English Diphthongs

Diphthongs consist of a sequence of vowels which form a single syllable. One of the vowels moves from one position to another and can thus be termed a glide. Glides can form the first or second component of the diphthong. The number of English diphthongs varies in rhotic and non-rhotic varieties.

English diphthongs occur in the words bay, by, boy, no and now. The diphthongs in bay, boy and now start with a mid vowel while the diphthongs in by and now start with a low vowel. The vowel quality of diphthongs can vary from one dialect to another. For example, the low vowel in the diphthong now can be a front vowel, central vowel or back vowel.

Non-rhotic varieties of English such as Received Pronunciation have more diphthongs. These diphthongs are the historic result of the loss of the alveolar approximant in the syllable coda. In certain positions, however, the consonant did not disappear but became a schwa. This is the case in words such as here, there and tour. 

Diphthongs are common in English. They consist of two vowels, and one of them moves from one position to another. Non- rhotic varieties of English include Received Pronunciation. Unlike rhotic varieties such as American, Canadian and Irish, they have more diphthongs. The additional diphthongs end with a schwa.