What is a diphthong?

What is a diphthong?

• A. A sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, where the sound begins as one vowel and moves toward another.
• B. A consonant blend of two sounds.
• C. A vowel that stands alone as a syllable.
• D. A three-letter sequence that forms a new sound.

Answer: (A)

A diphthong is a vowel sound that starts with one vowel sound and glides into another within the same syllable. Your mouth moves from one vowel position to another as you say it, so the sound changes during the syllable. For example, in words like coin, out, and say, the vowel sound isn’t fixed; it shifts as you pronounce the word. This is different from a single, steady vowel sound where the mouth stays in one position. The other descriptions describe consonant blends, a vowel that stands alone as a syllable, or a letter sequence that creates a new sound, none of which capture that glide of two vowel qualities in one syllable.

A diphthong is a vowel sound that starts with one vowel sound and glides into another within the same syllable. Your mouth moves from one vowel position to another as you say it, so the sound changes during the syllable. For example, in words like coin, out, and say, the vowel sound isn’t fixed; it shifts as you pronounce the word. This is different from a single, steady vowel sound where the mouth stays in one position. The other descriptions describe consonant blends, a vowel that stands alone as a syllable, or a letter sequence that creates a new sound, none of which capture that glide of two vowel qualities in one syllable.