In linguistic terms, what does 'diphthong' refer to?

In linguistic terms, a diphthong refers to a complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel sound and glides into another within the same syllable. This means that it represents a combination of two vowel sounds that are pronounced in a single syllable, creating a sound that is noticeably different from a pure vowel sound.

Diphthongs are typically found in words where the vowel sounds blend smoothly together, such as in 'coin' or 'cloud'. The characteristic of a diphthong is its ability to transition from one vowel sound to another, making it distinct from simply a single vowel sound or other types of sound combinations, like a consonant cluster or a syllable with a silent letter. Therefore, the correct understanding of a diphthong hinges on its definition as a combination of two vowel sounds seamlessly articulated within a single syllable.