Vowel clusters are clusters of vowels or semivowels, without intermediate consonants.
They occur in the same or another syllable and are classified into: diphthong, triphthong and gap.
This means that when vowels or semivowels (vowel sounds spoken with less force) appear next to each other in a word, a vowel encounter takes place. If a consonant appears between vowels or semivowels, they are no longer together and vowel encounter does not occur.
Examples: lwow, madHeyha, UrugWow.
In hiatuses, there is only the meeting of vowels (never semivowels), and when we separate their syllables, each vowel stays on a different syllable. Examples: alcool (alcohol), navyo (n-saw him), sOuchda (out-out).
In diphthongs, a vowel meets a semivowel, and when we separate their syllables, the two remain in the same syllable. Examples: papthere (dad), Hey (the word "hi" does not separate), satto the (soap).
In tritongos, there is the meeting of semivowel, vowel and semivowel (always in that order), and when we separate their syllables, the three remain in the same syllable. Examples: ig
Wows (equals), saghuh (concourse), UruguayWowo (u-ru-guay-o).| Diphthong | Triphthong | Gap |
|---|---|---|
| Encounter of a vowel with a semivowel in the same syllable. | Encounter semivowel, vowel and semivowel (always in that order) in the same syllable. | Meeting of two vowels (never semivowels) in different syllables. |
|
papthere (dad) Hey (the word "hi" does not separate) Satto the (soap) |
IGWows (equals) saghuh (lobby) urugWowo (u-ru-guay-o). |
alcool (alcohol) navyo (ship) sOuchfrom (out-out) |
Diphthong
Diphthong is the vowel encounter in which a vowel and a semivowel are together, even when separating syllables. Examples: sky (cme), quiet (tran-qhiit), ox (bHey).
According to the position of the vowel and semivowel, the diphthongs can be: increasing or decreasing.
growing diphthongs are those where the semivowel comes before the vowel (sv + v). Examples: equal (i-gwowl), quota (qwow-ta), homeland (pa-trwas going).
descending diphthongs are those where the vowel comes before the semivowel (v + sv). Examples: my (mme), hero (he-rHey), falls (cthere).
According to pronunciation, diphthongs can be oral or nasal.
oral diphthongs are the ones only pronounced by mouth. This is the case of ai, ia, iu, ui, me, éu, ue, hey, éi, ie, hi, oi, io, au, ua, ao, oa, or, uo, oe, eo, ea. Examples: bad (mwow), sixHey), saw (vu).
nasal diphthongs are the ones pronounced through the mouth and the nose. This is the case of ão, ãe, õe, am, an, em, en, ãi, ui (it only occurs in the word "very"). Examples: mother (mmother), take it (le-vin), very Mhi-to).
words with diphthong
- car (wow-to-mobile)
- ox (bHey)
- falls (cthere)
- heaven (cme)
- God dmes)
- me (me)
- frequent (fre-qhuhn-you)
- freehito (thankshi-to)
- hero (he-rHey)
- equal (i-gwowl)
- jHeyto (jHeyto)
- take (le-vin)
- wood (ma-dHey-frog)
- mother (mmother)
- bad (mwow)
- my Mme)
- very Mhi-to)
- noHeyyou (noHey-you)
- Hey (Hey)
- other (or-tro)
- papthere (dad)
- homeland (pa-trwas going
- quota (qwow-OK)
- respect (res-pHey-to)
- soap (sa-bto the)
- sixHey)
- quiet (tran-qhiit)
- saw (vu)
Triphthong
Tritongo is the vowel cluster in which semivowel + vowel + semivowel are together, even when separating syllables. Examples: Uruguay (U-ru-gWow), lobby (sa-ghuh), rinse (en-xa-gwhoa).
