falling diphthong
noun Phonetics.
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.
Nearby words
faller, fallfish, fallible, falling action, falling band, falling diphthong, falling door, falling down drunk, falling of womb, falling rhythm, falling sickness
Compare rising diphthong.
Origin of falling diphthong
First recorded in 1885–90
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019