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Diphthong OY / Choice Vowel
The diphthong vowel sound heard in words like "boy", "noise", "coin", and "toy". Often called the CHOICE vowel. It starts with a mid-back rounded vowel /ɔ/ (like in 'caught') and glides towards a high front unrounded vowel /ɪ/ (like in 'sit').
Start with the jaw mid-open, tongue low-mid and back, lips rounded (/ɔ/). Then, glide the tongue high and forward while unrounding the lips and closing the jaw slightly for the /ɪ/ sound.
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Example Words
bɔɪnɔɪzkɔɪntɔɪvɔɪstʃɔɪspɔɪntdʒɔɪnɔɪlɪnˈdʒɔɪPronunciation Practice
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bɔɪlbaɪltɔɪtaɪkɔɪnkaɪnTongue Twister
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Use the hub pages below to reinforce this sound with drills and deeper explanations.
Sound Hub
Study English diphthongs
See how English gliding vowels work and where they appear in common words.
Practice
Practice English diphthongs
Train the glide and mouth movement behind the main diphthong patterns.
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Pronunciation
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Spanish, Portuguese, and French speakers often turn English diphthongs into flat vowels, making 'say' sound like 'seh' and 'go' like 'goh.' Learn exactly why this happens and how to master the glide in all five English diphthongs.