Triphthong

Pronunciation: /ˈtraɪfˌθɔŋ/

Definitions of triphthong

noun A speech sound or glide that begins with one vowel sound and moves through a second to end in a third, such as the sounds represented by the vowels in 'ire,' 'your,' and 'lower.'

Example Sentences

A1 A triphthong is a combination of three vowel sounds in one syllable.

A2 In English, the word 'fire' contains a triphthong.

B1 Students learning phonetics often study triphthongs in different languages.

B2 Linguists have identified triphthongs in various dialects around the world.

C1 Understanding the nuances of triphthongs can be challenging for language learners.

C2 The pronunciation of triphthongs can vary greatly depending on the speaker's accent.

Examples of triphthong in a Sentence

formal A triphthong is a combination of three vowel sounds in a single syllable.

informal I learned about triphthongs in my linguistics class and found them quite interesting.

slang I have no idea what a triphthong is, sounds like some kind of alien language.

figurative The triphthong of emotions she felt was evident in her tear-streaked face.

Grammatical Forms of triphthong

• plural: triphthongs
• comparative: more triphthong
• superlative: most triphthong
• present tense: triphthongs
• future tense: will triphthong
• perfect tense: have triphthonged
• continuous tense: is triphthonging
• singular: triphthong
• positive degree: triphthong
• infinitive: to triphthong
• gerund: triphthonging
• participle: triphthonged

Origin and Evolution of triphthong

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'triphthong' originated from the combination of the Greek words 'tri' meaning three and 'phthongos' meaning sound or voice.

Evolution of the word: The term 'triphthong' has remained consistent in its meaning as a sequence of three vowel sounds in a single syllable, but its usage has become more common in linguistic and phonetic studies over time.