Editing Diphthong (section)

==Examples==

===Indo-European languages===

====English====
{{See also|International Phonetic Alphabet chart for English dialects}}

In words coming from [[Middle English]], most cases of the Modern English diphthongs {{IPA|[aɪ̯, oʊ̯, eɪ̯, aʊ̯]}} originate from the Middle English long monophthongs {{IPA|[iː, ɔː, aː, uː]}} through the [[Great Vowel Shift]], although some cases of {{IPA|[oʊ̯, eɪ̯]}} originate from the [[Middle English phonology#Diphthongs|Middle English diphthongs]] {{IPA|[ɔu̯, aɪ̯]}}.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Standard English diphthongs
! rowspan="2"|
! rowspan="2"|English<br />[[diaphoneme]]
! rowspan="2"|[[Received Pronunciation|RP]] ([[British English|British]])
! rowspan="2"|[[Australian English|Australian]]
! rowspan="2"|[[South-West Irish English|S.W. Irish]]
! colspan="2"|North American
|-
! [[General American|GenAm]]
! [[Canadian English|Canadian]]
|- align="center"
|''l'''ow''''' || {{IPA|//oʊ//}} || {{IPA|[əʉ̯]}} || {{IPA|[ɜʉ̯~ɐʉ̯]}} 
| {{IPA|[oː]}}|| colspan="2"| {{IPA|[o̞ʊ̯~ʌʊ̯~ɔʊ̯~o̞]}}
|- align="center"
|''l'''ou'''d'' || rowspan="2"|{{IPA|//aʊ//}} || rowspan="2"|{{IPA|[aʊ̯]}} || rowspan="2"|{{IPA|[æɔ̯]}} 
|rowspan="2"|{{IPA|[ɐʊ̯~ʌʊ̯]}}|| rowspan="2" |{{IPA|[aʊ̯~æʊ̯]}}<ref group=t2 name=pitt>In [[Pittsburgh English]], {{IPA|/aʊ̯/}} is monophthongal {{IPA|[aː]}}, leading to the stereotypical spelling "Dahntahn" for "downtown".</ref>|| {{IPA|[aʊ̯~æʊ̯]}}
|- align="center"
|''l'''ou'''t'' 
| {{IPA|[ʌʊ̯]}}<ref group="t2" name="ce1">Canadian English and some dialects of northern American English exhibit [[Allophone|allophony]] of {{IPA|/aʊ̯/}} and {{IPA|/aɪ̯/}} called [[Canadian raising]] – in some places they have become separate phonemes. GA has raising to a lesser extent in {{IPA|/aɪ̯/}}.</ref>
|- align="center"
|''l'''ie'''d'' || rowspan="2"| {{IPA|//aɪ//}} || rowspan="2"| {{IPA|[ɑ̈ɪ̯~ʌ̞ɪ̯]}} ||rowspan="2" |{{IPA|[ɑ̟e̯~ɑe̯]}} 
|rowspan="2"|{{IPA|[æɪ̯~ɐɪ̯]}} || colspan="2"| {{IPA|[äɪ̯~ɑɪ̯]}}<ref group=t2 name=sus>In several American dialects such as [[Southern American English]], {{IPA|/aɪ̯/}} becomes monophthongal [aː] except before voiceless consonants.</ref>
|- align="center"
|''l'''igh'''t'' 
| colspan="2" | {{IPA|[ʌɪ̯~ɜɪ̯~ɐɪ̯]}}<ref group=t2 name=ce1/>
|- align="center"
|''l'''ay''''' || {{IPA|//eɪ//}} || {{IPA|[e̞ɪ̯~ɛɪ̯]}} || {{IPA|[æɪ̯~ɐɪ̯]}} 
| {{IPA|[eː]}}|| colspan="2"| {{IPA|[eɪ̯~e]}}
|- align="center"
|''l'''oi'''n'' || {{IPA|//ɔɪ//}} || {{IPA|[oɪ̯~ɔ̝ɪ̯]}} || {{IPA|[oɪ̯]}} 
| {{IPA|[əɪ̯~ɑɪ̯]}}|| colspan="2"| {{IPA|[ɔɪ̯~oɪ̯]}}
|- align="center"
|''l'''oo'''n'' || {{IPA|/uː/}}<ref group=t2 name=md4>The erstwhile monophthongs {{IPA|/iː/}} and {{IPA|/uː/}} are diphthongized in many dialects. In many cases they might be better transcribed as {{IPA|[uu̯]}} and {{IPA|[ii̯]}}, where the non-syllabic element is understood to be closer than the syllabic element. They are sometimes transcribed {{IPA|/uw/}} and {{IPA|/ij/}}.</ref> || {{IPA|[ʊ̈ʉ̯~ʉː~ɨ̞ɯ̯̈]}} || {{IPA|[ʊ̈ʉ̯]}} 
| {{IPA|[uː]}}|| {{IPA|[u̟~ʊu̯~ʉu̯~ɵu̯]}} || {{IPA|[ʉu̯]}} 
|- align="center"
|''l'''ea'''n'' || {{IPA|/iː/}}<ref group=t2 name=md4/> || {{IPA|[ɪi̯~iː]}} ||{{IPA|[ɪi̯~əi̯]}} 
| {{IPA|[iː]}}|| colspan="2"| {{IPA|[ɪi̯~i]}}
|- align="center"
|''l'''eer''''' || {{IPA|//ɪər//}} || {{IPA|[ɪ̞ː~ëː~ɪə̯]}} || {{IPA|[ɪə̯~ɪː~iː~iə̯]}} 
| {{IPA|[iːɹ]}}|| colspan="2"| {{IPA|[ɪɹ~iɹ]}}
|- align="center"
|''l'''air''''' || {{IPA|//ɛər//}} || {{IPA|[ɛː~ɛə̯]}} ||{{IPA|[e̞ː~eː]}}
| {{IPA|[eːɹ]}}|| colspan="2" | {{IPA|[ɛɹ]}}
|- align="center"
|''l'''ure''''' || {{IPA|//ʊər//}} || {{IPA|[ɵː~ɤ̈ː, o̞ː]}} ||{{IPA|[ʊ̈ʉ̯ə, oː]}} 
| {{IPA|[uːɹ]}}|| colspan="2"| {{IPA|[ʊɹ~ɔɹ~oɹ]}}
|}
{{Reflist|group=t2}}

====Dutch====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+ Diphthongs of [[Dutch phonology|Dutch]]
!
! Netherlandic<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Gussenhoven|1992|p=46}}</ref>
! Belgian<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Verhoeven|2005|p=245}}</ref>
|-align=center
| ''[[wiktionary:zeis#Dutch|z''ei''s, ''ij''s]]'' || colspan=2|{{IPA|[ɛi̯]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:ui#Dutch|''ui'']]'' || colspan=2|{{IPA|[œʏ̯]}}
|-align=center
|[[wiktionary:zout#Dutch|zout]], [[wiktionary:louw#Dutch|louw]]||{{IPA|[aʊ̯]}} || {{IPA|[ɔʊ̯]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:leeuw#Dutch|l''eeuw'']]'' || colspan=2|{{IPA|[eːʊ̯]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:nieuw#Dutch|n''ieuw'']]'' || colspan=2|{{IPA|[iʊ̯]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:duw#Dutch|d''uw'']]'' || colspan=2|{{IPA|[yʊ̯]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:dooi#Dutch|d''ooi'']]'' || colspan=2|{{IPA|[o:ɪ̯]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:saai#Dutch|s''aai'']]'' || colspan=2|{{IPA|[a:ɪ̯]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:loei#Dutch|l''oei'']]'' || colspan=2|{{IPA|[uɪ̯]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:beet#Dutch|b''ee''t]]''<ref group=t1 name=t-one>{{IPA|[eɪ̯]}}, {{IPA|[øʏ̯]}}, and {{IPA|[oʊ̯]}} are normally pronounced as closing diphthongs except when preceding {{IPA|[ɾ]}}, in which case they are either centering diphthongs: {{IPA|[eə̯]}}, {{IPA|[øə̯]}}, and {{IPA|[oə̯]}} or are lengthened and monophthongized to {{IPA|[ɪː]}}, {{IPA|[øː]}}, and {{IPA|[ʊː]}}</ref> || {{IPA|[eɪ̯]}} || {{IPA|[eː]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:neus#Dutch|n''eu''s]]''<ref group=t1 name=t-one/> ||{{IPA|[øʏ̯]}} || {{IPA|[øː]}}
|-align=center
|''[[wiktionary:boot#Dutch|b''o''ot]]''<ref group=t1 name=t-one/> ||{{IPA|[oʊ̯]}} || {{IPA|[oː]}}
|-align=center
|}
{{Reflist|group=t1}}

