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.
Read related diphthong guides
Combine the diphthong chart with practical examples, rules, and minimal-pair work.
Pronunciation
What Are Diphthongs? The English Vowels That Move
Diphthongs are vowel sounds where your mouth glides from one position to another. Learn what makes them different from regular vowels and why they matter for clear English pronunciation.
Pronunciation
Why Romance Language Speakers Flatten English Diphthongs (and How to Glide Properly)
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.
Pronunciation
English Diphthongs: Master the oi/oy and ou/ow Sounds (Complete Guide)
Learn to pronounce English diphthongs correctly. Master the sliding vowel sounds oi/oy (as in coin, toy) and ou/ow (as in cloud, cow) with clear examples and practice.
Practice
Practice English diphthongs
Train the glide and mouth movement behind the main diphthong patterns.