triphthong

[ trif-thawng, -thong, trip- ]

noun

1. 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.
2. (not in technical use) a trigraph.

triphthong

/ ˈtrɪp-; ˈtrɪfθɒŋ /

noun

1. a composite vowel sound during the articulation of which the vocal organs move from one position through a second, ending in a third
2. a trigraph representing a composite vowel sound such as this

Derived Forms

• triphˈthongal, adjective

Other Words From

• triph·thong·al [trif-, thawng, -g, uh, l, -, thong, -, trip-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of triphthong¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of triphthong¹

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

Example Sentences

Only the first two of these four words contain a triphthong.

From Project Gutenberg

The triphthong is properly a union of letters, not sounds.

From Project Gutenberg

I is joined with eu in lieu, and ew in view; which triphthongs are sounded as the open u.

From Project Gutenberg

But he is wrong here by his own showing: he should rather have called it a triphthong.

From Project Gutenberg

Probably the most striking feature of the pronunciation is the unusual number of diphthongs and triphthongs, both ascending and descending.

From Project Gutenberg