diphthong

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diph·thong / ˈdifˌ[unvoicedth]äng; ˈdip-; -ˌ[unvoicedth]ông/ • n. a sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, in which the sound begins as one vowel and moves toward another (as in coin, loud, and side). Often contrasted with monophthong, triphthong. ∎  a digraph representing the sound of a diphthong or single vowel (as in feat). ∎  a compound vowel character; a ligature (such as æ).DERIVATIVES: diph·thon·gal / difˈ[unvoicedth]änggəl; dip-; -ˈ[unvoicedth]ông-/ adj.

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