trigraph

[ trahy-graf, -grahf ]

noun

1. a group of three letters representing a single speech sound, as eau in beau.

trigraph

/ ˈtraɪˌɡrɑːf; -ˌɡræf; traɪˈɡræfɪk /

noun

1. a combination of three letters used to represent a single speech sound or phoneme, such as eau in French beau

Derived Forms

• trigraphic, adjective

Other Words From

• tri·graph·ic [trahy-, graf, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of trigraph¹

First recorded in 1830–40; tri- + -graph

Example Sentences

Trigraph, trī′graf, n. a combination of three letters sounded as one, a triphthong.

From Project Gutenberg

A vowel trigraph in which all three of the vowels are sounded.

From Project Gutenberg