monophthong

[mon-uh f-thawng, -thong]

noun Phonetics.

a vowel retaining the same quality throughout its duration.

Compare diphthong.

Origin of monophthong

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

Related formsmon·oph·thon·gal

[mon-uh f-thawng-guh l, -thong-] /ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ gəl, -ˌθɒŋ-/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for monophthong

monophthong

noun

a simple or pure vowel

Derived Formsmonophthongal (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