Tritongos can be oral or nasal.
oral tritongos are the ones only pronounced by mouth. Examples: Paraguay (Pa-ra-gWow), rinsed (ww-wwhey), equal (i-gWows).
nasal tritongos are the ones pronounced through the mouth and the nose. The consonants "m" and "n" can accompany the tritongos. When this happens, the tritongo are classified as nasal tritongo. Examples: how much (qhuh), halls (sa-gwhoas), rinse (en-xa-gwho).
words with tritongo
- appeased (a-pa-zi-gwhoa)
- drained (de-sa-gwhoa)
- rinse (be-xa-gwhoa)
- I rinsed (ww-wwhey)
- rinse (w-wwwho)
- equal (i-gWows)
- mingo (min-gwho)
- Paraguay (Para-gWow)
- Paraguayan (para-gWow-O)
- which ones (qWows)
- how (qhuh)
- lobby (sa-ghuh)
- halls (sa-gwhoas)
- Uruguay (U-ru-gWow)
- Uruguayan (u-ru-gWow-O);
- Uruguayan (u-ru-gWow-year)
Gap
Hiato is the vowel encounter in which two vowels appear together in a word, but remain in different syllables when separating syllables. Examples: root (rThe-iz), Sahara (SThe-The-ra), country (pThe-ís).
words with hiatus
- sharp (a-fi-The-of)
- eagle (a-gui-The)
- alcohol (al-cO-Ol)
- chest (bThe-ú)
- rabbit (cO-andson)
- Day Di-The)
- praise (and-lo-gi-O)
- spark (fThe-íy-ca)
- genius (ge-ni-O)
- hiatus (hi-The-to)
- yacht (i-The-you)
- judge (ju-iz)
- karaoke (ka-rThe-O-ke)
- lion (land-ãO)
- moon (lu-The)
- currency (mO-and-gives)
- ship (na-vi-O)
- ocean (w-wand-The-at the)
- country (pThe-ís)
- quiet (whichi-and-to)
- root (rThe-iz)
- Sahara (SThe-The-frog)
- exit(sThe-í-gives)
- uncle (you-O)
- unicorn (u-ni-cor-ni-O)
- flight (vO-O)
zoo (zO-O-logical)
Attention!
The diphthongs and the tritongos are not separated, only the hiatuses.
Vocal and consonant encounters
Vocal clusters are the meeting of vowels or semivowels, with no consonants between them. Examples: mmother, Pohokwas goinggives.
The vowel clusters are classified into diphthong, tritongo and hiatus.
You consonant clusters they are the sequence of two or more consonants, without the presence of vowels between them. Examples: brasil, cactO, flor, thekissactive, psicology.
Consonant clusters can be separable or inseparable.
Separable consonant clusters: when the word is separated, the consonants stay same syllable. Examples: lawyer (ad-vo-ga-do), luck (onlyr-te), pie (tor-tThe).
Inseparable consonant encounters: when the word is separated, the consonants are in different syllables. Examples: blouse (blu-sa), book (li-vrthe train (trin).
Read too: vowel, semivowel and consonant and syllable separation.
Vocal Encounter Exercises
1. Classify the vowel encounters below:
a) lobby
tritongo (sa-ghuh)
b) moon
hiatus (lu-The)
c) offended
tritongo (de-lin-qwhoo)
d) bad
diphthong (mThe-u)
is bad
hiatus (ru-im)
2. Separate diphthongs into increasing and decreasing diphthongs.
a) father
descending diphthong (pthere: vowel "a" + semivowel "i")
b) sausage
crescent diphthong (lin-ghi-ça: semivowel "u" + vowel "i")
c) frequent
crescent diphthong (fre-qhuhn-te: semivowel "u" + vowel "e")
d) bush
descending diphthong (mHey-ta: vowel "o" + semivowel "i")
really
crescent diphthong (se-ryo: semivowel "i" + vowel "o")
3. (Fasp) Indicate the alternative whose sequence of words presents, in the same order, the following: diphthong, hiatus, hiatus, diphthong:
a) never, God, moonlight, hence
b) jewelry, flow, Jesuit, fire
c) hate, lobby, loyal, dust
d) which ones, fled, fell, history
Alternative b: jHey-as (diphthong), flu-ir (hiatus), je-su-í-ta (hiatus), f-ga-rme (diphthong)
As for the remaining alternatives:
a) alreadytheres (diphthong), Dmes (diphthong), lu-Ther (hiatus), dThe-í gap)
c) o-dyo (diphthong), sa-ghuh (tritongo), land-Thel (hiatus), pO-Hey-ra (hiatus, in "o-e", and diphthong, in "ei")
d) whatWows (tritongo), fu-gu (diphthong), cThe-u (diphthong, in "iu", and hiatus, in "a-i"), his-tó-rwas going (diphthong)