The dialect of Hamont (in [[Limburg (Belgium)|Limburg]]) has five centring diphthongs and contrasts long and short forms of {{IPA|[ɛɪ̯]}}, {{IPA|[œʏ̯]}}, {{IPA|[ɔʊ̯]}}, and {{IPA|[ɑʊ̯]}}.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Verhoeven|2007|p=221}}</ref>

====Afrikaans====
The [[Afrikaans phonology|Afrikaans]] language has its origin in Dutch but differs in many significant ways, including the use of diphthongs in the place of several non-diphthong Dutch double vowels, or double-vowels being pronounced differently.
Examples include:
*''ee'' as in leer
*''eu'' as in deur
*''ui'' as in buite

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Diphthong phonemes{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|pp=2, 8–10}}{{sfnp|Lass|1987|pp=117–119}}
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Starting point
! colspan="3" | Ending point
|-
! [[Front vowel|Front]]
! [[Central vowel|Central]]
! [[Back vowel|Back]]
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Closed vowel|Closed]]
! {{small|unrounded}}
| 
| 
| {{IPA|iʊ̯}}
|-
! {{small|rounded}}
| {{IPA|uɪ̯}}
| 
| 
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
! {{small|unrounded}}
| {{IPA|əɪ̯}}
| {{IPA|ɪə}}
|
|-
! {{small|rounded}}
| {{IPA|œɪ̯, ɔɪ̯, oːɪ̯}}
| {{IPA|ʏə, ʊə}}
| {{IPA|œʊ̯}}
|-
! [[Open vowel|Open]]
! {{small|unrounded}}
| {{IPA|aɪ̯, ɑːɪ̯}}
|
|
|}

* Falling diphthongs. Their first element may be short {{IPA|[ɪə̯, ʊə̯]}} or somewhat lengthened {{IPA|[ɪˑə̯, ʊˑə̯]}}.{{sfnp|Lass|1987|pp=117–119}}
* Rising diphthongs {{IPA|[ɪ̯ə, ʊ̯ə]}}. These variants do not seem to appear word-finally. The sequence {{IPA|/ɦʊə/}} is commonly realised as {{IPA|[ɦʊ̯ə]}} or, more often, {{IPA|[ɦʊ̯ə̤]}}, with {{IPA|/ɦ/}} realised as [[breathy]]
* The scholar Daan Wissing argues that {{IPA|/əɪ̯/}} is not a phonetically correct transcription and that {{IPA|/æɛ̯/}} is more accurate. In his analysis, he found that {{IPA|[æɛ̯]}} makes for 65% of the realisations, the other 35% being monophthongal, {{IPAblink|ə}}, {{IPAblink|æ}} and {{IPAblink|ɛ}}.{{sfnp|Wissing|2009|p=333}}
* Most often, {{IPA|/œɪ̯/}} has an unrounded offset. For some speakers, the onset is also unrounded. That can cause {{IPA|/œɪ̯/}} to merge with {{IPA|/əɪ̯/}}, which is considered non-standard.{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|p=10}}
* {{IPA|/ɔɪ̯, aɪ̯/}} occur mainly in loanwords.{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|p=10}}
* Older sources describe {{IPA|/œu/}} as a narrow back diphthong {{IPA|[ou]}}.{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|p=9}}{{sfnp|Swanepoel|1927|p=44}} However, newer sources describe its onset as more front. For example, {{Harvcoltxt|Lass|1984}}, states that the onset of {{IPA|/œu/}} is central {{IPA|[ɵu]}}.{{sfnp|Lass|1984|p=102}}
** In some words which, in English, are pronounced with {{IPA|/əʊ̯/}}, the Afrikaans equivalent tends to be pronounced with {{IPA|/œʊ̯/}}, rather than {{IPA|/ʊə/}}. That happens because Afrikaans {{IPA|/œʊ̯/}} is more similar to the usual South African realization of English {{IPA|/əʊ̯/}}.{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|p=9}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Example words for diphthongs
! Phoneme
! IPA
! Orthography
! Gloss
|-
| {{IPA|/ɪø/}}
| {{IPA|/sɪøn/}}
| {{lang|af|seun}}
| 'son'
|-
| {{IPA|/əɪ̯/}}
| {{IPA|/ɦəɪ̯/}}
| {{lang|af|hy}}
| 'he'
|-
| {{IPA|/ɪə/}}
| {{IPA|/vɪət/}}
| {{lang|af|weet}}
| 'to know'
|-
| {{IPA|/œɪ̯/}}
| {{IPA|/ɦœɪ̯s/}}
| {{lang|af|huis}}
| 'house'
|-
| {{IPA|/ɔɪ̯/}}
| {{IPA|/ˈχɔɪ̯əŋ/}}
| {{lang|af|{{Not a typo|goiing}}}}
| 'burlap'
|-
| {{IPA|/ʊə/}}
| {{IPA|/brʊət/}}
| {{lang|af|brood}}
| 'bread'
|-
| {{IPA|/œʊ̯/}}
| {{IPA|/kœʊ̯t/}}
| {{lang|af|koud}}
| 'cold'
|-
| {{IPA|/aɪ̯/}}
| {{IPA|/ˈbaɪ̯ə/}}
| {{lang|af|baie}}
| 'many'
|}

The long diphthongs (or 'double vowels') are phonemically sequences of a free vowel and a non-syllabic equivalent of {{IPA|/i/}} or {{IPA|/u/}}: {{IPA|[iu, ui, oːi, eu, ɑːi]}}. Both {{IPA|[iu]}} and {{IPA|[eu]}} tend to be pronounced as {{IPA|[iu]}}, but they are spelled differently: the former as {{angbr|ieu}}, the latter as {{angbr|eeu}}.{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|p=12}}

In diminutives ending in {{IPA|/ki/}} formed to monosyllabic nouns, the vowels {{IPA|/u, ɪə, ʊə, ɛ, ə, œ, ɔ, a, ɑː/}} are realised as closing diphthongs {{IPA|[ui, ei, oi, ɛi, əi, œi, ɔi, ai, ɑːi]}}. In the same environment, the sequences {{IPA|/ɛn, ən, œn, ɔn, an/}} are realized as {{IPA|[ɛiɲ, əiɲ, œiɲ, ɔiɲ, aiɲ]}}, i.e. as closing diphthongs followed by palatal nasal.{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|pp=10–11}}

* The suffixes {{angbr|-aad}} and {{angbr|-aat}} (phonemically {{IPA|/ɑːd/}} and {{IPA|/ɑːt/}}, respectively) and the diminutive suffix {{IPA|/ki/}} are realised as {{IPA|[ɑːki]}} (with a monophthong), rather than {{IPA|[ɑːiki]}}.{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|p=10}}
* In practice, the diphthong {{IPA|[əi]}} is realised the same as the phonemic diphthong {{IPA|/əi/}}.{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|p=11}}
* {{IPA|[œi]}}, when it has arisen from diphthongisation of {{IPA|[œ]}}, differs from the phonemic diphthong {{IPA|/œi/}} by having a slightly different onset, although the exact nature of that difference is unclear. This means that {{lang|af|puntjie}} 'point' sounds somewhat different from {{lang|af|puintjie}} 'rubble'.{{sfnp|Donaldson|1993|p=11}}

====German====

=====Standard German=====
Phonemic diphthongs in [[German phonology|German]]:
*{{IPA|/aɪ̯/}} as in {{lang|de|Ei}} 'egg'
*{{IPA|/aʊ̯/}} as in {{lang|de|Maus}} 'mouse'
*{{IPA|/ɔʏ̯/}} as in {{lang|de|neu}} 'new'

