Middle English phonology Diphthongs Diphthongs

| Late_Old_English_Anglian | Early_Middle_English | Late_Middle_English | Early_Modern_English | Modern_English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| æg, ǣg | /ai/ | /ai/ | /eː/ | /ei/ | dæg > day; grǣg > gray |
| eg | /ɛi/ | /ai/ | /eː/ | /ei/ | weg > way; regn > rain |
| ēg | /ei/ > /iː/ | /iː/ | /əi/ | /ai/ | ēage > ēge > eye; lēogan > lēgan > lie |
| æw, aw, agV | /au/ | /au/ | /ɔː/ | /ɔː/ | clawu > claw; lagu > law |
| ēw, ēow | /eu/ | /iu/ | /juː/ | /juː/ | hrēowan > rue |
| iw, īw, yw, ȳw | /iu/ | /iu/ | /juː/ | /juː/ | hīw > hue; nīwe > new |
| ugV, ūgV | /uː/ | /uː/ | /əu/ | /au/ | drugaþ > drouth > drought; būgan > bow /bau/ |