* Different sources classify them differently: Some sources focus on the number of distinct sounds, while others include variations within those sounds.
* Regional variations: The pronunciation of diphthongs can vary between dialects, making it difficult to define a definitive list.
However, a commonly accepted range is between 8 and 12 diphthongs.
Here's a breakdown of some commonly recognized diphthongs, grouped by their approximate sound:
Simple Diphthongs (8)
* [aɪ] as in "eye" (like "high", "my", "cry")
* [aʊ] as in "out" (like "house", "now", "cow")
* [ɔɪ] as in "boy" (like "toy", "joy", "coin")
* [eɪ] as in "say" (like "day", "way", "they")
* [oʊ] as in "go" (like "no", "slow", "so")
* [ɪə] as in "ear" (like "beer", "here", "fear")
* [ʊə] as in "tour" (like "poor", "sure", "pure")
* [eə] as in "air" (like "care", "hair", "chair")
Additional Diphthongs (4)
* [ɪʊ] as in "few" (like "music", "student")
* [eʊ] as in "go" (like "though", "know", "slow" - some dialects)
* [æʊ] as in "cow" (like "loud", "proud", "how" - some dialects)
* [əʊ] as in "go" (like "boat", "road", "coat" - some dialects)
It's important to note that the sounds of diphthongs can vary depending on the speaker's dialect and the surrounding sounds.