triphthong Hear it!

triphthong definition

triph·thong (trif′t̸hôŋ)

noun

  1. a complex vowel sound involving three continuous vowel sounds in one syllable (Ex.: fire, as in the British pronunciation, IPA [faə])
  2. loosely a trigraph

Etymology: tri- + (di)phthong

Related Forms:

  • triphthongal triph·thon′·gal (-t̸hôŋ′gəl) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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