RP has 8 diphthongs. They can be grouped into closing/upgliding and centering/ingliding. An alternative classification describes them as falling, that is, the first element is the prominent one. Depending on the tongue position of the second vowel, they can be grouped into:

  • Front closing/upgliding diphthongs
  • Back closing/upgliding diphthongs
  • Centering/ingliding diphthongs

(Click on the symbols in the chart to retrieve an audio example and a glide animation.)