/ ˈdɪfθɒŋ; ˈdɪp-; NAmE -θɔːŋ/ noun
( phonetics ) a combination of two vowel sounds or vowel letters, for example the sounds /aɪ/ in pipe /paɪp/ or the letters ou in doubt
—compare monophthong , triphthong
► diph·thong·al / dɪfˈθɒŋgl; dɪp-; NAmE -ˈθɔːŋgl/ adjective
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from French diphtongue , via late Latin from Greek diphthongos , from di- twice + phthongos voice, sound.