monophthong.)
• [oʊ] as in hope
• [oɪ] as in join

(see International Phonetic Alphabet for English for more) In spoken language, a phoneme is a basic, theoretical unit of sound that can distinguish words (i. ... Semivowels (sometimes called semiconsonants) are vowels that function as consonants. ... Symbols of the International Phonetic Alphabet. ...

Diphthongs in British English (RP): Diagram showing the geographical locations of selected languages and dialects of the British Isles. ... Received Pronunciation (RP) is a form of pronunciation of the English language, usually defined as the educated spoken English of southeastern England. This is a prescriptivist point-of-view — it is quite possible for an intelligent, educated individual to use a non-standard dialect. ...

• [əʊ] as in hope
• [aʊ] as in house
• [aɪ] as in kite
• [eɪ] as in same
• [juː] as in few (This is phonemically analyzed as a sequence of a semivowel and a monophthong.)
• [oɪ] as in join
• [ɪə] as in fear
• [ɛə] as in hair
• [ʊə] as in poor
• [ɔə] as in more

The latter four diphthongs also occur in Boston English. Phonological characteristics All phonetic transcriptions in X-SAMPA; for example: how are you? howa:j@ Deletion of post-vocalic r` The traditional Boston accent is non-rhotic; in other words, the phoneme r` does not appear at the end of a syllable or immediately before a consonant. ...

Diphthongs in Spanish:

• [ja] as in comedia
• [je] as in tierra
• [jo] as in dio
• [ju] as in ciudad
• [wa] as in guante
• [we] as in fuego
• [wi] as in pingüino
• [wo] as in ambiguo
• [aj] as in hay
• [ej] as in rey
• [oj] as in hoy
• [uj] as in muy
• [aw] as in Jauja
• [ew] as in feudo

Some Diphthongs in French:

• [wa] as in roi
• [wi] as in oui
• [ɥi] as in huit
• [jɛ̃] as in bien
• [jɛ] as in Ariège

Diphthongs in Finnish

• [ai] as in laiva
• [ei] as in keinu
• [oi] as in poika
• [ui] as in uida
• [yi] as in lyijy
• [æi] as in äiti
• [øi] as in öisin
• [ie] as in kieli
• [au] as in lauha
• [eu] as in leuto
• [iu] as in viulu
• [ou] as in koulu
• [ey] as in leyhyä
• [iy] as in siistiytyä
• [æy] as in täysi
• [øy] as in löytää
• [uo] as in suo
• [yø] as in yö

Diphthongs in German:

• [aɪ] as in Reich
• [aʊ] as in Maus
• [ɔʏ] as in neu

Diphthongs in Northern Sami Northern Saami (also, Sámi or Sami, formerly Lapp) can be divided into a three major dialect groups: Torne, Finnmark and Sea Sami. ...

• [eæ] as in leat
• [ie] as in giella
• [oa] as in boahtit
• [uo] as in vuodjat

Some Diphthongs in Bernese German (a Swiss German dialect): Bernese German is the High Alemannic dialect spoken in the Swiss plateau (Mittelland) part of the canton of Bern and in some neighbouring regions. ... Swiss German (Schweizerdeutsch, Schwyzerdütsch, Schwiizerdütsch, Schwyzertütsch) is any of the Alemannic dialects spoken in Switzerland. ...

• [iə] as in Bier 'beer'
• [yə] as in Füess 'feet'
• [uə] as in Schue 'shoes'
• [ow] as in Stou 'holdup'
• [aw] as in Stau 'stable'
• [aːw] as in Staau 'steel'
• [æw] as in Wäut 'world'
• [æːw] as in wääut 'elects'
• [ʊw] as in tschúud 'guilty'

In Italian a vowel combination can be a dittongo (en. diphthong) or a iato (en. hiatus). Note: This page contains phonetic information presented in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) using Unicode. ...

• paùra, faìna are not diphthongs.
• zaino, fuori, Europa are diphthongs.
• fuoco, fiume are rising diphthongs.
• faida, feudo are falling diphthongs.

See also

• List of phonetics topics
• triphthong