In words like day, go, my, now and boy, the American vowel is not one steady sound. It starts in one place and glides, or slides, to another. A sound that glides like this is called a diphthong (DIF-thawng). In this episode: • Ay, as in day • Oh, as in go • Y, ow and oy: the wide glides • Long ee and long oo • Listening scene • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: let (LET) — allow; late (LAYT) — not on time wet (WET) — covered in water; wait (WAYT) — stay until something happens pen (PEN) — for writing; pain (PAYN) — hurt get (GET) — receive; gate (GAYT) — the door in a fence Let's bake a cake on Sunday. — make a cake in the oven Wait, I'm almost ready. — please stay a moment (casual) not (NAHT) — no; note (NOHT) — a short message cot (KAHT) — a small bed; coat (KOHT) — a jacket for cold weather hop (HAHP) — jump; hope (HOHP) — want something good to happen It's cold, grab your coat. — take your jacket (casual) Can you close the window? — shut it Leave Mom a note on the fridge. — a short written message Turn off the light. — switch it off What time is it? — the hour Can you hang up the towel? — put it on the hook Sit down on the couch. — take a seat Pick up your toys. — put them away Boil the water for the pasta. — heat it until it bubbles Clean your room. — tidy it Where are your shoes? — a question about shoes Season 2 · Real American English: the complete spoken course for learners worldwide — accent, everyday grammar, prepositions, articles, phrasal verbs, idioms, slang and real conversations at home. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.