How to pronounce diphthong
Say it like DIF-thawng. Diphthong has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DIF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce diphthong. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DIF
- thawng
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Diphthong pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- thawngGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of diphthong
American and British speakers say diphthong in essentially the same way: /ˈdɪfˌθɔŋ/ in the US and /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: DIF-thong.
What does diphthong mean?
- 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.
Questions about saying diphthong
How do you pronounce diphthong?
Say DIF-thawng. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɪfˌθɔŋ/. In British English it is /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in diphthong?
Diphthong has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DIF). Broken into parts: DIF · thawng.
Do Americans and Brits say diphthong the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɪfˌθɔŋ/ and the British form is /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.