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Diphthongs in English
04.03.2025
4 minutes to read
Diphthongs are cool sounds in English that seem to be made up of two sounds but are pronounced as one. For example, in the word time, the sound [aɪ] starts as "a" and ends as "y". Or in the word go, [əʊ], first an "e", then a "y".
Essentially, diphthongs are like a skateboard: you push off from one sound and land on another. They make speech smooth and beautiful, so if you want to speak like a native speaker, you should definitely make friends with them!
Essentially, diphthongs are like a skateboard: you push off from one sound and land on another. They make speech smooth and beautiful, so if you want to speak like a native speaker, you should definitely make friends with them!
Table of contents
Diphthongs in English are those tricky sounds that can't just stand still. They start out as one sound and end up as a completely different sound. But it happens so smoothly that it feels like it's just one sound, not two. For example, in the word face ([eɪ]), you hear "e" at first, but by the end it turns into "y". Or in the word home ([əʊ]), it seems to have an "e" at first, but then it changes to a "y".
Imagine a diphthong is like a skateboard for your tongue. You push off with one vowel, accelerate, and smoothly slide off to the next. Or like a roller coaster - you start at one height, then go up or down, all in one syllable! It is because of diphthongs that English speech seems so melodic and flowing, rather than choppy, as in some other languages, for example.
There are a total of 8 main diphthongs in English: [aɪ] (time), [eɪ] (cake), [ɔɪ] (boy), [aʊ] (house), [əʊ] (go), [ɪə] (here), [eə] (care), and [ʊə] (tour).
Why is it important to be able to pronounce them correctly? Because if you mix them up or don't finish them, the word can become incomprehensible or even turn into another word! For example, if you forget the "y" in the word ride ([aɪ]) and just say [a:], you get rod, which is a completely different word.
So if you want to sound like a real speaker, you can't go without diphthongs! They make speech lively, natural and beautiful. The main thing - don't be afraid to pull them and change the sound, then English will sound cool and clear.
Imagine a diphthong is like a skateboard for your tongue. You push off with one vowel, accelerate, and smoothly slide off to the next. Or like a roller coaster - you start at one height, then go up or down, all in one syllable! It is because of diphthongs that English speech seems so melodic and flowing, rather than choppy, as in some other languages, for example.
There are a total of 8 main diphthongs in English: [aɪ] (time), [eɪ] (cake), [ɔɪ] (boy), [aʊ] (house), [əʊ] (go), [ɪə] (here), [eə] (care), and [ʊə] (tour).
Why is it important to be able to pronounce them correctly? Because if you mix them up or don't finish them, the word can become incomprehensible or even turn into another word! For example, if you forget the "y" in the word ride ([aɪ]) and just say [a:], you get rod, which is a completely different word.
So if you want to sound like a real speaker, you can't go without diphthongs! They make speech lively, natural and beautiful. The main thing - don't be afraid to pull them and change the sound, then English will sound cool and clear.
What are diphthongs in English
How to read diphthongs in English: basic rules
Since diphthongs are two sounds that are smoothly combined into one, it is important to pronounce them correctly, so as not to confuse them with regular vowels. Here are some important rules to help you deal with them:
1️⃣ Pronounce smoothly, without pauses
When you pronounce a diphthong, imagine that the two sounds should come together "smoothly," like two cool friends who can't part. For example, in the word ride [raɪd], you start with "a" but don't stop there, but go straight to "y". This means you can't pause, otherwise you won't say ride, but something like ra-ayd, and that would be wrong.
2️⃣ Don't forget the second sound
Sometimes it's tempting to say just the first sound and that's it. But if you forget the second sound, you can change the word altogether. For example, if you forget the "u" in the word go [ɡəʊ], you will get not "go" but "gae", and that's not the same! So always confidently bring the diphthong to the end.
3️⃣ Looking at the letters but thinking about the sounds
Or, more accurately, "don't judge by the letters." The letters are like clues, but the sounds themselves may be a little different. For example, in the word ear in British English, the diphthong [ɪə] will sound like i-e (and in the American version, just i - [ɪr]). It's important not to look at the letters, but to focus more on the sounds, because they can vary greatly from accent to accent.
4️⃣ Sometimes a diphthong turns into a regular sound
Diphthongs can sound different in different accents. For example, if you hear the word tour, in British English it will be with a diphthong [ʊə], like u-e. But in some accents, like American English, it might just sound like [ɔː], as in the word more. It's a cool feature of the language - it changes depending on where you are.
Let's now look at a table with examples of diphthongs and how to pronounce them:
1️⃣ Pronounce smoothly, without pauses
When you pronounce a diphthong, imagine that the two sounds should come together "smoothly," like two cool friends who can't part. For example, in the word ride [raɪd], you start with "a" but don't stop there, but go straight to "y". This means you can't pause, otherwise you won't say ride, but something like ra-ayd, and that would be wrong.
2️⃣ Don't forget the second sound
Sometimes it's tempting to say just the first sound and that's it. But if you forget the second sound, you can change the word altogether. For example, if you forget the "u" in the word go [ɡəʊ], you will get not "go" but "gae", and that's not the same! So always confidently bring the diphthong to the end.
3️⃣ Looking at the letters but thinking about the sounds
Or, more accurately, "don't judge by the letters." The letters are like clues, but the sounds themselves may be a little different. For example, in the word ear in British English, the diphthong [ɪə] will sound like i-e (and in the American version, just i - [ɪr]). It's important not to look at the letters, but to focus more on the sounds, because they can vary greatly from accent to accent.
4️⃣ Sometimes a diphthong turns into a regular sound
Diphthongs can sound different in different accents. For example, if you hear the word tour, in British English it will be with a diphthong [ʊə], like u-e. But in some accents, like American English, it might just sound like [ɔː], as in the word more. It's a cool feature of the language - it changes depending on where you are.
Let's now look at a table with examples of diphthongs and how to pronounce them:
What's important to remember:
Pronounce the diphthong not as two separate sounds, but as a smooth transition.
Listen to how native speakers pronounce it and try to repeat it.
Try saying these diphthongs slowly and carefully in front of a mirror to see how your lips and tongue move.
Diphthongs are not that hard to deal with! The main thing is not to be afraid to pull them, and then your English will sound smooth and natural.
Pronounce the diphthong not as two separate sounds, but as a smooth transition.
Listen to how native speakers pronounce it and try to repeat it.
Try saying these diphthongs slowly and carefully in front of a mirror to see how your lips and tongue move.
Diphthongs are not that hard to deal with! The main thing is not to be afraid to pull them, and then your English will sound smooth and natural.
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