triphthong
noun/ˈtrɪfθɒŋ/, /ˈtrɪpθɒŋ/
/ˈtrɪfθɔːŋ/, /ˈtrɪpθɔːŋ/
(phonetics)- a combination of three vowel sounds or vowel letters, for example the sounds /aɪə/ in fire /faɪə(r)/
compare diphthong, monophthong三合元音;三元音;三母音 Word Originmid 16th cent.: from French triphtongue, from tri- ‘three’, on the pattern of diphthong.