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Diphthong

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').

Phonetic
oy
Voicing
Voiced
Place of Articulation
Back-to-Front
Manner of Articulation
Vowel (Diphthong)
Mouth Position

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.

How to Make This Sound

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Example Words

boyMain Example
bɔɪ
noise
nɔɪz
coin
kɔɪn
toy
tɔɪ
voice
vɔɪs
choice
tʃɔɪs
point
pɔɪnt
join
dʒɔɪn
oil
ɔɪl
enjoy
ɪnˈdʒɔɪ

Pronunciation Practice

11 words

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Quick Practice

3-5 essential words

Full Practice

All 11 words

Minimal Pairs

Listen and compare similar sounds

oy
boil
bɔɪl
Compare with
B
bile
baɪl
oy
toy
tɔɪ
Compare with
T
tie
taɪ
oy
coin
kɔɪn
Compare with
C
kine
kaɪn

Tongue Twister

Practice: Diphthong
“Roy enjoys the noisy toys.”
Practice this tongue twister to improve your pronunciation