rising diphthong
noun Phonetics.
a diphthong in which the first of two apparent vocalic elements is of lesser stress or sonority than the second, as the (wä) in guava [gwah-vuh] /ˈgwɑ və/.
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Are There Any Words That Use “W” As A Vowel?“Cwm” (a steep-walled semicircular basin in a mountain, sometimes containing a lake; a cirque) and “crwth” (an ancient Celtic musical instrument), both from the Welsh, use w as a vowel – standing for the same sound that oo stands for in boom and booth. “Crwth” is also spelled “crowd.” However, in words like “low” and “bow,” one can make a good case that the letter w represents a vowel. Both of these words end …
Nearby words
- risibility,
- risible,
- rising,
- rising action,
- rising damp,
- rising hinge,
- rising rhythm,
- rising sign,
- rising trot,
- risk
Compare falling diphthong.
Origin of rising diphthong
First recorded in 1885–90
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019