triphthong

[ trif-thawng, -thong, trip- ]

/ ˈtrɪf θɔŋ, -θɒŋ, ˈtrɪp- /

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noun

Phonetics. a monosyllabic speech-sound sequence perceived as being made up of three differing vowel qualities, as the pronunciation of our, especially in r-dropping dialects.

(not in technical use) a trigraph.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of triphthong

1590–1600; <New Latin triphthongus<Medieval Greek tríphthongos with three vowels, equivalent to tri-tri- + phthóngos voice, sound

OTHER WORDS FROM triphthong

triph·thong·al

[trif-thawng-guhl, -thong-, trip-], /trɪfˈθɔŋ gəl, -ˈθɒŋ-, trɪp-/, adjective

Words nearby triphthong

triphibian, triphibious, trip-hop, triphosphate, triphosphoric acid, triphthong, triphylite, triphyllous, tripinnate, Tripitaka, triplane

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use triphthong in a sentence

Only the first two of these four words contain a triphthong.
Frdric Mistral|Charles Alfred Downer
Triphthong, trif′thong, n. a combination of three vowels to form one sound.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
Trigraph, trī′graf, n. a combination of three letters sounded as one, a triphthong.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements)|Various
This triphthong (aye) is a combination of the slender sound of a, heard in pa-per; and the e in metre.
Notes and Queries, Number 138, June 19, 1852|Various

British Dictionary definitions for triphthong

triphthong

/ (ˈtrɪfθɒŋ, ˈtrɪp-) /

noun

a composite vowel sound during the articulation of which the vocal organs move from one position through a second, ending in a third

a trigraph representing a composite vowel sound such as this

Derived forms of triphthong

triphthongal, adjective

Word Origin for triphthong

C16: via New Latin from Medieval Greek triphthongos, from tri- + phthongos sound; compare diphthong

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