In the varieties of German that [[Speech production|vocalize]] the {{IPA|/r/}} in the [[syllable coda]], other diphthongal combinations may occur. These are only phonetic diphthongs, not phonemic diphthongs, since the vocalic pronunciation {{IPA|[ɐ̯]}} alternates with consonantal pronunciations of {{IPA|/r/}} if a vowel follows, cf. {{lang|de|du hörst}} {{IPA|[duː ˈhøːɐ̯st]}} 'you hear' – {{lang|de|ich höre}} {{IPA|[ʔɪç ˈhøːʀə]}} 'I hear'. These phonetic diphthongs may be as follows:
[[File:German ɐ diphthongs chart - part 1.svg|thumb|upright=1.15|German diphthongs ending in {{IPA|[ɐ̯]|cat=no}} (part 1), from {{Harvcoltxt|Kohler|1999|p=88}}]]
[[File:German ɐ diphthongs chart - part 2.svg|thumb|upright=1.15|German diphthongs ending in {{IPA|[ɐ̯]|cat=no}} (part 2), from {{Harvcoltxt|Kohler|1999|p=88}}]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
! colspan="2" | Diphthong
! colspan="3" | Example
|-
! Phonemically
! Phonetically
! IPA
! Orthography
! Translation
|-
| {{IPA|/iːr/}}
| {{IPA|[iːɐ̯]}}{{ref|1|1}}
| {{IPA|[viːɐ̯]}}
| {{lang|de|wir}}
| we
|-
| {{IPA|/yːr/}}
| {{IPA|[yːɐ̯]}}{{ref|1|1}}
| {{IPA|[fyːɐ̯]}}
| {{lang|de|für}}
| for
|-
| {{IPA|/uːr/}}
| {{IPA|[uːɐ̯]}}{{ref|1|1}}
| {{IPA|[ˈʔuːɐ̯laʊ̯pʰ]}}
| {{lang|de|<u>Ur</u>laub}}
| holiday
|-
| {{IPA|/ɪr/}}
| {{IPA|[ɪɐ̯]}}
| {{IPA|[vɪɐ̯tʰ]}}
| {{lang|de|wird}}
| he/she/it becomes
|-
| {{IPA|/ʏr/}}
| {{IPA|[ʏɐ̯]}}
| {{IPA|[ˈvʏɐ̯də]}}
| {{lang|de|W<u>ür</u>de}}
| dignity
|-
| {{IPA|/ʊr/}}
| {{IPA|[ʊɐ̯]}}
| {{IPA|[ˈvʊɐ̯də]}}
| {{lang|de|w<u>ur</u>de}}
| I/he/she/it became
|-
| {{IPA|/eːr/}}
| {{IPA|[eːɐ̯]}}{{ref|1|1}}
| {{IPA|[meːɐ̯]}}
| {{lang|de|mehr}}
| more
|-
| {{IPA|/øːr/}}
| {{IPA|[øːɐ̯]}}{{ref|1|1}}
| {{IPA|[høːɐ̯]}}
| {{lang|de|hör!}}
| (you) hear!
|-
| {{IPA|/oːr/}}
| {{IPA|[oːɐ̯]}}{{ref|1|1}}
| {{IPA|[tʰoːɐ̯]}}
| {{lang|de|Tor}}
| gate/goal (in football)
|-
| {{IPA|/ɛːr/}}
| {{IPA|[ɛːɐ̯]}}{{ref|1|1}}
| {{IPA|[bɛːɐ̯]}}
| {{lang|de|Bär}}
| bear
|-
| {{IPA|/ɛr/}}
| {{IPA|[ɛɐ̯]}}
| {{IPA|[ʔɛɐ̯ftʰ]}}
| {{lang|de|[[Erft]]}}
| Erft
|-
| {{IPA|/œr/}}
| {{IPA|[œɐ̯]}}
| {{IPA|[dœɐ̯tʰ]}}
| {{lang|de|dörrt}}
| he/she/it dries
|-
| {{IPA|/ɔr/}}
| {{IPA|[ɔɐ̯]}}
| {{IPA|[ˈnɔɐ̯dn̩]}}
| {{lang|de|N<u>or</u>den}}
| north
|-
| {{IPA|/aːr/}}
| {{IPA|[aːɐ̯]}}{{ref|1|1}}
| {{IPA|[vaːɐ̯]}}
| {{lang|de|wahr}}
| true
|-
| {{IPA|/ar/}}
| {{IPA|[aɐ̯]}}
| {{IPA|[haɐ̯tʰ]}}
| {{lang|de|hart}}
| hard
|}

:{{note|1|1}}{{Harvcoltxt|Wiese|1996}} notes that the length contrast is not very stable before non-prevocalic {{IPA|/r/}}<ref name="Wiese198">{{Harvcoltxt|Wiese|1996|p=198}}</ref> and that "{{Harvcoltxt|Meinhold|Stock|1980|p=180}}, following the pronouncing dictionaries ({{Harvcoltxt|Mangold|1990}}, {{Harvcoltxt|Krech|Stötzer|1982}}) judge the vowel in {{lang|de|Art}}, {{lang|de|Schwert}}, {{lang|de|Fahrt}} to be long, while the vowel in {{lang|de|Ort}}, {{lang|de|Furcht}}, {{lang|de|hart}} is supposed to be short. The factual basis of this presumed distinction seems very questionable."<ref name="Wiese198"/><ref>Also supported by {{Harvcoltxt|Tröster-Mutz|2011|p=20}}.</ref> He goes on stating that in his own dialect, there is no length difference in these words, and that judgements on vowel length in front of non-prevocalic {{IPA|/r/}} which is itself vocalized are problematic, in particular if {{IPA|/a/}} precedes.<ref name="Wiese198"/>

:According to the 'lengthless' analysis, the aforementioned 'long' diphthongs are analyzed as {{IPA|[iɐ̯]}}, {{IPA|[yɐ̯]}}, {{IPA|[uɐ̯]}}, {{IPA|[eɐ̯]}}, {{IPA|[øɐ̯]}}, {{IPA|[oɐ̯]}}, {{IPA|[ɛɐ̯]}} and {{IPA|[aɐ̯]}}. This makes non-prevocalic {{IPA|/aːr/}} and {{IPA|/ar/}} homophonous as {{IPA|[aɐ̯]}} or {{IPA|[aː]}}. Non-prevocalic {{IPA|/ɛːr/}} and {{IPA|/ɛr/}} may also merge, but the vowel chart in {{Harvcoltxt|Kohler|1999|p=88}} shows that they have somewhat different starting points.

:{{Harvcoltxt|Wiese|1996}} also states that "laxing of the vowel is predicted to take place in shortened vowels; it does indeed seem to go hand in hand with the vowel shortening in many cases."<ref name="Wiese198"/>

=====Bernese German=====
The diphthongs of some [[German dialects]] differ from standard German diphthongs. The [[Bernese German]] diphthongs, for instance, correspond rather to the [[Middle High German]] diphthongs than to standard German diphthongs:
*{{IPA|/iə̯/}} as in ''lieb'' 'dear'
*{{IPA|/uə̯/}} as in ''guet'' 'good'
*{{IPA|/yə̯/}} as in ''müed'' 'tired'
*{{IPA|/ei̯/}} as in ''Bei'' 'leg'
*{{IPA|/ou̯/}} as in ''Boum'' 'tree'
*{{IPA|/øi̯/}} as in ''Böim'' 'trees'

Apart from these phonemic diphthongs, Bernese German has numerous phonetic diphthongs due to [[L-vocalization]] in the syllable coda, for instance the following ones:
*{{IPA|[au̯]}} as in ''Stau'' 'stable'
*{{IPA|[aːu̯]}} as in ''Staau'' 'steel'
*{{IPA|[æu̯]}} as in ''Wäut'' 'world'
*{{IPA|[æːu̯]}} as in ''wääut'' 'elects'
*{{IPA|[ʊu̯]}} as in ''tschúud'' 'guilty'

==== Yiddish ====
[[Yiddish phonology|Yiddish]] has three diphthongs:<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Kleine|2003|p=263}}</ref>
*{{IPA|[ɛɪ̯]}} as in {{IPA|[plɛɪ̯tə]}} פּליטה ('refugee' f.)
*{{IPA|[aɛ̯]}} as in {{IPA|[naɛ̯n]}} נײַן ('nine')
*{{IPA|[ɔə̯]}} as in {{IPA|[ɔə̯fn̩]}} אופֿן ('way')

Diphthongs may reach a higher target position (towards {{IPA|/i/}}) in situations of coarticulatory phenomena or when words with such vowels are being emphasized.

