1. 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.
Diphthongs ( )

2. Closing diphthongs ending in ɪ
Longer: day made game
Shorter: eight tape safe
Longer: fly mine hide
Shorter: fight like ice
Longer: boy noise coin
Shorter: choice voice a ɔ

3. Some exceptional spellings
-et endings: ballet, bouquet, filet, valet
/aɪ/
is+l : island, Isla, islet BUT: islam, Isleworth /aɪz(ə)lwɜ:θ/, Izlington /ɪzlɪŋtən/

4. Comparison
Estonian Rein sein meil
English rain sane mail

5. Say the sentence with English sounds
Rein töötas eile Keilas

6. Comparison
Estonian: taim sai lai mai
English: time sigh lie my

7. Say the sentence with English sounds
See vai sai natuke lai

8. Comparison
Estonian: poi koi loid
English: boy coy Lloyd

9. Say the sentence with English sounds
Koit oli loid ja väsinud ning kõndis roidunult mööda teed

10. Closing diphthongs ending in ℧a℧
Longer: how loud round
Shorter: shout mouse about ə℧
Longer: so low home
Shorter: rope oak post

11. Comparison
Estonian: laud raund kauboi
English: loud round cowboy

12. Say the sentence with English sounds
Kauboi kaotas teise raundi

13. Centring diphthongs ending in ə
Longer i: - dear beard fears
Reduced  - pierce fierce ə
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

14. ə and eə 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

15. Diphthongs + ə (triphthongs)
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