How to pronounce monophthong
Say it like MON-uf-thawng. Monophthong has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce monophthong. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MON
- uf
- thawng
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Monophthong pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ufKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- thawngGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of monophthong
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: MON-uf-thongg.
What does monophthong mean?
- A vowel (in the sense of a sound rather than a letter of the alphabet) that has the same sound throughout its pronunciation, such as the short vowels in "pap", "pep", "pip", "pop" and "pup", as opposed to a diphthong (eg, /aɪ/, the vowel in "pipe") or a triphthong (eg, /aɪə/, the sound in the non-rh
Questions about saying monophthong
How do you pronounce monophthong?
Say MON-uf-thawng. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɑnəfˌθɔŋ/. In British English it is /ˈmɒnəfˌθɒŋɡ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in monophthong?
Monophthong has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MON). Broken into parts: MON · uf · thawng.
Is monophthong pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈmɒnəfˌθɒŋɡ/ (MON-uf-thongg).