When two letters work together to make one vowel sound that is new, they may be called Diphthongs. These vowel combinations are not long or short (mostly), but make completely different vowel sounds. The letters OI and OY make the same sound. OU and OW do too sometimes, although they can make other sounds. These vowel combinations make sounds with mouth positions that change, the definition of a diphthong. The letters AU and AW make the same sound as a short o. The letters OO can make two different sounds: a short oo like in “foot” or a sound like a long u in “boot.”
Digraphs are two letters that make one sound, and diphthongs may be called vowel digraphs. Vowel teams that often make a long vowel sound are also vowel digraphs, so it is helpful to learn these separately. When Diphthongs are learned first, many of the remaining vowel combinations are long, although this is not always true and there are many variations to learn.
Exceptions: OW can also make a Long O sound in some words (like know and blow). Oh, Those OUGH Words explores some of the variations of OU. It can say OR like in pour, or OO like in soup, and different sounds when followed by the letters ld or gh.
WATCH videos and PLAY online games at the Diphthong tutorial at Wakelet
Some online games require flash, which is no longer supported after 12/31/2020. Learn more at The End of Flash.
WATCH more videos at Kids vs Phonics: OO (1:21), OO Long (1:44), OI (1:33), OY 1:40), OI & OY (3:13), OU (1:36), OW (1:54).
WATCH a video of this slideshow
LISTEN and play: Diphthong words at Quizlet
PLAY Printables: OI/OY Piggy Diphthong game from Oh My Little Classity Class, Gurgling Gargoyle game from Adrian Bruce
More Resources:
- Diphthong Chart from boostforreaders
- Vowel Digraph Flashcards from Lanternfish ESL, Diphthongs pictures from flyingintolearning (OI/OY & OU/OW)
- SORT OI/OY picture sort at classroomfreebies, AU/AW word sort from School is a Happy Place, OO/OO word sort from themeasuredmom.
- More Diphthong resources at Pinterest.
Phonics Pow 