In Pashto, the diphthong sounds (complex vowel sounds consisting of two elements) are [aau], [au], [aay], [ay], [oy], [uy], [Ay]. Some researchers don't consider them to be real diphthongs, because if a diphthong is followed by a vowel, it can be disintegrated and its second element can be transformed to a separate sound. For example, the diphthong [aau] in "quarter" - [paau] پاو transforms into the vowel [aa] and the consonant [w] in "two quarters" - [dwa paáwa] دوه پاوه .
The table below lists the diphthong vowels in Pashto, the letters representing them, and the features of their use.
|
Diphthong |
Letter |
Remarks |
|
aau |
و + ا (in the middle and at the end of a word) |
"chrysanthemum" (flower) - [daaudí] داودی "quarter" - [paau] پاو |
|
aay |
ی + ا (in the middle and at the end of a word) |
"to lose" - [baaylÁ́l] بایلل "end" - [paay]پای |
|
ay |
ي+ ا (in the beginning of a word), ی ( in the middle and at the end of a word) |
"he" - [day]دی "beginning" - [payl] پیل |
|
uy |
ی + و (at the end of a word) |
"smell" - [buy] بوی "they" - [duy] دوی |
|
oy |
ی + و (at the end of a word) |
"big" - [loy] لوی "son" - [zoy] زوی |
|
Ay |
ۍand ئ (at the end of a word) |
"window" - [kARkÁ́y] کړکۍ "is" (for the masculine gender) - [dAy]دئ |
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