monophthong
[
mon
-
uh
f-thawng, -thong]
/ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ, -ˌθɒŋ/
noun
,
Phonetics
1.
a vowel retaining the same quality throughout its duration.
Compare
diphthong
.
Origin
1610-20;
<
Greek
monóphthongos
equivalent to
mono-
mono-
+
phthóngos
sound
Related forms
monophthongal
[
mon
-
uh
f-thawng-g
uh
l, -thong-]
/ˈmɒn əfˌθɔŋ gəl, -ˌθɒŋ-/
(
Show IPA
),
adjective
British Dictionary definitions for
monophthong
monophthong
/
ˈmɒnəfˌθɒŋ
/
noun
1.
a simple or pure vowel
Derived Forms
monophthongal
(
ˌmɒnəfˈθɒŋɡ
ə
l
)
adjective
Word Origin
C17: from Greek
monophthongos,
from
mono-
+
thongos
sound