====Norwegian====
There are five diphthongs in the Oslo dialect of [[Norwegian phonology|Norwegian]], all of them falling:

*{{IPA|[æɪ]}} as in ''nei'', "no"
*{{IPA|[œʷʏʷ]}} as in ''øy'', "island"
*{{IPA|[æʉ͍]}} as in ''sau'', "sheep"
*{{IPA|[ɑɪ]}} as in ''hai'', "shark"
*{{IPA|[ɔʷʏʷ]}} as in ''joik'', "[[Joik|Sami song]]"

An additional diphthong, {{IPA|[ʉ͍ɪ]}}, occurs only in the word ''hui'' in the expression ''i hui og hast'' "in great haste". The number and form of diphthongs vary between dialects.

====Faroese====
Diphthongs in [[Faroese language|Faroese]] are:
*{{IPA|/ai/}} as in ''bein'' (can also be short)
*{{IPA|/au/}} as in ''havn''
*{{IPA|/ɛa/}} as in ''har'', ''mær''
*{{IPA|/ɛi/}} as in ''hey''
*{{IPA|/ɛu/}} as in ''nevnd''
*{{IPA|/œu/}} as in ''nøvn''
*{{IPA|/ʉu/}} as in ''hús''
*{{IPA|/ʊi/}} as in ''mín'', ''bý'', ''ið'' (can also be short)
*{{IPA|/ɔa/}} as in ''ráð''
*{{IPA|/ɔi/}} as in ''hoyra'' (can also be short)
*{{IPA|/ɔu/}} as in ''sól'', ''ovn''

====Icelandic====
Diphthongs in [[Icelandic phonology|Icelandic]] are the following:
*{{IPA|/au̯/}} as in {{lang|is|átta}}, "eight"
*{{IPA|/ou̯/}} as in {{lang|is|nóg}}, "enough"
*{{IPA|/øi̯/}} as in {{lang|is|auga}}, "eye"
*{{IPA|/ai̯/}} as in {{lang|is|kær}}, "dear"
*{{IPA|/ei̯/}} as in {{lang|is|þeir}}, "they"
*{{IPA|/ɔi/}} as in {{lang|is|koja}}, "bunk bed", "berth" (rare, only in handful of words)

Combinations of semivowel {{IPA|/j/}} and a vowel are the following:
*{{IPA|/jɛ/}} as in {{lang|is|éta}}, "eat"
*{{IPA|/ja/}} as in {{lang|is|jata}}, "manger"
*{{IPA|/jau̯/}} as in {{lang|is|já}}, "yes"
*{{IPA|/jo/}} as in {{lang|is|joð}}, "iodine", "jay", "yod" (only in a handful of words of foreign origin)
*{{IPA|/jou̯/}} as in {{lang|is|jól}}, "Christmas"
*{{IPA|/jœ/}} as in {{lang|is|jötunn}}, "giant"
*{{IPA|/jai̯/}} as in {{lang|is|jæja}}, "oh well"
*{{IPA|/ju/}} as in {{lang|is|jú}}, "yes"

====French====
In [[French phonology|French]], {{IPA|/wa/}}, {{IPA|/wɛ̃/}}, {{IPA|/ɥi/}} and {{IPA|/ɥɛ̃/}} may be considered true diphthongs (that is, fully contained in the syllable nucleus: {{IPA|[u̯a], [u̯ɛ̃], [y̯i], [y̯ɛ̃]}}). Other sequences are considered part of a glide formation process that turns a high vowel into a semivowel (and part of the syllable onset) when followed by another vowel.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Chițoran|2001|p=11}}</ref>

Diphthongs
* {{IPA|/wa/}} {{IPA|[u̯a]}} as in ''roi'' "king", ''coi'' "quiet", ''croix'' "cross", ''doigt'' "finger", ''droit'' "right", ''foi'' "faith", ''loi'' "law", ''proie'' "prey", ''soie'' "silk", ''toit'' "roof", ''voie'' "way", ''voix'' "voice"
* {{IPA|/wɛ̃/}} {{IPA|[u̯ɛ̃]}} as in ''groin'' "muzzle", ''coin'' "corner", ''coing'' "quince", ''foin'' "hay", ''moins'' "less", ''loin'' "far", ''point'' "point", ''poing'' "fist", ''soin'' "care"
* {{IPA|/ɥi/}} {{IPA|[y̯i]}} as in ''huit'' "eight", ''bruit'' "noise", ''buis'' "boxwood", ''fruit'' "fruit", ''fuite'' "leak", ''luire'' "glow", ''nuire'' "harm", ''nuit'' "night", ''pluie'' "rain", ''suite'' "continuation"
* {{IPA|/ɥɛ̃/}} {{IPA|[y̯ɛ̃]}} as in ''juin'' "June", ''suint'' "ooze (tar)"

Semivowels
* {{IPA|/wi/}} as in ''oui'' "yes"
* {{IPA|/jɛ̃/}} as in ''lien'' "bond"
* {{IPA|/jɛ/}} as in ''Ariège''
* {{IPA|/je/}} as in ''pied'' "foot"
* {{IPA|/ji/}} as in ''yin''
* {{IPA|/aj/}} as in ''travail'' "work"
* {{IPA|/ɛj/}} as in ''Marseille''
* {{IPA|/ij/}} as in ''bille'' "ball"
* {{IPA|/œj/}} as in ''feuille'' "leaf"
* {{IPA|/uj/}} as in ''grenouille'' "frog"
* {{IPA|/jø/}} as in ''vieux'' "old"

=====Quebec French=====
{{Main|Quebec French phonology}}
In [[Quebec French]], long vowels are generally diphthongized in informal speech when [[lexical stress|stressed]].

* {{IPA|[ɑɔ̯]}} as in ''tard'' "late"
* {{IPA|[aɛ̯]}} as in ''père'' "father"
* {{IPA|[aœ̯]}} as in ''fleur'' "flower"
* {{IPA|[ou̯]}} as in ''autre'' "other"
* {{IPA|[øy̯]}} as in ''neutre'' "neutral"
* {{IPA|[ãʊ̯̃]}} as in ''banque'' "bank"
* {{IPA|[ẽɪ̯̃]}} as in ''mince'' "thin"
* {{IPA|[ɒ̃ʊ̯̃]}} as in ''bon'' "well"
* {{IPA|[œ̃ʏ̯̃]}} as in ''un'' "one"

====Catalan====
[[Catalan phonology|Catalan]] possesses a number of phonetic diphthongs, all of which begin (''rising diphthongs'') or end (''falling diphthongs'') in {{IPA|[j]}} or {{IPA|[w]}}.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Carbonell|Llisterri|1992|p=54}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+Catalan diphthongs
|-
! colspan="6" | falling
|-
|{{IPA|[aj]}}||'''ai'''gua||'water'||{{IPA|[aw]}}||t'''au'''la||'table'
|-
|{{IPA|[əj]}}||m'''ai'''nada||'children'||{{IPA|[əw]}}||c'''au'''rem||'we will fall'
|-
|{{IPA|[ɛj]}}||rem'''ei'''||'remedy'||{{IPA|[ɛw]}}||p'''eu'''||'foot'
|-
|{{IPA|[ej]}}||r'''ei'''||'king'||{{IPA|[ew]}}||s'''eu'''||'his/her'
|-
|colspan="3"| ||{{IPA|[iw]}}||n'''iu''' ||'nest'
|-
|{{IPA|[ɔj]}}||n'''oi''' ||'boy'||{{IPA|[ɔw]}}||n'''ou''' ||'new'
|-
|colspan="3"| ||{{IPA|[ow]}}||j'''ou''' ||'yoke'
|-
|{{IPA|[uj]}}||av'''ui'''||'today' || {{IPA|[uw]}}||d'''uu'''||'he/she is carrying'
|-
! colspan="6" | rising
|-
|{{IPA|[ja]}}||'''ia'''ia||'grandma'|| {{IPA|[wa]}}||q'''ua'''tre||'four'
|-
|{{IPA|[jɛ]}}||ve'''ie'''m||'we see' || {{IPA|[wɛ]}}||seq'''üè'''ncia|| 'sequence'
|-
|{{IPA|[je]}}||se'''ie'''nt||'seat' ||{{IPA|[we]}}||ung'''üe'''nt ||'ointment'
|-
|{{IPA|[jə]}}||fe'''ia''' ||'he/she was doing' || {{IPA|[wə]}}||q'''üe'''stió ||'question'
|-
|colspan="3"| ||{{IPA|[wi]}}||ping'''üí'''||'penguin'
|-
|{{IPA|[jɔ]}}||'''io'''de||'iodine' || {{IPA|[wɔ]}}||q'''uo'''ta ||'payment'
|-
|{{IPA|[ju]}}||'''io'''gurt||'yoghurt' ||colspan="3"|
|}

