A guide to Diphthongs: Diphthongs move from one vowel sound to another in the same syllable, which gives British English its characteristic sound and makes speech more fluid. Here are some key diphthongs and how to say them: /eɪ/ as in "day" /aɪ/ as in "fly" /ɔɪ/ as in "boy" /əʊ/ as in "go" /aʊ/ as in "house" /ɪə/ as in "near" /eə/ as in "hair" /ʊə/ as in "tour" /aɪ/ as in "fly" – Start with your mouth open and move to a higher position, blending the “a” and “i” sounds together /əʊ/ as in "go" – Begin with your mouth slightly open and then round your lips, merging the “o” and “u” sounds smoothly /aʊ/ as in "house" – Open your mouth wide at first and then round it, combining “a” and “u” /ɔɪ/ as in "boy" – Start with a rounded and half-open mo, then move to a higher position, blending the “o” and “i” sounds Once you are confident in using these vowel changes, you will sound more natural and fluent. So, how about giving the questions below a try to see how well you can understand diphthongs? --- QUESTIONS --- How do you pronounce the diphthong in “fly”? Try saying it out loud and notice the glide from one vowel sound to the next. How would you achieve the diphthong sound “go”? Practice moving from a mid-open position to a rounded one. How about the difference between the diphthong in “day” and the one in “house”? Try comparing these sounds and spotting the difference. Can you blend the sounds in “boy” smoothly? Practice saying this word and focus on how you transition between the vowel sounds