Middle English phonology Diphthongs Diphthongs

| Late_Old_English_Anglian | Early_Middle_English | Late_Middle_English | Early_Modern_English | Modern_English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| æh, ah, ag# | /auh/ | /auh/ | ( [x] → nil) /ɔː/ | /ɔː/ | slæht (WS sleaht) + -or > slaughter |
| æh, ah, ag# | /auh/ | /auh/ | ( [x] → /f/) /af/ | /æf/ | hlæhtor > laughter |
| eh | /ɛih/ | /ɛih/ | /ei/ > /eː/ | /ei/ | streht > straight |
| āh, āg#, oh, og# | /ɔuh/ | /ɔuh/ | ( [x] → nil) /ou/ > /oː/ | /ɒf/ (British), /ɔːf/ (American) | dāg > dāh > dough |
| āh, āg#, oh, og# | /ɔuh/ | /ɔuh/ | ( [x] → /f/) /ɔf/ | /ɒf/ (British), /ɔːf/ (American) | trog > trough |
| āhC, ohC, ōhC | /ɔuh/ | /ɔuh/ | /ɔː/ | /ɔː/ | dohtor > daughter; sōhte > sought |
| ōh#, ōg# | /ouh/ > /uːh/ | /uːh/ | ( [x] → nil) /əu/ | /au/ | bōg > bough; plōg > plōh > plough |
| ōh#, ōg# | /ouh/ > /uːh/ | /uːh/ | ( [x] → /f/) /ʊf/ | (centralized) /ʌf/ | tōh > tough; ruh > rough |