Dictionary.com

monophthong

[ mon-uhf-thawng, -thong ]
/ ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ, -ˌθɒŋ /
Save This Word!
noun Phonetics.
a vowel retaining the same quality throughout its duration.
QUIZ
ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?
We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.
Question 1 of 8
Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?
navy
beryl
azure
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT
Meet Grammar CoachWrite or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar helpImprove Your Writing
Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing
Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help
Compare diphthong.

Origin of monophthong

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

OTHER WORDS FROM monophthong

mon·oph·thon·gal [mon-uhf-thawng-guhl, -thong-], /ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ gəl, -ˌθɒŋ-/, adjective

Words nearby monophthong

monophobia, monophonic, monophony, monophosphate, monophthalmos, monophthong, monophthongize, monophyletic, monophyllous, Monophysite, monoplane
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

British Dictionary definitions for monophthong

monophthong
/ (ˈmɒnəfˌθɒŋ) /
noun
a simple or pure vowel

Derived forms of monophthong

monophthongal (ˌmɒnəfˈθɒŋɡəl), adjective

Word Origin for monophthong

C17: from Greek monophthongos, from mono- + thongos sound
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK