falling diphthong
nounPhonetics.
a diphthong in which the first of the two apparent vocalic elements is of greater stress or sonority and the second is of lesser stress or sonority, as in (ī), (ou), (oi), etc.
Origin of falling diphthong
1First recorded in 1885–90
- Compare rising diphthong.
Words Nearby falling diphthong
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
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