Triphthongs and Smoothing in British English Pronunciation

Do triphthongs exist in English? If so, how do we pronounce them? Find answers to these questions in this video!

In this video I discuss triphthongs, which are triple vowel sounds. Sequences of three vowels often change quality in a process known as smoothing. So, watch this video if you want to improve your British English pronunciation!

⏱ TIMESTAMPS
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0:54 - What is a diphthong?
1:50 - What is a triphthong?
2:40 - Does English have triphthongs?
4:30 - Smoothing

👨🏼‍🏫 ABOUT ME
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My name's Ed and I'm a CELTA qualified English teacher from the UK. I love teaching English and I'm passionate about teaching British English pronunciation. At Lean English you'll find videos about phonetics, stress, intonation and connected speech.

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#BritishEnglish #Pronunciation #LearnEnglish

[LeanEnglishPronunciation]

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[hongxiashi]

I have been searching for the pronunciation of triphthongs, but I couldn't find the right answer I wanted. Finally I get it ~ Thank you so much~

[aaansfsata]

I am a new Permanent Resident in Canada۔I like your teaching Style۔
1 June 2025۔ Sunday۔

[LearnRunes]

It's interesting how most of those triphthongs are not smoothed in Australian English yet the inclusion of a linking consonant is common.

[LeanEnglishPronunciation]

Can you think of any more words that are frequently smoothed ❔
Leave me some examples in the comments below 😀

[rabindranathtagore]

Thank you sir 🙏🙏🙏for providing this video . In this topic, I had a doubt but this video was make me clear.

[diassmaker]

Hi mate! How are you doing? I wonder if you could help me with a pronunciation issue that I'm having with one of my lyrics. Since in modern RP, English triphthongs seem to be dissolving and as you say some people tend to smooth it I wonder how I should say it in a song? Should I say all three vowels like this: "ɪ nˈ s p a ɪ ə . r ɪ ŋ" or just like this: "ɪ n s p ɑ́ j r ɪ ŋ"? Or alternatively, should I just smooth it into a "ɪ nˈ s p a: . r ɪ ŋ" ? Thanks again for another excellent video! And by the way, you've got a new subscriber!

[ayaadnan]

Layer, Prayer
Fire, Wire
Royal, Loyal
Grower, thrower
Hour, Shower, Tower

[thinsu]

Dear Sir how to pronounce est ending sounds example greatest (greitist or greitast).Plz sir

[giuseppecelia]

Thank you Ed for your interesting video. I’m wondering if ‘enjoyable’ and ‘annoyance’ are smoothed words.

[tsg]

very rare to hear those being pronounced as a long vowel

[javifontalva]

The posher you are the more you use smoothing in tiriphthongs. I can think of King George saying British empire.