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definitions

monophthong

[ mon-uh f-thawng, -thong ]
/ ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ, -ˌθɒŋ /

noun Phonetics.

a vowel retaining the same quality throughout its duration.

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Nearby words

  1. monophobia,
  2. monophonic,
  3. monophony,
  4. monophosphate,
  5. monophthalmos,
  6. monophthongize,
  7. monophyletic,
  8. monophyllous,
  9. monophysite,
  10. monophysitic
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. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for monophthong

monophthong

/ (ˈmɒnəfˌθɒŋ) /

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