How Do You Spell TRIPHTHONG?

Pronunciation: [tɹˈɪfθɒŋ] (IPA)

The spelling of "Triphthong" is unique due to the presence of three consecutive vowel sounds in the word. It is spelled as /trɪfθɒŋ/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet. The first three letters "tri" signify three, and "phthong" refers to a sound made by a combination of two or more vowels. The "th" digraph indicates the voiceless dental fricative sound, which is followed by the "o" vowel sound and ends with the nasal velar sound /ŋ/.

TRIPHTHONG Meaning and Definition

1. A triphthong is a term used in linguistics to denote a specific type of vowel sound that consists of three distinct elements or monophthongs said without interruption. It is essentially a combination of three vowel sounds pronounced consecutively within a single syllable. Unlike a diphthong, which involves the glide between two vowels, a triphthong involves a glide between three vowel sounds.

   Triphthongs usually occur in languages where vowel combinations are commonly found, such as in Spanish, Portuguese, and Indonesian. Examples of triphthongs in English include the word "fire" /faɪər/ and "hour" /aʊər/. In these examples, the triphthongs involve a transition between three vowel sounds without pause, forming a single syllable.

   The three vowels of a triphthong are often referred to as the beginning, medial, and final elements. For example, in the word "fire," the triphthong consists of the vowels /aɪə/. The 'a' functions as the starting element, the 'ɪ' as the medial element, and the 'ə' as the final element.

   Triphthongs have distinct effects on the overall pronunciation and syllable structure of words. Understanding and recognizing triphthongs is crucial in accurately interpreting and pronouncing words in languages where they occur. They play a significant role in the phonetic system of these languages, adding complexity and diversity to their vowel sounds.

2. A combination of three vowels in one sound.

   Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for TRIPHTHONG

• triphtong
• Tripthohng

Etymology of TRIPHTHONG

The word "triphthong" comes from the Greek roots "tri-" meaning "three" and "phthongos" meaning "sound" or "voice". In ancient Greek, a "phthongos" referred to a vowel sound or a syllable. The prefix "tri-" indicates that there are three vowel sounds or syllables combined in a single unit. Therefore, "triphthong" is used to describe a sequence of three vowel sounds that are pronounced together without interruption.

Plural form of TRIPHTHONG is TRIPHTHONGS