What are Diphthongs
A diphthong is when two vowel sounds come together in a single syllable. It means blending two vowel sounds into one. For example:
In the word “hound,” the vowel sound starts with an “a” and glides smoothly into an “oo.” So, it’s like saying “h-ow-nd” all in one go!
Another example is the word “cheer.” Here, the vowel sound begins with an “ee” and slides into an “uh.” So, it’s like saying “ch-ee-r” without any pauses.
Common Diphthongs and Examples:
|
Symbol |
Sounds Like | Examples | ||||
| /aɪ/ | “eye” | time | light | tie | cry | sky |
| /eɪ/ | “ay” | break | pray | day | say | pay |
| /əʊ/ | “oh” | no | slow | boat | coat | phone |
| /ɑʊ/ | “ow” | how | now | cow | brown | crowd |
| /eə/ | “air” | lair | bear | stair | pair | dare |
| /ɪə/ | “ear” | cheer | pier | near | hear | sear |
| /ɔɪ/ | “oy” | boy | coin | joy | coy | soy |
| /ʊə/ | “oor” | pure | cure | tour | tourist |
allure |
|
Symbol |
Sounds Like |
| /aɪ/ |
“eye” Eg: time, light, tie, cry, sky |
| /eɪ/ |
“ay” Eg: break, pray, day, say, pay |
| /əʊ/ |
“oh” Eg: no, slow, boat, coat, phone |
| /ɑʊ/ |
“ow” Eg: how, now, cow, brown, crowd |
| /eə/ |
“air” Eg: lair, bear, stair, pair, dare |
| /ɪə/ |
“ear” Eg: cheer, pier, near, hear, sear |
| /ɔɪ/ |
“oy” Eg: boy, coin, joy, coy, soy |
| /ʊə/ |
“oor” Eg: pure, cure, tour, tourist, allure |
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