In standard Eastern Catalan, rising diphthongs (that is, those starting with {{IPA|[j]}} or {{IPA|[w]}}) are possible only in the following contexts:<ref>{{cite book|chapter=Els diftongs, els triftongs i els hiats|title=Gramàtica de la llengua catalana|language=ca|edition=provisional draft|publisher=Institut d'Estudis Catalans|url=http://www2.iec.cat/institucio/seccions/Filologica/gramatica/fonetica/05diftongstriftongshiats.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100930153153/http://www2.iec.cat/institucio/seccions/Filologica/gramatica/fonetica/05diftongstriftongshiats.pdf |archive-date=30 September 2010}}</ref>
* {{IPAblink|j}} in word initial position, e.g. '''''i'''ogurt''.
* Both occur between vowels as in ''fe'''i'''a'' and ''ve'''i'''em''.
* In the sequences {{IPA|[ɡw]}} or {{IPA|[kw]}} and vowel, e.g. ''g'''u'''ant'', ''q'''u'''ota'', ''q'''ü'''estió'', ''ping'''ü'''í'' (these exceptional cases even lead some scholars<ref>e.g. {{Harvcoltxt|Lleó|1970}}, {{Harvcoltxt|Wheeler|1979}}</ref> to hypothesize the existence of rare labiovelar phonemes {{IPA|/ɡʷ/}} and {{IPA|/kʷ/}}).<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Wheeler|2005|p=101}}</ref>

There are also certain instances of ''compensatory diphthongization'' in the [[Balearic Catalan|Majorcan]] dialect so that {{IPA|/ˈtroncs/}} ('logs') (in addition to deleting the palatal plosive) develops a compensating palatal glide and surfaces as {{IPA|[ˈtrojns]}} (and contrasts with the unpluralized {{IPA|[ˈtronʲc]}}). Diphthongization compensates for the loss of the palatal stop (part of Catalan's segment loss compensation). There are other cases where diphthongization compensates for the loss of point of articulation features (property loss compensation) as in {{IPA|[ˈaɲ]}} ('year') vs {{IPA|[ˈajns]}} ('years').<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Mascaró|2001|pp=580–581}}</ref> The dialectal distribution of this compensatory diphthongization is almost entirely dependent on the dorsal plosive (whether it is velar or palatal) and the extent of consonant assimilation (whether or not it is extended to palatals).<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Mascaró|2001|pp=581}}</ref>

====Portuguese====
{{Main|Portuguese phonology}}
The Portuguese diphthongs are formed by the [[labio-velar approximant]] {{IPA|[w]}} and [[palatal approximant]] {{IPA|[j]}} with a vowel,<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Faria|2003|p=7}}</ref> [[European Portuguese]] has 14 phonemic diphthongs (10 oral and 4 nasal),<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Harvcoltxt|Cruz-Ferreira|1995|p=92}}</ref> all of which are falling diphthongs formed by a vowel and a nonsyllabic high vowel. [[Brazilian Portuguese]] has roughly the same amount, although the European and non-European dialects have slightly different pronunciations ({{IPA|[ɐj]}} is a distinctive feature of some southern and central Portuguese dialects, especially that of Lisbon). A {{IPA|[w]}} onglide after {{IPA|/k/}} or {{IPA|/ɡ/}} and before all vowels as in ''quando'' {{IPA|[ˈkwɐ̃du]}} ('when') or ''guarda'' {{IPA|[ˈɡwaɾðɐ ~ ˈɡwaʁdɐ]}} ('guard') may also form rising diphthongs and [[triphthong]]s. Additionally, in casual speech, adjacent heterosyllabic vowels may combine into diphthongs and triphthongs or even sequences of them.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{Harvcoltxt|Barbosa|Albano|2004|p=230}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Falling diphthongs of Portuguese
!colspan="6"|oral
|-
!
! [[European Portuguese|EP]]<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
! [[Brazilian Portuguese|BP]]
!
! [[European Portuguese|EP]]
! [[Brazilian Portuguese|BP]]
|-
|''sai''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[aj]}}||''mau''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[aw]}}
|-
|''sei''||{{IPA|[ɐj]/[ej]}} ||{{IPA|[ej]}}||''meu''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[ew]}}
|-
|''anéis''
| colspan="2" |{{IPA|[ɛj]}}||''véu''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[ɛw]}}
|-
|colspan="3"| ||''viu''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[iw]}}
|-
|''mói''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[ɔj]}}||colspan="3"|
|-
|''moita''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[oj]}}||''dou''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[ow]}}
|-
|''fui''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[uj]}}||colspan="3"|
|-
!colspan="6"|nasal
|-
|''mãe'' ||rowspan=2|{{IPA|[ɐ̃j]}}||{{IPA|[ɐ̃j]}}||''mão''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[ɐ̃w]}}
|-
|''cem'' ||{{IPA|[ẽj]}}||colspan="3"|
|-
|''anões''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[õj]}}||colspan="3"|
|-
|''muita''||colspan=2|{{IPA|[ũj]}}||colspan="3"|
|}

In addition, phonetic diphthongs are formed in most Brazilian Portuguese dialects by the [[L-vocalization|vocalization]] of {{IPA|/l/}} in the syllable coda with words like ''sol'' {{IPA|[sɔw]}} ('sun') and ''sul'' {{IPA|[suw]}} ('south') as well as by yodization of vowels preceding {{IPAslink|s}} or its allophone at syllable coda {{IPA|[{{IPAplink|ʃ}} ~ {{IPAplink|ɕ}}]}} in terms like ''arroz'' {{IPA|[aˈʁojs ~ ɐˈʁo(j)ɕ]}} ('rice'),<ref name="ReferenceC"/> and {{IPAslink|z}} (or {{IPA|[{{IPAplink|ʒ}} ~ {{IPAplink|ʑ}}]}}) in terms such as ''paz mundial'' {{IPA|[ˈpajz mũdʒiˈaw ~ ˈpa(j)ʑ mũdʑiˈaw]}} ('world peace') and ''dez anos'' {{IPA|[ˌdɛjˈz‿ɐ̃nu(j)s ~ ˌdɛjˈz‿ɐ̃nuɕ]}} ('ten years').

====Spanish====
Phonetically, [[Spanish phonology|Spanish]] has seven falling diphthongs and eight rising diphthongs. In addition, during fast speech, sequences of vowels in hiatus become diphthongs wherein one becomes non-syllabic (unless they are the same vowel, in which case they fuse together) as in ''poeta'' {{IPA|[ˈpo̯eta]}} ('poet'), ''almohada'' {{IPA|[alˈmo̯aða]}} ('pillow'), ''maestro'' {{IPA|[ˈmae̯stɾo]}} ('teacher') and ''línea'' {{IPA|[ˈline̯a]}} ('line'). The Spanish diphthongs are:<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Martínez-Celdrán|Fernández-Planas|Carrera-Sabaté|2003|p=256}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Introducción a la lingüística española|last=Azevedo|first=Milton Mariano|year=2004|publisher=Pearson Prentice Hall|edition=2|language=es|location=Upper Saddle River, NJ|isbn=0-13-110959-6|page=58|url={{GBurl|id=rctiAAAAMAAJ|q=diptongo|p=58}}|access-date=24 March 2023}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Spanish diphthongs
! colspan="6" | falling
|-
|{{IPA|[ai̯]}}||''aire''||'air'||{{IPA|[au̯]}}||''pausa''||'pause'
|-
|{{IPA|[ei̯]}} || ''rey''||'king'||{{IPA|[eu̯]}}||''neutro''||'neutral'
|-
|{{IPA|[oi̯]}} || ''hoy''||'today'||{{IPA|[ou̯]}}||''bou''||'[[seine fishing]]'
|-
|{{IPA|[ui̯]}} || ''muy''||'very'||colspan="3"|
|-
! colspan="6" | rising
|-
|{{IPA|[ja]}}||''hacia''||'towards'||{{IPA|[wa]}}||''cuadro''||'picture'
|-
|{{IPA|[je]}}||''tierra''||'earth'||{{IPA|[we]}}||''fuego''||'fire'
|-
|colspan="3"| ||{{IPA|[wi]}}||''fuimos''||'we went'
|-
|{{IPA|[jo]}}||''radio''||'radio'||{{IPA|[wo]}}||''cuota''||'quota'
|-
|{{IPA|[ju]}}||''viuda''||'widow'||colspan="3"|
|}

