Diphthongs are combinations of two letters that make a mostly new sound. Diphthongs often come in pairs and examples include "au" and "aw" which make a short o sound. Some diphthongs are long while others are short, and strategies for identifying diphthongs include looking for vowel teams. Common diphthong letter combinations and the sounds they make are provided.

1. Diphthongs
2 letters work together to make 1 sound that
is (mostly) new

2. Diphthongs often come in pairs
Two letters work together to make a sound
that's (mostly) new

3. Diphthongs
au and aw make a short o sound
= ŏ
The dog paused to put his paw on the ball.

4. Some are long, but not the diphthongs
Strategy: Look for vowel teams
The brown mouse cooked the awful sauce.
The boy looked the cool coin up in a book.

5. case cause

6. fan fawn

7. shot shout

8. hose house

9. clod cloud

10. con coin

11. pint point

12. rot root

13. hot hoot

14. shot shoot

15. hop hoop

16. mod mood

17. shock shook