In phonetics, a triphthong is a monosyllabic vowel combination usually involving a quick but smooth movement from one vowel to another that passes over a third one.
While "pure" vowels, or monophthongs, are said to have one target tongue position, triphthongs have a moving tongue.
Triphthongs stressed on the second element in Spanish:
- [] as in buey
- [waj] as in Uruguay
Triphthongs stressed on the first element in Bernese German (a Swiss German dialect):
- [iə̯w] as in Gieu 'boy'
- [yə̯w] as in Gfüeu 'feeling'
- [uə̯w] as in Schueu 'school'
- [yə̯j] as in Müej 'trouble'
Triphthongs stressed on the first element in British English:
- [aʊə] as in hour
- [aɪə] as in fire
See also
