diphthongize

American  

[dif-thawng-ahyz, -gahyz, -thong-, dip-] / ˈdɪf θɔŋˌaɪz, -ˌgaɪz, -θɒŋ-, ˈdɪp- /

especially British, diphthongise

verb (used with object)

diphthongized, diphthongizing

1. to change into or pronounce as a diphthong.

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verb (used without object)

diphthongized, diphthongizing

1. to become a diphthong.

diphthongize British  

/ ˈdɪp-, -ˌɡaɪz, ˈdɪfθɒŋˌaɪz /

verb

1. (often passive) to make (a simple vowel) into a diphthong

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Other Word Forms

• diphthongization noun

Etymology

Origin of diphthongize

First recorded in 1865–70; diphthong + -ize

Example Sentences

Many English speakers diphthongize a, i, o, and pronounce late as "la-it," pale as "pa-il," paper as "pa-y-per," road as "row-d," etc.

From Esperanto Self-Taught with Phonetic Pronunciation by Mann, William W.