====Italian====
The existence of true diphthongs in Italian is debated; however, a list is:<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Bertinetto|Loporcaro|2005|p=138}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Italian diphthongs
!colspan="6"|falling
|-
|{{IPA|[ai̯]}}||''baita''||'mountain hut'||{{IPA|[au̯]}}||''auto''||'car'
|-
|{{IPA|[ei̯]}}||''potei''||'I could' (past tense)||{{IPA|[eu̯]}}||''pleurite''||'[[pleurisy]]'
|-
|{{IPA|[ɛi̯]}}||''sei''||'six'||{{IPA|[ɛu̯]}}||''neutro''||'neuter'
|-
|{{IPA|[ɔi̯]}}||''poi''||'later'||colspan="3"|
|-
|{{IPA|[oi̯]}}||''voi''||'you' (pl.)||colspan="3"|
|-
|{{IPA|[ui̯]}}||''lui''||'he'||colspan="3"|
|-
!colspan="6"|rising
|-
|{{IPA|[ja]}}||''chiave''||'key'||{{IPA|[wa]}}||''guado''||'ford'
|-
|{{IPA|[jɛ]}}||''pieno''||'full'||{{IPA|[wɛ]}}||''quercia''||'oak'
|-
|{{IPA|[je]}}||''soffietto''||'bellows'||{{IPA|[we]}}||''quello''||'that'
|-
|colspan="3"| ||{{IPA|[wi]}}||''guida''||'guide'
|-
|{{IPA|[jɔ]}}||''chiodo''||'nail'||{{IPA|[wɔ]}}||''quota''||'quota'
|-
|{{IPA|[jo]}}||''fiore''||'flower'||{{IPA|[wo]}}||''acquoso''||'watery'
|-
|{{IPA|[ju]}}||''piuma''||'feather'||colspan="3"|
|}

The second table includes only 'false' diphthongs, composed of a semivowel + a vowel, not two vowels. The situation is more nuanced in the first table: a word such as 'baita' is actually pronounced ['baj.ta] and most speakers would syllabify it that way. A word such as 'voi' would instead be pronounced and syllabified as ['vo.i], yet again without a diphthong.

In general, unstressed {{IPA|/i e o u/}} in [[Hiatus (linguistics)|hiatus]] can turn into glides in more rapid speech (e.g. ''biennale'' {{IPA|[bi̯enˈnaːle]}} 'biennial'; ''coalizione'' {{IPA|[ko̯alitˈtsi̯oːne]}} 'coalition') with the process occurring more readily in syllables further from stress.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Bertinetto|Loporcaro|2005|p=139}}</ref>

====Romanian====
{{Main|Romanian phonology}}
Romanian has two true diphthongs: {{IPA|/e̯a/}} and {{IPA|/o̯a/}}. There are, however, a host of other vowel combinations (more than any other major Romance language) which are classified as vowel glides. As a result of their origin (diphthongization of mid vowels under stress), the two true diphthongs appear only in stressed syllables<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Chițoran|2002a|p=204}}</ref> and make [[#Vowel alternations|morphological alternations]] with the mid vowels {{IPA|/e/}} and {{IPA|/o/}}. To native speakers, they sound very similar to {{IPA|/ja/}} and {{IPA|/wa/}} respectively.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Chițoran|2002a|p=206}}</ref> There are no perfect [[minimal pair]]s to contrast {{IPA|/o̯a/}} and {{IPA|/wa/}},<ref name="Chiorana" /> and because {{IPA|/o̯a/}} does not appear in the final syllable of a prosodic word, there are no monosyllabic words with {{IPA|/o̯a/}}; exceptions might include ''voal'' ('veil') and ''trotuar'' ('sidewalk'), though Ioana Chițoran argues<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Chițoran|2002b|p=217}}</ref> that these are best treated as containing glide-vowel sequences rather than diphthongs. In addition to these, the semivowels {{IPA|/j/}} and {{IPA|/w/}} can be combined (either before, after, or both) with most vowels, while this arguably<ref>See {{Harvcoltxt|Chițoran|2001|pp=8–9}} for a brief overview of the views regarding Romanian semivowels</ref> forms additional diphthongs and [[triphthong]]s, only {{IPA|/e̯a/}} and {{IPA|/o̯a/}} can follow an obstruent-liquid cluster such as in ''broască'' ('frog') and ''dreagă'' ('to mend'),<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Chițoran|2002b|p=213}}</ref> implying that {{IPA|/j/}} and {{IPA|/w/}} are restricted to the syllable boundary and therefore, strictly speaking, do not form diphthongs.

====Irish====
All [[Irish phonology|Irish]] diphthongs are falling.
*{{IPA|[əi̯]}}, spelled ''aigh, aidh, agh, adh, eagh, eadh, eigh,'' or ''eidh''
*{{IPA|[əu̯]}}, spelled ''abh, amh, eabh,'' or ''eamh''
*{{IPA|[iə̯]}}, spelled ''ia, iai''
*{{IPA|[uə̯]}}, spelled ''ua, uai''

====Scottish Gaelic====
There are 9 diphthongs in [[Scottish Gaelic]]. Group 1 occur anywhere (''eu'' is usually {{IPA|[eː]}} before ''-m'', e.g. ''Seumas''). Group 2 are reflexes that occur before ''-ll, -m, -nn, -bh, -dh, -gh'' and ''-mh''.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="30" |
! width="50" |
! width="70"|Spellings
! width="300"|Examples
|- align="center"
| rowspan="3" | 1
| {{IPA|[iə]}}
| ''ia''
| align="left"|''iarr'' "ask"
|- align="center"
| {{IPA|[uə]}}
| ''ua''
| align="left"|''fuar'' "cold"
|- align="center"
| {{IPA|[ia]}}
| ''eu''
| align="left"|''beul'' "mouth"
|- align="center"
| rowspan="6" | 2
| {{IPA|[ai]}}
| ''ai''
| align="left"|''saill'' "grease", ''cainnt'' "speech", ''aimhreit'' "riot"
|- align="center"
| {{IPA|[ei]}}
| ''ei''
| align="left"|''seinn'' "sing"
|- align="center"
| {{IPA|[ɤi]}}
| ''oi'', ''ei'', ''ai''
| align="left"|''loinn'' "badge", ''greim'' "bite", ''saighdear'' "soldier"
|- align="center"
| {{IPA|[ɯi]}}
| ''ui, aoi''
| align="left"|''druim'' "back", ''aoibhneas'' "joy"
|- align="center"
| {{IPA|[au]}}
| ''a, ea''
| align="left"|''cam'' "crooked", ''ceann'' "head"
|- align="center"
| {{IPA|[ɔu]}}
| ''o''
| align="left"|''tom'' "mound", ''donn'' "brown"
|}

For more detailed explanations of Gaelic diphthongs see [[Scottish Gaelic orthography]].

