A hiatus It is a sequence composed of two consecutive vowels that generate two syllables. For example, chaos [ca–os]river [rí–o].
A diphthong It is a sequence composed of two consecutive vowels that generate a syllable. For example, well [bue-no]nine [nue-ve].
The difference more relevant between hiatus and diphthong is the number of syllables they generate; he hiatus generate two syllablesMeanwhile he diphthong generate a syllable.
In addition, we must take into account the combinations of vowels that give rise to these sequences. The open vowels are to, and, either; the closed vowels are Yo, or.
The sequence that forms the hiatus can have two open vowels, the same or different (zoo [zo-o]fall [ca-er]praise [lo-ar]etc.) or an open vowel and another closed and accented vowel (ennui [has-tí-o]threadbare [ra-í-do]lute [la-úd]etc.).
The diphthong sequence can have two distinct close vowels (ruino, widow [viu–da]) or an open and a closed vowel and the latter is not stressed (bridge [pue-nte]trick [em-bau–car]beret [boi–na]).
Hiatus Diphthong Definition Sequence of two consecutive vowels that form two syllables. Sequence of two consecutive vowels that form a syllable. Vowel Combinations Two different open vowels. Two equal open vowels. Open vowel with closed vowel and tonic. Closed vowel and tonic with open vowel. Two distinct close vowels. Open vowel with closed and unstressed vowel. Closed vowel and unstressed with open vowel. Examples Corn. Surgery. Period. Ethiopian. Wind. Land. Queen. Judgment. Circuit.
What is hiatus?
It is a sequence that is formed when there are two consecutive vowels that form two syllables in the same word.
For a word to form a hiatus, it must comply with one of these three vowel combinations:
Two different open vowels. Two equal vowels. An open vowel and a closed and tonic vowel (with an accent). A closed and tonic vowel (with an accent) and an open vowel.
Examples of hiatus
According to the previous rules, these would be some examples of hiatus:
Poem: two different open vowels (o, e).
Read: two equal vowels (e,e).
Root: an open vowel (a) and another closed and tonic (í).
cold–either: a closed and tonic vowel and an open vowel (í, o)
Clot: two different open vowels (o, a).
Aorta: two different open vowels (a,o).
Possess: two equal vowels (e,e).
Abstracted: an open vowel and another closed and tonic (a,í).
Biology: a closed and tonic vowel and an open vowel (í,a).
What is diphthong?
It is a sequence that is formed when in the same word there are two consecutive vowels that form a syllable.
In a word there is a diphthong if any of these vowel combinations is fulfilled:
Two distinct close vowels. An open vowel and a closed vowel. A closed and unstressed vowel and an open vowel (it is the same rule as above, but with the order of the vowels reversed).
Examples of diphthong
These are some examples of words that form diphthongs according to the rules seen above:
Noise: two closed vowels (u,i).
Europe: an open and a closed vowel (e,u).
Intellectual: a closed vowel and an open vowel (u,a).
Triumph: two closed vowels (i,u).
Landscape: open vowel and closed vowel (a,i)
Phobia: a closed vowel and an open vowel (i,a)
See also: