English Diphthongs
Diphthongs are sounds formed by combining two vowels in a single syllable. The sound starts as one vowel and moves toward another, creating a slide or glide.
About English Diphthongs
English has several diphthongs, which are sometimes challenging for language learners because they require a smooth transition from one vowel position to another. Rather than two separate vowel sounds, a diphthong is a single sound unit in which the tongue moves from one position to another. Some linguists categorize "long vowels" in English as diphthongs because they often involve a slight change in position during pronunciation.
Long I (eye)
The "eye" sound consists of the short "a" and short "i" sounds glided together.
OW (how)
The "how" sound blends a short "a" with a "w" sound.
OY (boy)
The "boy" sound combines the short "o" with a short "i" sound.
Long O (go)
The "go" sound starts with a short "o" and glides toward a "w" sound.
Long A (day)
The "day" sound starts with a short "e" and glides toward a short "i" sound.