monophthong

American  

[mon-uhf-thawng, -thong] / ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ, -ˌθɒŋ /

noun

Phonetics.

1. a vowel retaining the same quality throughout its duration.

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monophthong British  

/ ˌmɒnəfˈθɒŋɡəl, ˈmɒnəfˌθɒŋ /

noun

1. a simple or pure vowel

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Other Word Forms

• monophthongal adjective

Etymology

Origin of monophthong

1610–20; < Greek monóphthongos equivalent to mono- mono- + phthóngos sound

Example Sentences

Even such a sound as is represented by -au or -aw, though it has but slight diphthongal quality, seems to sound longer than most monophthongs.

From Project Gutenberg

The vowels tend to become higher or lower, the diphthongs tend to coalesce into monophthongs, the voiceless consonants tend to become voiced, stops tend to become spirants.

From Project Gutenberg