Diphthongs are sounds which consist of a movement or glide from one vowel

to another.
According to J.C. Wells: a diphthong is a complex vowel, a sequence of two
vowel qualities within a single syllable.

( )
e
Longer: day made game
Shorter: eight tape safe

a Longer: fly mine hide

Shorter: fight like ice

Longer: boy noise coin

ɔ Shorter: choice voice
 /eɪ/
 -et endings: ballet, bouquet, filet, valet
/aɪ/
 is+l : island, Isla, islet BUT: islam, Isleworth
/aɪz(ə)lwɜ:θ/, Izlington /ɪzlɪŋtən/
 Estonian Rein sein meil

 English rain sane mail

 Rein töötas eile Keilas
 Estonian: taim sai lai mai

 English: time sigh lie my

 See vai sai natuke lai
 Estonian: poi koi loid

 English: boy coy Lloyd

 Koit oli loid ja väsinud ning kõndis roidunult
mööda teed
 a℧
Longer: how loud round
Shorter: shout mouse about

ə℧
Longer: so low home
Shorter: rope oak post
 Estonian: laud raund kauboi

 English: loud round cowboy

 Kauboi kaotas teise raundi
 eə

ə
Longer i: - dear beard fears
Reduced  - pierce fierce

Spelling of ə: all -eer as in beer, steer Spelling of eə: all -air as in fair
many -ere as in here, mere many -are as in care
-ear as in dear, fear -ary as in Mary
less common: -ier as in pierce less common: -ear as in pear
-eir as in weird exceptions: -ere as in there
-eir as in their
 Here’s your spare spear on this rear chair

 It’s sheer despair that made him dare to

interfere

 They’re cutting their hairy beards with a pair

of shears
 e : e ə a : aə
 pay payer eye ire
 grey greyer spy spire
 convey conveyor why wire
 betray betrayer high higher

 a℧ : a℧ə ə℧ : ə℧ ə
 bow bowels grow grower
 sow sour low lower
 Pow! power row rower
 ɔ ɔ ə
 Roy royal
 boy buoyant