====Cornish====
The following diphthongs are used in the [[Standard Written Form]] of [[Cornish language|Cornish]]. Each diphthong is given with its ''Revived Middle Cornish'' (RMC) and ''Revived Late Cornish'' (RLC) pronunciation.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! width="50"|Graph
! width="50"|RMC
! width="50"|RLC
! width="150"|Example
|- align="center"
| '''aw'''
| {{IPA|[aʊ]}}
| {{IPA|[æʊ]}}
| align="left"|''glaw'' "rain"
|- align="center"
| '''ay'''
| {{IPA|[aɪ]}}
| {{IPA|[əɪ]}}
| align="left"|''bay'' "kiss"
|- align="center"
| '''ew'''
| colspan="2"|{{IPA|[ɛʊ]}}
| align="left"|''blew'' "hair"
|- align="center"
| '''ey'''
| {{IPA|[ɛɪ]}}
| {{IPA|[əɪ]}}
| align="left"|''bleydh'' "wolf"
|- align="center"
| '''iw'''
| {{IPA|[iʊ]}}
| {{IPA|[ɪʊ]}}
| align="left"|''liw'' "colour"
|- align="center"
| '''ow'''
| colspan="2"|{{IPA|[ɔʊ]}}
| align="left"|''lowen'' "happy"
|- align="center"
| '''oy'''
| colspan="2"|{{IPA|[ɔɪ]}}
| align="left"|''moy'' "more"
|- align="center"
| '''uw'''
| {{IPA|[yʊ]}}
| {{IPA|[ɪʊ]}}
| align="left"|''duw'' "god"
|- align="center"
| '''yw'''
| {{IPA|[ɪʊ]}}
| {{IPA|[ɛʊ]}}
| align="left"|''byw'' "alive"
|}

====Welsh====
[[Welsh language|Welsh]] is traditionally divided into Northern and Southern dialects. In the north, some diphthongs may be short or long according to regular vowel length rules but in the south they are always short (see [[Welsh phonology]]). Southern dialects tend to simplify diphthongs in speech (e.g. {{lang|cy|gwaith}} {{IPA|/ɡwaiθ/}} is reduced to {{IPA|/ɡwaːθ/}}).
{| class="wikitable"
! width="50"|Grapheme
! width="75"|North
! width="75"|South
! width="150"|Example
|-
| '''ae'''
| {{IPA|/ɑːɨ/}}
|rowspan=3| {{IPA|/ai/}}
| ''maen'' 'stone'
|-
| '''ai'''
| {{IPA|/ai/}}
| ''gwaith'' 'work'
|-
| '''au'''†
| {{IPA|/aɨ/}}
| ''haul'' 'sun'
|-
| '''aw'''
| {{IPA|/au, ɑːu/}}
| {{IPA|/au/}}
| ''mawr'' 'big'
|-
| '''ei'''
| {{IPA|/əi/}}
|rowspan=3| {{IPA|/əi/}}
| ''gweithio'' 'to work'
|-
| '''eu'''
|rowspan=2| {{IPA|/əɨ/}}
| ''treulio'' 'spend'
|-
| '''ey'''
| ''teyrn'' 'tyrant'
|-
| '''ew'''
| {{IPA|/ɛu, eːu/}}
| {{IPA|/ɛu/}}
| ''tew'' 'fat'
|-
| '''oe'''
|rowspan=2| {{IPA|/ɔɨ, ɔːɨ/}}
|rowspan=3| {{IPA|/ɔi/}}
| ''moel'' 'bald'
|-
| '''ou'''
| ''cyffrous'' 'excited'
|-
| '''oi'''
| {{IPA|/ɔi/}}
| ''troi'' 'turn'
|-
| '''ow'''
| {{IPA|/ɔu, oːu/}}
| {{IPA|/ɔu/}}
| ''brown'' 'brown'
|-
| '''wy'''
| {{IPA|/ʊɨ, uːɨ/}}
| {{IPA|/ʊi/}}
| ''pwyll'' 'sense'
|-
| '''iw'''
| {{IPA|/ɪu/}}
|rowspan=3| {{IPA|/ɪu/}}
| ''lliw'' 'colour'
|-
| '''uw'''
|rowspan=2| {{IPA|/ɨu/}}
| ''duw'' 'god'
|-
|rowspan=2| '''yw'''
| ''llyw'' 'rudder'
|-
| {{IPA|/əu/}}
| {{IPA|/əu/}}
| ''tywydd'' 'weather'
|}
:† The plural ending {{lang|cy|-au}} is reduced to {{IPA|/a/}} in the north and {{IPA|/e/}} in the south, e.g. {{lang|cy| cadau}} 'battles' is {{IPA|/ˈkada/}} (north) or {{IPA|/ˈkade/}} (south).

====Czech====
There are three diphthongs in [[Czech phonology|Czech]]:

*{{IPA|/aʊ̯/}} as in ''auto'' (almost exclusively in words of foreign origin)
*{{IPA|/eʊ̯/}} as in ''euro'' (in words of foreign origin only)
*{{IPA|/oʊ̯/}} as in ''koule''

The vowel groups ''ia, ie, ii, io'', and ''iu'' in foreign words are not regarded as diphthongs, they are pronounced with {{IPA|/j/}} between the vowels {{IPA|[ɪja, ɪjɛ, ɪjɪ, ɪjo, ɪju]}}.

====Serbo-Croatian====
*{{lang|sh|italic=no|i(j)e}}, as in {{lang|sh|mlijeko}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vjesnik.hr/html/1999/05/11/nunu.htm|title=Babić ne zagovara korijenski pravopis, nego traži da Hrvati ne piju mlijeko nego - mlieko|work=Vjesnik|language=hr|archive-url=https://archive.today/20001121044500/http://www.vjesnik.hr/html/1999/05/11/nunu.htm|date=10 May 1999|location=Zagreb|archive-date=21 November 2000}}</ref> (in Ijekavian varieties)
may be pronounced as a diphthong, but also as {{IPA|[ie]}} in hiatus or separated by a semivowel, {{IPA|[ije]}}. For example, in the first line of the [[national anthem of Croatia]], ''Lijepa naša domovina'', ''ije'' is pronounced as a diphthong, but in the first line of the [[national anthem of Montenegro]], ''Oj, svijetla majska zoro'', ''ije'' is pronounced as two syllables.

Some [[Serbo-Croatian phonology|Serbo-Croatian]] dialects also have ''uo'', as in {{lang|sh|kuonj, ruod, uon}}<ref>{{cite journal |language=hr |url=http://www.matica.hr/Kolo/kolo0302.nsf/AllWebDocs/lisac1 |journal=[[Kolo (magazine)|Kolo]] |first=Josip|last=Lisac |title=Štokavsko narječje: prostiranje i osnovne značajke |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217013643/http://www.matica.hr/Kolo/kolo0302.nsf/AllWebDocs/lisac1 |archive-date=17 February 2008 }}</ref> whereas, in Standard Croatian and Serbian, these words are konj, rod, on.

===Uralic languages===

====Estonian====
{{Main|Estonian phonology}}

All nine vowels can appear as the first component of an Estonian diphthong, but only {{IPA|[ɑ e i o u]}} occur as the second component.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Common Estonian diphthongs
|-
|colspan="2"| ||{{IPA|[ɑe]}}||''aed''<br />"fence, garden"||{{IPA|[ɑi]}}||''lai''<br />"wide"||{{IPA|[ɑo]}}||''kaotama''<br />"to lose"||{{IPA|[ɑu]}}||''laud''<br />"table"
|-
|{{IPA|[eɑ]}}||''teadma''<br />"to know"||colspan="2"| ||{{IPA|[ei]}}||''leib''<br />"bread"||{{IPA|[eo]}}||''teostus''<br />"accomplishment"||{{IPA|[iu]}}||''kiuste''<br />"in spite of"
|-
|{{IPA|[oɑ]}}||''toa''<br />"room"<br />(s. possessive)||{{IPA|[oe]}}||''koer''<br />"dog"||{{IPA|[oi]}}||''toit''<br />"food"||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"|
|-
|colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"| ||{{IPA|[ui]}}||''kui''<br />"when, if"||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"|
|-
|{{IPA|[ɤɑ]}}||''lõa''<br />"tether"<br />(s. possessive)||{{IPA|[ɤe]}}||''nõel''<br />"needle"||{{IPA|[ɤi]}}||''õige''<br />"right, correct"||{{IPA|[ɤo]}}||''tõotus''<br />"promise"||{{IPA|[ɤu]}}||''lõug''<br />"chin"
|-
|colspan="2"| ||{{IPA|[æe]}}||''päev''<br />"day"||{{IPA|[æi]}}||''täis''<br />"full"||{{IPA|[æo]}}||''näo''<br />"face" (s. possessive)||{{IPA|[æu]}}||''näuguma''<br />"to meow"
|-
|colspan="2"| ||{{IPA|[øe]}}||''söed''<br />"coals"||{{IPA|[øi]}}||''köis''<br />"rope"||colspan="2"| ||colspan="2"|
|}

There are additional diphthongs less commonly used, such as {{IPA|[eu]}} in Euroopa (Europe), {{IPA|[øɑ]}} in söandama (to dare), and {{IPA|[æu]}} in näuguma (to mew).

====Finnish====
{{Main|Finnish phonology}}
All [[Finnish language|Finnish]] [[Finnish phonology#Diphthongs|diphthongs]] are falling. Notably, Finnish has true opening diphthongs (e.g. {{IPA|/uo/}}), which are not very common crosslinguistically compared to centering diphthongs (e.g. {{IPA|/uə/}} in English). Vowel combinations across syllables may in practice be pronounced as diphthongs, when an intervening consonant has elided, as in ''näön'' {{IPA|[næøn]}} instead of {{IPA|[næ.øn]}} for the genitive of ''näkö'' ('sight').
; closing
*{{IPA|[ɑi̯]}} as in ''laiva'' (ship)
*{{IPA|[ei̯]}} as in ''keinu'' (swing)
*{{IPA|[oi̯]}} as in ''poika'' (boy)
*{{IPA|[æi̯]}} as in ''äiti'' (mother)
*{{IPA|[øi̯]}} as in ''öisin'' (at nights)
*{{IPA|[ɑu̯]}} as in ''lauha'' (mild)
*{{IPA|[eu̯]}} as in ''leuto'' (mild)
*{{IPA|[ou̯]}} as in ''koulu'' (school)
*{{IPA|[ey̯]}} as in ''leyhyä'' (to waft)
*{{IPA|[æy̯]}} as in ''täysi'' (full)
*{{IPA|[øy̯]}} as in ''löytää'' (to find)
; close
*{{IPA|[ui̯]}} as in ''uida'' (to swim)
*{{IPA|[yi̯]}} as in ''lyijy'' (lead)
*{{IPA|[iu̯]}} as in ''viulu'' (violin)
*{{IPA|[iy̯]}} as in ''siistiytyä'' (to smarten up)
; opening
*{{IPA|[ie̯]}} as in ''kieli'' (tongue)
*{{IPA|[uo̯]}} as in ''suo'' (bog)
*{{IPA|[yø̯]}} as in ''yö'' (night)

====Northern Sami====
The diphthong system in [[Northern Sami#Phonology|Northern Sami]] varies considerably from one dialect to another. The Western Finnmark dialects distinguish four different qualities of opening diphthongs:

*{{IPA|/eæ/}} as in ''leat'' "to be"
*{{IPA|/ie/}} as in ''giella'' "language"
*{{IPA|/oa/}} as in ''boahtit'' "to come"
*{{IPA|/uo/}} as in ''vuodjat'' "to swim"

In terms of quantity, Northern Sami shows a three-way contrast between '''long''', '''short''' and '''finally stressed''' diphthongs. The last are distinguished from long and short diphthongs by a markedly long and stressed second component. Diphthong quantity is not indicated in spelling.<ref name="Aikio 2022" />{{rp|148–149}} <ref>{{Cite book |last=Sammallahti |first=Pekka |title=The Saami Languages: An Introduction |date=1998 |publisher=Davvi Girji |location=Kárášjohka |isbn=82-7374-398-5 |page=40–41}}</ref>

===Semitic languages===

====Maltese====
[[Maltese language|Maltese]] has seven falling diphthongs, though they may be considered VC sequences phonemically.<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Borg|Azzopardi-Alexander|1997|p=299}}</ref>

*{{IPA|[ɛɪ̯]}} ''ej'' or ''għi''
*{{IPA|[ɐɪ̯]}} ''aj'' or ''għi''
*{{IPA|[ɔɪ̯]}} ''oj''
*{{IPA|[ɪʊ̯]}} ''iw''
*{{IPA|[ɛʊ̯]}} ''ew''
*{{IPA|[ɐʊ̯]}} ''aw'' or ''għu''
*{{IPA|[ɔʊ̯]}} ''ow'' or ''għu''

===Sino-Tibetan languages===

====Mandarin Chinese====
Rising sequences in [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] are usually regarded as a combination of a medial semivowel ({{IPA|[j], [w], or [ɥ]}}) plus a vowel, while falling sequences are regarded as one diphthong.

*ai: {{IPA|[ai̯]}}, as in ''ài'' (愛, love)
*ei: {{IPA|[ei̯]}}, as in ''lèi'' (累, tired)
*ao: {{IPA|[ɑʊ̯]}}, as in ''dào'' (道, way)
*ou: {{IPA|[oʊ̯]}}, as in ''dòu'' (豆, bean)

====Cantonese====
[[Cantonese]] has eleven diphthongs.

*aai: {{IPA|[aːi̯]}}, as in ''gaai1'' (街, street)
*aau: {{IPA|[aːu̯]}}, as in ''baau3'' (爆, explode)
*ai: {{IPA|[ɐi̯]}}, as in ''gai1'' (雞, chicken)
*au: {{IPA|[ɐu̯]}}, as in ''au1'' (勾, hook)
*ei: {{IPA|[ei̯]}}, as in ''gei1'' (機, machine)
*eu: {{IPA|[ɛːu̯]}}, as in ''deu6'' (掉, throw)
*iu: {{IPA|[iːu̯]}}, as in ''giu3'' (叫, call)
*oi: {{IPA|[ɔːy̯]}}, as in ''oi3'' (愛, love)
*ou: {{IPA|[ou̯]}}, as in ''gou1'' (高, high)
*ui: {{IPA|[uːy̯]}}, as in ''pui4'' (陪, accompany)
*eui: {{IPA|[ɵy̯]}}, as in ''zeoi3'' (醉, drunk)

===Tai–Kadai languages===

==== Thai ====
In addition to vowel nuclei following or preceding {{IPA|/j/}} and {{IPA|/w/}}, [[Thai phonology|Thai]] has three diphthongs:<ref>{{Harvcoltxt|Tingsabadh|Abramson|1993|p=25}}</ref>
* {{IPA|[ia̯]}} เ–ีย ''ia''
* {{IPA|[ɯa̯]}} เ–ือ ''uea''
* {{IPA|[ua̯]}} –ัว ''ua''

===Mon-Khmer languages===

====Vietnamese====
In addition to vowel nuclei following or preceding {{IPA|/j/}} and {{IPA|/w/}}, [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] has three diphthongs:
*{{IPA|[iə̯]}} ''ia~iê''
*{{IPA|[ɨə̯]}} ''ưa~ươ''
*{{IPA|[uə̯]}} ''ua~uô''

====Khmer====
[[Khmer language]] has rich vocalics with an extra distinction of long and short register to the vowels and diphthongs.
*{{IPA|[iə̯]}}
*{{IPA|[ei̯]}}
*{{IPA|[ɐe̯]}}
*{{IPA|[ɨə̯]}}
*{{IPA|[əɨ̯]}}
*{{IPA|[ɐə̯]}}
*{{IPA|[ao̯]}}
*{{IPA|[uə̯]}}
*{{IPA|[ou̯]}}
*{{IPA|[ɔə̯]}}
*{{IPA|[eə̯̆]}}
*{{IPA|[uə̯̆]}}
*{{IPA|[oə̯̆]}}

===Bantu languages===

==== Zulu ====
[[Zulu language|Zulu]] has only monophthongs. ''Y'' and ''w'' are semi-vowels:

*{{IPA|[ja]}} as in {{IPA|[ŋijaɓɛːɠa]}} ''ngiyabeka'' (I am placing it)
*{{IPA|[wa]}} as in {{IPA|[ŋiːwa]}} ''ngiwa'' (I fall/I am falling)

===Austronesian languages===
====Indonesian====
[[Indonesian language|Indonesian]] has four diphthongs which may be located at the beginning, middle or end of a word.<ref>''[http://badanbahasa.kemdikbud.go.id/lamanbahasa/sites/default/files/permendikbud%20nomor%2050%20tahun%202015.pdf Minister of Education and Culture Decree No: 50/2015]'', Jakarta, 2015.</ref> They are:
* {{IPA|/ai̯/}}: ''bal'''ai'''rung'' ('hall'), ''ked'''ai''''' ('shop'), ''pand'''ai''''' ('clever')
* {{IPA|/au̯/}}: '''''au'''todidak'' ('autodidact'), ''T'''au'''fik'' (Indonesian given name), ''kerb'''au''''' ('buffalo'), ''lim'''au''''' ('lemon')
* {{IPA|/oi̯/}} (or {{IPA|/ʊi̯/}} in Indonesian): ''b'''oi'''kot'' ('boycott'), ''amb'''oi''''' (an expression when amazed)
* {{IPA|/ei̯/}}: '''''ei'''gendom'' ('property'), ''surv'''ei''''' ('survey')